Greenway's judgment under delegated command

Greenway later explained that he left Asama Maru's official log unsigned because avoiding further delay seemed more important, and earlier wartime practice suggested signatures were not universal. With London asleep, Percy Noble unable to transmit, and Liverpool's captain remaining aboard his own ship, the decision fell to the officer leading a very small party. Senior naval, diplomatic, and political readers noted the omission without censuring him. The officers used a first-class saloon as their screening area, brought German passengers forward in succession, and checked each name against the passenger list. Greenway, Madden, and Stoodup stayed together while ratings escorted the first detainees back to Liverpool, preserving officer control of the remaining search. The Japanese crew cooperated despite the captain's legal protest, and both sides recorded that the boarding party behaved respectfully and avoided violence.