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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Rear Admiral Albert T. Gleaves, Commander, Cruiser and Transport Forces, Atlantic Fleet

CONFIDENTIAL

NAVY DEPARTMENT

Office of Naval Operations

WASHINGTON

APR 1 1918.

Mat. 1 E 3/30

CONFIDENTIAL

From: Chief of Naval Operations

  To: Commander, Cruiser Force.

Subject:  Vessels fitting out for Navy Transports.

Reference:  (a) Organization Sheets and Assignment U.S. Naval

               Forces, March 12, 1918.1

     1. The Commander, Cruiser Force is informed that there are at present eight vessels fitting out for service as Navy troop transports which will be assigned to the Transport Force:

CALAMARIES:

     This vessel has been operated as a troop transport by the War Department and is now being turned over to the Navy to be manned by Navy crew and operated as a vessel of the Transport Force. Now under repairs at New York.

PRINCESS MATOIKA: (ex Princess Alice)

     This is an ex-German vessel recently arrived at New York from Manilla.

WILHELMINA:

     This is a Matson Line steamship now at New York being converted to troop transport.

MAUI:

     This is a Matson Line steamship now at Baltimore, Md., under orders to proceed to New York to complete equipment and for loading.

SIBONEY: (ex ORIENTE)

     This is a new vessel under construction at the works of William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia. It is expected that this vessel will be turned over to the Navy and placed in commission early in April and should arrive in New York ready for service about April 15th.

ORIZABA:

     This is a sister ship of the SIBONEY, now under construction at the works of William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia. It is expected that this vessel will be ready for service about June 1.

ZE<E>LANDIA (Dutch) and <Rijndam> (Dutch):

     These two vessels are now at New York. Will be commissioned in the Navy, manned by Navy crews and assigned to the Transport Force. It is not intended that the complete conversion of these vessels will be accomplished prior to first sailing, but orders have been issued to accomplish as much of this work as is possible without delaying their sailing.

<W.S.Benson>

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. At the end of the document a columnar lists indicates that copies of this document were to be sent to, “Op. 23/ Op. 35/ Bu. Nav./Bu. C&R/ Bu. SE/ Bu. Ord.”

Footnote 1: This document has not been located.

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