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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Bureau of Ordnance to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

Chronological Copy.                          File No. <27-2-3>

Cablegram Received <September 21, 1918.> Y-11

Origin    Opnav Washington (Buord)                Ser.No. 1944

M-4 Sept 22

B.

Simsadus.

1944. Your 4880 and 5126.1 1000 depth charges now available for shipment. Have equipment on hand at Iona Island, N.Y. for 3000 more and these will all be loaded and ready for shipment by October 1. Chief of Naval Operations2 and Bureau of S[upplies]&A[ccounts] cannot provide any transportation now but promise transportation for 1000 each to Bases 6, 9, 25 and 273 by October 1. Shipment to Base 6 and 27 will be via SS CANTON and to Bases 9 and 25 via SS FALLSCITY. Shipment to Base 74 will follow above shipments. Present production of depth charges slightly over 200 per day. If this production maintained can supply reserve stock at all bases as given in your 13435 by November 15. Hope to materially better this from additional sources of production but cannot definitely promise. 1000 British depth charges have been ready for shipment for several weeks and production is slightly over 100 per day. Bureau will do everything possible to obtain priority for shipments for depth charges as requested. 12521 1944.

Benson.            

Sent: 12 :40 a.m., September 22, 1918.

Recd:  2 :55 p.m., September 22, 1918.

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. Handwritten date is confirmed by the time/date notation at the end of the document.

Footnote 1: See: Sims to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 19 September 1918. Document number 4880 has not been found but it is referred to in detail in ibid.

Footnote 2: Adm. William S. Benson.

Footnote 3: Queenstown, Ireland; Gibraltar; Corfu, Greece; and Plymouth, England.

Footnote 4: Brest, France.

Footnote 5: This cable has not been found.

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