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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 Vice Admiral Ferdinand de Bon, Chief of French Naval Staff

August 5, 1918.    

My dear Admiral de Bon,

          I desire to express my deep appreciation of the admirable manner in which the French Forces in the Mediterranean have co-operated with the Flotilla of U.S. submarine chasers based on Corfu.

          I am informed that Admiral Gouchet1 has repeatedly taken the time and trouble to go ashore personally with U.S. Naval Officers with a view of assuring himself that their needs were understood and given prompt attention.

          The American Commander2 informs me that the French Commander-in-Chief has placed at his disposal boats, moorings, anchors, cables, buoys and, in fact, provided everything within his power even in many cases sacrificing important supplies undoubtedly needed by the French forces.

          Without delay or hesitation the French Commander-in-Chief has in every instance treated the needs of the U.S. ships exactly as if they were part of his own forces.

          Please allow me to express the appreciation of the U.S. Navy for this new evidence of comradeship between the two services.

Very sincerely yours,   

Source Note: TL, DLC-MSS, William Sims Papers, Box 24. Addressed below close: “Admiral de Bon,/Ministry of Marine,/P a r i s,/France.” Document is from: “Admiral Sims’ personal files.”

Footnote 1: Adm. Dominique Marie Gauchet, Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces in the Mediterranean. For more on Gauchet's efforts, see: Richard H. Leigh to Sims, 30 July 1918.

Footnote 2: Capt. Charles P. Nelson, Commander, United States Naval Forces Based at Corfu.

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