Naval History and Heritage Command

Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly, R.N., Commander, Naval Forces, Southern Ireland to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

Admiralty House,

Queenstown.  

19. 2. 18.

My dear Admiral

     Under the circumstances I recommend your keeping the Santee as a mystery ship, change her name, and she will be used with convoys dropping astern of them, or ahead etc. Steaming about by herself also as if making a coasting voyage. Her cruises will be carefully thought out so as to always represent a real ship steaming in a real direction. The great difficulty lies in not being able to alter her draught. If steering East astern of a convoy she ought to be xx deeply laden; if west she ought to be of light draught. If steering west along Irish south coast she would be deep; if East she would be light; etc. However we will manage all right.

I am sorry about the Italians but not surprised; having lived among them I know them fairly well, they are full of jealously and pride and not much more fond of England or U S A than of Germany.1 Calthorpe2 is a very good man and I know him well.

I hope you will come over with THE niece;3 a thousand thanks for your kindness to her. Jellicoe4 comes here on a visit about the end of Feby or beginning of March.

Yours very sincerely,                

Sgd – Lewis Bayly.