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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Captain Joel R. Poinsett Pringle, Chief of Staff, Destroyer Flotilla, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

[Extract]

July 11, 1918.

My dear Pringle,

          Your letter of July 6 just received.1 . . .

          I am much pleased to hear what you have to say about the success of the 4 July celebrations at Queenstown.2

          Concerning Fairfield,3 conditions at Gibraltar are such, due to the breakdown of three of the destroyers there, that I was absolutely obliged to send the next 6 or 8 boats down there,4 so as to ensure the security of the Army supply ships that are now coming to Marseilles. You may be sure, however, that I will get Fairfield back for you when you want to use him.

          I am writing this note to give you this latter information about Fairfield, but have not the time for any gossip.

          I am quite sure that you will succeed in giving Mr. Blythe5 all the dope in Queenstown, and send him away happy with a good impression of the organization there.

Very sincerely yours.   

Source Note: Cy, DLC-MSS, William S. Sims Papers, Box 79. Addressed below close: “Capt. J.R.P. Pringle,/Queenstown.”

Footnote 1: Pringle’s letter has not been found.

Footnote 2: On the Fourth of July celebration at Queenstown, see: Sims to Josephus Daniels, 11 July 1918.

Footnote 3: Cmdr. Arthur P. Fairfield, commander, U.S. destroyer Gregory. Fairfield had previously commanded the destroyer McDougal, which had been based at Queenstown in 1917.

Footnote 4: Sims sent only two of the new destroyers, Gregory and Dyer, to Gibraltar.

Footnote 5: For more on Samuel G. Blythe, see: Sims to Woodrow Wilson, 13 July 1918.