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Commander Charles R. Train, United States Naval Attaché in Rome, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

Action Copy

                        July <19, 1918.> 08520   SFM

Origin    Alusna, Rome                 Ser. No. 187

Rec’d          Date               Action, Notes and Initials

  A-1            July 20

23 AD

SECRET

Simsadus.

187. Your 124.1 Have personal assurance Minister Chies[a]2 that 18 Capron[i]s will be turned over to us July. Had been number assigned but by personally requesting Minister’s aid in order that you meet certain military obligations he has ordered another 6 from Italians assignment per centage of total production about 70. This was done without consulting Army as I requested yesterday discontinue arrangement with Captain La Guardia|3| as not satisfactory. 15319. 187.

Train.        

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

Footnote 1: This document has not been located.

Footnote 2: Eugenio Chiesa, Commissioner General, Italian Military Aviation Corps (Corpo Aeronautico).

Footnote 3: Fiorello H. La Guardia, United States Army Air Service. For more on La Guardia’s attempts to supply the Army with Italian airplanes, as well as his tense relationship with Train, see, Rossano, Stalking the U-Boat, 306-311.

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