Skip to main content

Naval History and Heritage Command

Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

Action Copy.                       File No.

Cablegram Received <August 19, 1918,>   CFS1

Origin Opnav Washington.           Ser. No. 80

Ref’d. to

Date

ACTION, NOTES and INITIALS.

CS

Aug 20

<AD 7>

<AC>

 

<JVD   Aug 19, 1918>

<S-1>

 

<CD Answer issued->

     48 ARD

SECRET

Simsadus

     80.  Your 2702.2   Berne conference will meet 23rd September 1918. Members American Commission now in United States will sail about 23rd August proceeding as State Department Commission via London and Paris.

     Navy Commissioner will participate in all deliberations in regard to prisoners of war or related subjects and whole commission will act as unit.

     Personnel is as follows:

Commissioner John W. Garrett, Minister, Netherlands

Chairman John W. Davis, Solicitor General

United States Major-General F. J. Kernan U. S. Army.3

Captain U.S.N. H. H. Hough4

Assistant Commissioner E. L. Dresel, American Prisoners Central Committee in Berne5

C. A. Herter, Secretary of Commission.6

C. H. Russell, Junior Secretary of Legation.7

Colonel U. S. Grant, 3rd U. S. Army.8

Colonel S. G. Shartle, U. S. Army.9

Commander Raymond Stone, U. S. Navy

C. M. Storey, Department of Justice10

Major James H. Perkins, National Red Cross

L. N. Snowden, Special Disbursing Officer

C. E. MacEachran, Confidential Clerk

Robert T. Allinson, Confidential Clerk

Albert Ward, Secretary to Solicitor General

     Please instruct Navy members to report to Chairman of Commission in London, England, about Sept. 1st. Only regular Commissioners will have vote. Commander Raymond Stone has been directed report as Assistant to Captain Hough. 22019 80

Benson             

12:19 AM Aug 20, 1918   

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. Handwritten date is confirmed by time/date stamp.

Footnote 1: Initials of the transcriber.

Footnote 2: The referred to cable has not been found.

Footnote 3: Maj. Gen. Francis J. Kernan, U.S.A.

Footnote 4: Capt. Henry H. Hough.

Footnote 5: Assistant Commissioner Ellis L. Dresel, American Prisoners Central Committee in Berne.

Footnote 6: Christian A. Herter, Secretary of Commission.

Footnote 7: Charles H. Russell, Junior Secretary of Legation.

Footnote 8: Col. Ulysses S. Grant, 3rd, U.S.A.

Footnote 9: Col. Samuel G. Shartle, U.S.A.

Footnote 10: Charles M. Storey, Department of Justice.

hide
Related Content
Prisoners of War