...which America deemed vital to its defense constituted an attack. In these waters, the President said, "American naval vessels and American planes will no...surface of the sea, strike their deadly blow — first". Our naval and air patrol operating over a vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean would protect all merchant...

...statements in the address, President Roosevelt declared, "Their [German submarines] very presence in any waters which America deems vital to its defense constitutes an attack." In another place the President stated, "* * * when you see a rattlesnake poised to strike, you do not...

...President Roosevelt in effect unleashed American ships and planes for offensive action as he stated "in the waters which we deem necessary for our defense,...surface of the sea, strike their deadly blow — first." The period of "undeclared war" in the Atlantic had begun. Greer remained in the North Atlantic through...

...before you crush him. These Nazi submarines and raiders arc the rattlesnakes of the Atlantic. . . . In the waters which we deem necessary for our defense,...deadly blow — first. Upon our naval and air patrol . . . falls the duty of maintaining the American policy of freedom of the seas — now. That means,...

...statements in the address, President Roosevelt declared, "Their (German submarines) very presence in any waters which America deems vital to its defense constitutes an attack." In another place the President stated. "* * * when you see a rattlesnake poised to strike, you do not...

...September 11, 1941, the "shoot on sight" speech, prompted by the attack on GREER, President Roosevelt said: "In the waters which we deem necessary for our defense...raiders on the surface of the sea, strike their deadly blow—first. Upon our naval and air patrol—now operating in large numbers over vast expanse of the...

...prompted by the Sept. 4 engagement of the uss Greerby a German U-boat off Greenland. Roosevelt declared: "In the waters which we deem necessary for our defense,...raiders on the surface of the sea, strike their deadly blow—first. "Upon our naval and air patrol—now operating in large number over a vast expanse of...

...deemed vital to its defense the very presence of Axis submarines or raiders constituted an attack. "American naval vessels and American planes will no...surface of the sea, strike their deadly blow — first," said the President, adding the warning that if German or Italian vessels entered these waters, the...

...distant waters, they can attack equally well within sight of our own shores. Their very presence in any waters which America deems vital to its defense constitutes...and American planes will no longer wait until Axis suhmarines lurking under the water, or Axis raiders on the surface of the sea, strike their deadly...

...FDR announced that American ships and planes "will no longer wait until Axis submarines lurking under water, or Axis raiders on the surface of the sea, strike their deadly blow — first." In other words, they would shoot on sight. Henceforth, ships of the US Navy were ordered to fire upon...