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Captain Joel R. Poinsett Pringle, Chief of Staff, Destroyer Flotilla, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

[Extract]

July 11, 1918.

My dear Pringle,

          Your letter of July 6 just received.1 . . .

          I am much pleased to hear what you have to say about the success of the 4 July celebrations at Queenstown.2

          Concerning Fairfield,3 conditions at Gibraltar are such, due to the breakdown of three of the destroyers there, that I was absolutely obliged to send the next 6 or 8 boats down there,4 so as to ensure the security of the Army supply ships that are now coming to Marseilles. You may be sure, however, that I will get Fairfield back for you when you want to use him.

          I am writing this note to give you this latter information about Fairfield, but have not the time for any gossip.

          I am quite sure that you will succeed in giving Mr. Blythe5 all the dope in Queenstown, and send him away happy with a good impression of the organization there.

Very sincerely yours.   

Source Note: Cy, DLC-MSS, William S. Sims Papers, Box 79. Addressed below close: “Capt. J.R.P. Pringle,/Queenstown.”

Footnote 1: Pringle’s letter has not been found.

Footnote 2: On the Fourth of July celebration at Queenstown, see: Sims to Josephus Daniels, 11 July 1918.

Footnote 3: Cmdr. Arthur P. Fairfield, commander, U.S. destroyer Gregory. Fairfield had previously commanded the destroyer McDougal, which had been based at Queenstown in 1917.

Footnote 4: Sims sent only two of the new destroyers, Gregory and Dyer, to Gibraltar.

Footnote 5: For more on Samuel G. Blythe, see: Sims to Woodrow Wilson, 13 July 1918.