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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 the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations

I-40                                               IL 8437

<October 30, 1918>

TRANSLATION

From:     Sims

To:       Opnav

          8437 Group seventy six seven hours late.1 Speed reduced to ten and a half paragraph. This information not received until escort had sailed from Brest France. Recommend that group be instructed to send such information about forty eight hours before reaching standard Meridian 153430 8437

Sims

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. There is a routing list below the close: “OP-19/OP-22/OP-28/OP-23/OP-43 for action/OP-49.” There is also a note on when the cable was received “1210am 10-31-18.” Finally, there are notes handwritten on the cable “Bristol for Action” and “Murray/File this and Remind me to inform each group regarding this—B--.” “Bristol” was undoubtedly Cmdr. Arthur L. Bristol, Jr., who worked in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. The “B” in the note also refers to Bristol as does the designation “OP-43.” Murray was presumably a yeoman who worked in Opnav. The handwritten date is confirmed by the time/date notation following the text.

Footnote 1: “Group” designated a troop ship convoy bound for the French coast.

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