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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

DISPATCH SENT

Date 3 Oct. 1918.

To Opnav. Washington.

Prepared by N-5.    Approved NCT   Code 52 ADR    No. 6162.

HIGHLY SECRET.

6162. Not for circulation. It appears that U-152 was in about 44.00 North 39.00 West September 30th and is not likely therefore to reachlongitude Nantucket before about October 12th.1 Evidently U-139 was submarine which sunk two ships by gunfire in about 45.30 North 11.00 West October 1st and is therefore not proceeding America at present. Her commanding officer Arnauld de la Periere is firm believer in attack by gunfire. 161503 6162

SIMS.                       

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. The handwritten date at the top of the page is confirmed by the time-date stamp at the end of the document.

Footnote 1: In late September, Benson sent a cablegram to various district commanders and naval officers on the east coast of the United States warning them that U-152 might appear in the vicinity of Nantucket and launch an attack. For additional details on this, see: Opnav to Certain Naval District Commandants and Other Officers, 17 September 1918.

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