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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 Bureau of Navigation

Chronological Copy.                                   File No.

              Cablegram Sent July: 13, 1918      TOH

To        Opnav, Washington. (Bunav)         Serial No. 1097

Prep. by CS-2                     SX D.R.

                                           33 ADR

1097. Your 8138.1 Vessels mentioned are only transports sailing from France which have been torpedoed since our entry into the war, and troop transport movements now cover a period of a little over one year. About one third of the sailings were prior to January 1, 1918, and double that number have occurred since that date. In view of small number of attacks in proportion to number of sailings and the considerable length of time elapsing between attacks as compared with the frequency of sailings I am of opinion that enemy submarines are obtaining little, if any, useful information from French coast. Moreover distances from coast have been such that knowledge of times of departure would have been of little value without knowledge of routes taken. Enemy cannot but know points of departure and certain percentage of attacks must be expected. Rear Admiral Wilson2 is investigating possibility of radio communication between shore and enemy submarines. 06113. 1097

Sims              

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B.

Footnote 1: See: Benson to Sims, 5 July 1918.

Footnote 2: Henry B. Wilson, Commander, United States Naval Forces Based in France.

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