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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Office of the Chief of Naval Operations to Naval District Commandants and Various Other Officers

U. S. NAVAL DESPATCH

     <July 18, 1918.>    Receiving Data

Prefix

Origin

No.

Operator or Signalman

Check

Date and Time

 

OPNAV

4 DN

 

240

I9/7/18

8:04[?] AM

 

VIA Navy Radio N.Y.               System         Code or Cipher

ADDRESS CINC                      Landwire New York  FALOS-G

     Following secret advice received Quote There is reliable information that in addition to the U-I56 a submarine cruiser possibly of xxx later type now proceeding toward United States Coast1 period It is reported that U-I56 as well as the other cruiser have been given instructions as to whereabouts of several factory chimneys Cape May and oil tanks Cape Henlopen also Cape May life-saving stations period Information also indicates the probability these submarines attempting bombard coast period Position second submarine unknown but may be half way across unquote Hold this matter confidential but take every precaution within your power to meet such a situation period Be prepared for acts of sabotage in conjunction with just such an effort on part of enemy submarines period Take special steps to see that channels are constantly swept for mines period Under no circumstances should such an effort on part of enemy create a defensive attitude on our part as would slow up our offensive effort abroad paragraph

     Last definitely known position enemy submarine Lat. 40º Long. 52º West Noon 8 July acknowledge.

COMNAVDIS ONE CND TWO2 COMSUBFOR3 CND THREE4 CINC5 COMCRUFOR6 CND FOUR CND FIVE7 COMCRUDIV FOUR CND SIX CND SEVEN8 COMAMROLDET9 CND EIGHT CND FIFTEEN10 NAVY RADIO ST.THOMAS V.I. FLAG SAN DOMINGO11 220I8

<Opnav>

Acknowledged by 063I9

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. The handwritten date is confirmed by the time/date stamp at the end of the cable. This cable is printed on a form, and several of the blank boxes and other extraneous matter have been omitted.

Footnote 1: U-156 arrived on 15 June and sank a British steamer on the 26th. See: Sims to Opnav, 26 June 1918. The reported submarine on its way across the Atlantic was the U-140, which departed on 22 June. See, Clark, When the U-Boats Came to America: 173.

Footnote 2: Commandants of Naval Districts One and Two, RAdm. Spencer D. Wood and Comm. James P. Parker.

Footnote 3: Capt. Samuel S. Robison, Commander, Submarine Force.

Footnote 4: RAdm. Nathanial R. Usher, Commandant, Naval District Three.

Footnote 5: Adm. Henry T. Mayo, Commander-in-Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet.

Footnote 6: RAdm. Albert T. Gleaves, Commander, Cruiser Force.

Footnote 7: Capt. George F. Cooper, Commandant, Naval District Four, and RAdm. Augustus F. Fechteler, Commandant, Naval District Five.

Footnote 8: The Commander, Cruiser Division Four is unknown. RAdm. Frank E. Beatty, Commandant, Naval District Six, and Cmdr. Warren J. Terhune, Commandant, Naval District Seven.

Footnote 9: RAdm. Edwin A. Anderson, Commander, American Patrol Detachment.

Footnote 10: Comm. Valentine S. Nelson, Commandant, Naval District Eight, and RAdm. Marbury Johnston, Commandant, Naval District Fifteen.

Footnote 11: The commander of the radio station at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands is unknown. The flag officer at San Domingo was RAdm. Harry S. Knapp.

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