Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, Memorandum to Naval Departments
July 11, 1917.
To: Bureau of Navigation
Construction and Repair
Steam Engineering
Ordnance
Supplies and Accounts
Medicine and Surgery
Yards & Docks
Commandant, Navy Yard, New York
Navy Yard, Boston
Navy Yard, Norfolk.1
Copies to:- General Board
Hydrographic Office
Office of Naval Intelligence
War Department.
Subject: Transports to be commissioned in the Navy.
References: (a) Opnav letter of 19 June 1917, No. 28754-31
(b) Opnav letter of 19 June 1917, No. 28754-31
Giving tentative assignment of batteries.
1. The following named ex-German vessels shall be commissioned in the Navy, with a complete naval personnel, and prepared for transport service as soon as possible:-
Vaterland now at New York
Amerika “ Boston
President Lincoln “ New York
President Grant “ New York
Cincinnati “ Boston
Hamburg “ New York
Koenig Wilhelm II “ New York
George Washington “ New York
Kronprinzessin Cecille “ Boston
Kaiser Wilhelm II “ New York
Grosser Kurfurst “ New York
Barbarossa “ New York
Princess Irene “ New York
Friedrich der Grosse “ New York
Rhein “ Norfolk
Neckar “ Norfolk
2. It will be noted that the Neckar and Rhein have been substituted for the Princess Alice mentioned in References (a) and (b).
3. Commandants of Naval Districts will take over immediately those of the above name vessels that are within their respective districts.
4. Arrangements for transporting troops shall conform to Army practice so far as circumstances permit. Consult Army authorities for assistance and advice on all matters relating to fitting vessels for carrying troops.
5. Contracts already made for repairs and alterations (in so far as they are necessary to fit the vessels for troop transports) shall be completed under naval direction and inspection. Contracts for additional repairs or alterations, and changes in contracts necessary to meet naval needs and standards shall be handled by the Navy exclusively.
Josephus Daniels
Source Note: TDS, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. Following a 12 May Joint Resolution of Congress that authorized the seizure and commandeering of all German vessels interned in American ports, on 30 June 1917, President Woodrow Wilson issued an Executive Order turning over custody of these ships to the United States Navy; the ships listed in this memorandum were some of those named in Wilson’s Executive order. See: Executive Order of President Woodrow Wilson, 30 June 1917.
Footnote 1: These Commandants were RAdm. Nathaniel R. Usher, Capt. William R. Rush, and RAdm. Walter McLean, respectively.
