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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 Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations

27 October, 1918.

AMNAVPAR, PARIS.

     CS

For Admiral Benson.1 With reference to Opnav 39232 retransmitted to you from Washington. The proposal made sometime ago by the Department for rotation of ships between Battleship Division Six and Nine3 is now under consideration by Admiralty and Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet,4 as to its effect upon Grand Fleet and as to whether oil burning or coal burning ships should be used in Battleship Division Nine. Recommend final decision on this matter be deferred until Admiralty’s ideas have been made known which should be soon.

SIMS     

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

Footnote 1: Benson was in Europe at this time for a conference to determine what conditions the Allies would demand in return for an armistice. See: Benson to Sims, 23 October 1918.

Footnote 2: This document has not been found. For more on the proposed rotation, see: Sims to Murray, 16 October 1918.

Footnote 3: Battleship Division Six was stationed at Berehaven, Ireland, while Battleship Division Nine operated with the British Grand Fleet in the North Sea blockade. Due to the end of the war, nothing came of this proposal.

Footnote 4: Adm. Sir David Beatty.

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