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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 the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations

DISPATCH TO BE SENT.

Date      26 August 1918.

To        Opnav Washington.

Prepared by    C-1  Approved <NCT> Code <46ADR>   No. <SB 30>

(Begin Dispatch after this line)

Simben 30. My Simben 22 and your Simben <10>.1 In case of injury to transatlantic cable arrangements made transmit desired information by transatlantic radio from Lyons and Carnarvon. Inasmuch as all official telegrams transmitted by transatlantic radio contain an Allied additive key which changes daily the urgency of this class of dispatch would not be noted by the U.S. transatlantic receiving stations. Arrangements made for priority such dispatches this side but believe this class dispatch should carry as first word of dispatch a code word similar to quote Simben unquote which upon receipt by U.S. transatlantic receiving stations would signify extreme urgency in transmitting to Department. Suggest Director Naval Communications2 make xx such arrangements with French and British transatlantic radio officials which will necessitate certain changes in Allied procedure in present transatlantic radio traffic. Arrangements will then be made my me to transmit certain test messages in order that system may be perfected in case of necessity <210526>

Sims.              

Source Note: C, DNA, RG45, Entry 517B. Document identifier “SIMBEN” stamped twice above subject line.

Footnote 2: Capt. David W. Todd, Director, Naval Communications.

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