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Naval History and Heritage Command

Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

Action Copy.

          Cablegram Received  Sept. 28, 1917

Origin   Opnav   Washington                 Serial No. Opnav 525

Via           NCBD 16                          Date No. 17027

Copies to  C. of S.; J.V.B.; B.A.L.; E.C.T.1 File No.

Action Referred to.

Action taken.

Date.

Init.

Ref. No.

B.A.L.

Noted

1/10/17

RM

E.C.T.

Noted

2/10/17

SEB

 

 

To Simsadus.

Opnav 525. Assign U. S. S. NERO carry coal England to France authorized.2 When you send U. S. S. PANTHER and Division one destroyer force to France direct them provide escort for U. S. S. NERO.3 Simsadus. PANTHER

11027

Admiral Benson.         

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

Footnote 1: Sims’ chief of staff Capt. Nathan C. Twining; Sims’ aide Cmdr. John V. Babcock; Cmdr. Byron A. Long, the head of the Convoys Section of Sims' staff; and Paymaster Eugene C. Tobey, the head of Sims' Materials Section.

Footnote 2: On the “coal crisis” for the American army in France, see: Benson to Sims, 20 September 1917.

Footnote 3: The Division One destroyers (Smith, Flusser, Lamson, Preston, and Reid) were stationed in the Azores at the time this cable was sent. The collier Nero was there as well. Part of the division left the Azores with Nero on 5 October, going to Queenstown, Ireland. On 19 October 1917, the division sailed for Brest with Nero and the destroyer tender Panther, where they arrived 22 October. George M. Battey, Jr., 70,000 Miles on a Submarine Destroyer or, The Reid Boat in the World War (Atlanta, The Webb & Vary Company, 1919), 65-66.

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