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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

RECEIVED:  June 5th, 1917.   TO: Admiral Sims.

     You are authorized to detain Tobey.1

     Referring to your cablegram of June first2 the Department will afford you every facility which the personnel and material conditions of the Navy permit.

     The material bureaus3 have been sent or will send technical officers.

     The Department disapproves of all commissioned personnel.

     You have authority to employ necessary clerical assistants.

     The DIXIE is coming with the full complement.4

     Arrangements have been made to keep the U.S. Navy forces supplied with provisions, spare parts for repairs and fuel.

     Such expenditures as may be necessary to maintain your forces in efficient condition and for any purpose connected therewith are authorized. 23004.

     Daniels.

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG45, Entry 517.

Footnote 1: Paymaster Eugene C. Tobey. Tobey had been serving as an assisntant to the United States Naval Attaché at London and had recently recieved orders to return to the United States to bring a report to the Navy Department, but Sims requested that he be allowed to keep him in London. See: Palmer to Sims, 10 May, 1917.

Footnote 3: Material bureaus included: Bureau of Ordnance, Bureau of Steam Engineering, Bureau of Construction and Repair, Bureau of Navigation, and the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.

Footnote 4: DIXIE steamed out of Philadelphia on 31 May and reached Queenstown on 12 June.