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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Bureau of Ordnance to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

                        Copy                    File No. 26-8-5

Cablegram Received    Aug. <6, 1918.> 02583  RLM

     Opnav, Washington. (Buord).         Serial No. 9550

Ref’d to        Date            Action, Notes, and initials

M-4            5 <6> Aug.

31-ARD

S E C R E T

Simsadus:

9550. Your 2256.1 If the mark 6 mine is satisfactory in 150 fathoms it can be assumed it will function equally well in 500 fathoms if provided with a special light mooring cable but the Bureau has no facilities at present for making deep sea tests to demonstrate this. 09306. 9550.

                /s/  Benson.

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. The handwritten date is confirmed by the time/date stamp at the end of the text. Document identifier in top right-hand corner in columnar fashion: “1/3/A/J.” This message was sent via the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and for this reason it bears the signature of Adm. William S. Benson.

Footnote 1: This cable has not been found, but see: Thaddeus A. Thomson, Jr., to Nathan C. Twining, 26 July 1918, wherein Thomson notes that a proposed barrage in Italian waters would require mines be laid at a depth of 500 fathoms (3,000 feet).

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