Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Rear Admiral Samuel McGowan, Paymaster General, Intra-Bureau Order No. 201

 

NAVY DEPARTMENT

(Bureau of Supplies and Accounts)

WASHINGTON, D.C.

In reply please refer to No. 141

26 July 1917.

     Requisitions, requests and recommendations from Vice Admiral Sims,1 Senior Naval Officer in Command in Europe, are to be acted upon the same day they are received and, unless there be some insurmountable obstacle, in exact agreement with his wishes; that is to say: when I properly have any discretion in the premises, it is to be understood that that discretion has already been exercised when Admiral Sims’ wishes become known.

     Advice of action taken will be immediately cabled to Admiral Sims in every case.

     I am aware that, almost without exception, the foregoing rule has been in effect ever since Admiral Sims went abroad; but the necessity for instant action and unconditional support of everything that he does or wants to do is so obviously important that this order is issued to the end that immediate and favorable action may hereafter be invariable.

MC GOWAN.

Source Note: TDS, DLC-MSS, William Sims Papers, Box 22. A file number, “D8220”, appears in the upper left-hand corner, and further identification numbers “1/3/J” appear along the right margin.

Footnote 1: VAdm. William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters.