Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

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

                             COPY.            File No. 25-9-16 E

CABLEGRAM SENT      October 23 <22, 1918.> Y-29

Serial No. 397.

To   Alusna Rome.

Prep. by CS                       SX

42 ADR.       

SECRET.

397. Your 478 and 489.1 Admiralty informs me that withdrawal of vessels from Otranto Barrage is temporary only and made necessary by operations off Kavala.2 Our submarine chasers have not been withdrawn but have been ordered to discontinue operations in case protecting vessels of mobile barrage are withdrawn. It is unsafe for these chasers to operate without support so long as Austrian cruisers are ca pable of making surp<ri>ze attack. Matter will be discussed with Admiralty and endeavor made to secure return of vessels withdrawn at earliest possible date.  152222.  397

SIMS.

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. The handwritten date is confirmed by the time/date notation at the end of the cable.

Footnote 1: 487 has not been found. For 489, see, Train to Sims, 20 October 1918, DNA, RG 45, Entry 520, Box 415.

Footnote 2: For more on the withdrawal of forces from the Otranto Barrage, see: Nelson to Sims, 20 October 1918, and Sims to Nelson, 22 October 1918.

Related Content