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Naval History and Heritage Command

Captain Hutchinson I. Cone, United States Staff Representative, Paris, France, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

 

Chronological Copy                           File No. <31/7/5>

Cablegram Sent February 22 1918

To   Opnav Washington (Bunav) [additional notes unreadable] LEX

Prep. by S1                       SX D.R.

4284.-Following from Cone. QUOTE Urgent. Immediately needed following: commanding officers, six for sea-plane stations, two for dirigible stations, five for kite balloon stations. If aviators not available request non-aviators. Prefer non-aviators of prompt judgment and proved executive ability to aviator without it. Commanding Officers must be <a>ssigned now and urgent that officers suitable for this purpose be sent here rather than make it necessary to put inexperienced officers in command of operating stations. UNQUOTE. Recommend approval. Please inform me probable date officers can be supplied.1 21222.

          Sims.

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B.

Footnote 1: Cone had been growing increasingly impatient with the Navy Department for failing to provide him with adequate officers to command his stations. The Department, however, was straining to find men to fill numerous positions, and considered many of Cone’s requests excessive. “These personnel issues” comments Gregory Rossano, “remained a sore point until the end of the war, and after.” Rossano, Stalking the U-Boat, 45.

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