Rear Admiral Montgomery Sicard, President of the Naval War Board, to Secretary of the Navy John D. Long
Navy Department,
Office of Naval War Board,
Washington, D. C.,
June 7, 1898.
Rear Admiral
President of the Board.
Sir:
The Board instructs me to direct your attention to the fact that, since Saturday, last, a dozen vessels of the Navy are lying in Key West and Tampa, ready to act as convoy, in projected military expedition, and that, while thus idle, their services are withdrawn from the blockade, where they would be most useful. It is to be hoped that the present delay may not be long continued.1
Very respectfully,
M. Sicard June 7, 1898.
Rear Admiral,
President of the Board.
Source Note: CbCy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 372. Addressed below close: “The Secretary of the Navy.”
Footnote 1: Delays continued and the convoy did not actually set sail until 14 June 1898. Trask, War with Spain, 190.
