Naval History and Heritage Command

Captain Nathan C. Twining, Chief of Staff, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels

June 20,1918.

From   :  Force Commander,

To     : Secretary of the Navy (Operations).

Subject: Forwarding Planning Section Memorandum No. 26,1 concerning possible raid by enemy battle-cruiser.

     1.   The enclosed Memorandum No.26, from the Planning Section of my Staff, has an <as> an appendix, comment by the P lan s Division of the British Admiralty, and also a statement of the measures proposed by the Admiralty Plans Division to be taken if enemy battle-cruisers enter the Atlantic. These proposed measures have not been approved by the Admiralty, as it is not their custom to reject or adopt the recommendations of the Plans Division in advance of any necessity for action.

     2.   I regard that the Estimate of the situation made by the Planning Section of my Staff, and the decisions reached, as sound, and believe that battle-cruisers should be made available for the purposes of searching for enemy battle-cruisers in case they enter the Atlantic. I am informed that Great Britain has made the strongest possible effort to induce Japan to send her battle-cruisers to the war zone, but without success. It is possible that the United States Government mightbe more successful, and it is suggested that an effort be made to persuade Japan to this end.

     3.   It would be extremely undesirable, in my opinion, to adopt the passive waiting attitude expressed in paragraph one of the “Proposed Measures, etc”.

     4.   The Department’s attention is particularly invited to paragraphs 5 and 6 of the “Proposed Measures,etc”. It is recommended that plans be prepared for providing battleship escorts, in case of necessity, and that a certain number of merchant vessels now building in the United States be equiped with high power radio.

/S/ N.C.Twining.

Captain U.S.Navy

Chief of Staff,

Signed for Vice-Admiral Sims,

In his absence.