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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Captain Hutchinson I. Cone, Commander, Naval Aviation Forces, Foreign Service

Subject Copy.                                 File No. <4-17-8>  

Cablegram Sent  April 22, 1918.  TOH

To   Amnavpar, Paris  (For Cone)              Serial No. 2001

Prep. by  A-1                  SX  D.R.

                     33 ADR

2001. British Admiralty propose requesting us to take over one airship station at Marqu<i>se, France, and two mooring-out stations in immediate vicinity of that place. They will provide all materiel if we provide personnel. Also that we construct, man and operate one large airship station at Peterhead, Scotland. Dirigibles for this station to be supplied by us. Also to request us to loan them 500 mechinists mates for duty at Airship Stations in England to supply shortage of engineer ratings. Accommodations are available for as many as 140 airship officers at various British airship stations and we are invited to send that number if we desire. Submit your recommendation so that Admiralty may be notified unofficially whether or not we will consider these proposals.1 21522. 2001

Sims     

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B.

Footnote 1: The British had also asked the United States to establish a seaplane base at Le Havre, France; Sims to Cone, 17 April 1918, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. In late April, Cone wrote a friend that although the British had been urging him to build or man additional stations along the English Channel and elsewhere, he rejected those requests , saying that "the United States had as much on its plate as it could handle.” Rossano, Stalking the U-Boat: 146.

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