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Naval History and Heritage Command

Bureau of Ordnance to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

                        Copy                    File No. 26-8-5

Cablegram Received    Aug. <6, 1918.> 02583  RLM

     Opnav, Washington. (Buord).         Serial No. 9550

Ref’d to        Date            Action, Notes, and initials

M-4            5 <6> Aug.

31-ARD

S E C R E T

Simsadus:

9550. Your 2256.1 If the mark 6 mine is satisfactory in 150 fathoms it can be assumed it will function equally well in 500 fathoms if provided with a special light mooring cable but the Bureau has no facilities at present for making deep sea tests to demonstrate this. 09306. 9550.

                /s/  Benson.

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. The handwritten date is confirmed by the time/date stamp at the end of the text. Document identifier in top right-hand corner in columnar fashion: “1/3/A/J.” This message was sent via the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and for this reason it bears the signature of Adm. William S. Benson.

Footnote 1: This cable has not been found, but see: Thaddeus A. Thomson, Jr., to Nathan C. Twining, 26 July 1918, wherein Thomson notes that a proposed barrage in Italian waters would require mines be laid at a depth of 500 fathoms (3,000 feet).

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