Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/18/1917, Second cablegram of the day

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

18 Dec 1917

From: Sims

To: OPNAV

2218. My 2217.1 Although the Admiralty have not emphasized the attitude of the Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet2 in this question I have no doubt that the main reason for proposing the change in the location of the barrage is the strategic objections raised by the Commander in Chief to the Aberdeen-Ekersund line period I concur in the opinion that the change is necessary for the success of the project period Please regard cable as confidential. 07018.

SIMS.

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. For more on the debate between the British and American navies about the Mine Barrage and its location, see: Harris Laning to Josephus Daniels, 14 December 1917, and Still, Crisis at Sea, 430ff.

Footnote 1: See: Sims to Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 18 December 1917.

Footnote 2: Adm. Sir David Beatty.

Naval History and Heritage Command