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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

Subject Copy.                                File No.

CABLEGRAM SENT    Jan. 15, 1918.    IT

To        Opnav Washington                 Serial No 2961

Prep. by   C-1                    [SX?]       D.R.

25 D.

VERY SECRET

2961. Your 2053. Following vessels will be sent Brest. U.S.S. MAY,U.S.S. NOKOMIS, U.S.S.RAMBLER. Following will be sent Gibraltar U.S.S. VENETIA, U.S.S.NAHANT,U.S.S. PENOBSCOT. Following will remain Azores, U.S.S. GALATEA and U.S.S.MARGARET. All other yachts arriving will be sent to French Coast. 15015

Sims.              

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. Identifying number at the top of the page in columnar fashion: “3/4/5/C.” “C-1” was presumably a section in Sims’ staff; “SX” is crossed through and difficult to read. “25 D” was the code used to send this message and “IT” was presumably the initials of the unknown coder.

Footnote 1: PENOBSCOT and NAHANT were armed tugs; all the other vessels mentioned were armed yachts.