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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 General Tasker H. Bliss, American Permanent Military Representative, Supreme War Council

                         CABLEGRAM SENT.   August 27, 1918.

SFM.     

To:  Comfran Brest.1

Prep. by CS.                                 5546

31 ARD.       

SECRET.

5546. URGENT. Transmit following to General Bliss very confidentially.

     “Recent Austrian successes in Albania coupled with reported retirement of Italian to the Malakastre Mountains indicates danger of domination and possible capture Valona by enemy.2 This would create an entirely new situation in the lower Adriatic which the Allied navies would find it very difficult to meet in their campaign against the submarines. z Plans now on fott [i.e. foot] for clocking submarines in the Adriatic would have to be extensively modified and possibly abandoned altogether should Valona pass into enemy possession. Allied Naval Council will probably make early representations on this subject to Supreme War Council. This message is for your advance informations. Signed Sims”. 5546

SIMS.         

Answered by Comfran’s Cable.

5665.3

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 520, Box 415. Identifiers “1/3/J” appear on the right side of the page near the top.

Footnote 1: RAdm. Henry B. Wilson, Commander, United States Naval Forces in France.

Footnote 2: Also known as Vlore, Albania. This city remained under Italian control until after the war.

Footnote 3: This cable has not been found. In a cable dated 29 August Bliss promised that Sims’ cable would receive “careful consideration.”