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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

CABLEGRAM RECEIVED       Sept. 6, 1917.

Origin    Opnav, Washington             Serial No. Opnav 340.

Via.      N.C.B. - 15                   Date No. 10006

Copies to C. of S.; J.V.B.; B.A.L.1    File No. 25/20/1.

Action referred to

B. A. L.

From Chief Naval Operations

To Commander Naval Forces European Waters:

Opnav 340. Our 3282 by 2nd of October Azores Islands force should consist of one division of submarines, U.S.S. Tonapah, yachts Atlantic, U.S.S. Whipple and U.S.S. Truxton, period.3 Radius of action will extend to Canary Islands period. All forces will be under your general insturctions but we do not wish U.S.S. Whipple U.S.S. Truxton or Atlantic moved from this general area Paragraph.

Issue instructions in keeping with above and your 396|4| so that U.S.S. Panther and division our destroyers force may sail shortly after arrival of U.S.S. Whipple and Truxton  10008.

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; and Lt. Comdr. Byron A. Long, who was in charge of the Convoys Section on Sims' staff.

Footnote 3:Tonopah was a double turreted monitor; Whipple and Truxton were two of the first destroyers built by the Navy. The armed yacht Atlantic remained in American waters throughout the war and was not sent to the Azores. DANFS

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