Naval History and Heritage Command

Edward N. Hurley, Chairman, United States Shipping Board, to Raymond B. Stevens, Vice-Chairman, United States Shipping Board and United States Representative, Allied Maritime Transport Council

              TROOP TRANSPORT    SPECIAL LETTERS

                            6 Copies.

                        CONFIDENTIAL

PARAPHRASEI

              April 10, 1918.

     TO             American Embassy, London.

     FROM           Department of State, signed “LANSING”

     DATED         April 9.18 midnight.

     NUMBER        7199.

     Please deliver to Stevens the following message signed Hurley.

     Board’s State 17. In continuation of Board’s 16.1

     We understand that American troops will be transported on the MAURETANIA, AQUITANIA, OLYMPIC, and other British steamers at present in our transport service and we are depending on their continued service for the transportation of the 91,000 men per month to which my preceding telegram referred. We also understand that the British will arrange to provide for the 29,000 additional troops also mentioned therein by means of British and Italian tonnage. This number of troops added to the 91,000 previously referred to makes a monthly total of 120,000 men.

     We have done everything in our power to carry this plan through and we look to Great Britain to furnish us the tonnage necessary for the supplies and materials needed for the 29,000 additional troops.

     For your private information:

     It is planned to divide the actual cargo movement per month, in thousands of long tons, in the following manner. 407 in April; 463 in May; 488 in June; 653 in July; 747 in August; 710 in September; 727 in October; 743 in November; 748 in December; making a total movement of 5687 tons from April to December inclusive. The Departments will make total shipments in thousands of long tons as follows: Ordnance 1648, including approximately 480 replacement; Engineer 1783, Quartermaster 1853, Medical 64, Signal 278, Miscellaneous 62.

     The total will not be reduced by recent and possible alterations in the composition and disposition of the Expeditionary Force, which may, however, change the Departmental estimates given above.