Naval History and Heritage Command

Captain Richard H. Jackson, United States Staff Representative in Paris, to Rear Admiral Henry B. Wilson, Commander, United States Naval Forces in France

U.S. NAVAL FORCES OPERATING IN EUROPEAN WATERS

STAFF OFFICE IN FRANCE.

          (Passy 13-80

Telephones (  ″   13-81                       4, Place D’Iena.                                                                       

          (  ″   13-82                           Paris, France.    

Cable Address: AMNAVPAR

Reference No. B.11.          February 28, 1918.

From:     Captain R.H.Jackson, U.S.N.

To:       Commander U.S.Naval Forces in France.

SUBJECT: Report on submarine situation for week ending February 24th.

          1.   The chart of submarine operations for the week ending February 24th shows only one sinking by the 3 large submersibles operating in the Atlantic, and none by the 2 submarines operating on the west coast of France, while there was only one sinking in the western Mediterranean.

          In the vicinity of Malta 2 vessels were lost; in the Aegean Sea there was much greater activity, four or five vessels having been torpedoed in that area.

          2.   A new phase of employment for the submersibles has developped in the cutting of cables. Evidently one of these vessels is specially fitted for the purpose, as there have been 4 cables cut within the last six weeks, presumably by some vessel.

          3.   The new system of sending convoys direct from Gibraltar to Genoa, instead of following the coast of Spain as far as practicable, seems likely to considerably increase the portion of the route on which the submarine will make the attacks. Admiral Salaun1 is still convinced of the great respect shown by enemy submarines for vessels navigating in Spanish territorial waters.

R. H. JACKSON