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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Captain Richard H. Jackson, United States Staff Representative in Paris, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

    

             CABLEGRAM RECEIVED June <9, 1918.> 01109    SFM

Amnavpar, Paris.                                       2162

CS                                                   June 9

31                                                      ADR

 C O N F I D E N T I A L

Simsadus.

2162.  Confidential message from Mac Nally1 fo r Sims and Pershing2 for use present offensive quote about half million men contributed by Mackensen.3 Two British Cruisers sunk at Zeebrugge for blockade purposes have been turned that largest torpedo boats pass without any difficulty. In last British Ostend attack VINDICATIVE was sunk alongside pier and does not affect channel.4 Germans expect furtherr North Sea port attacks and they are preparing energetically to repel them. Large numbers of submarines <are> said to have been lost during month April. Exact number actually not yet known unquote. Polk unquote.5  00309.  2162. 

Jackson. 

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. Identifiers “16/6/1” appear in the upper-right corner with “J/1/2/3/” below in columnar fashion.

Footnote 1: James C. McNally, U.S. Consul General at Zurich Switzerland.

Footnote 2: Maj. Gen. John J. Pershing, Commander-in-Chief, American Expeditionary Force.

Footnote 3: Field Marshal Anton L.A. Von Mackinsen, a German officer who was serving as military governor of Romania. Apparently troops were withdrawn from Mackinsen’s forces for use in the ongoing German campaign on the Western Front. For a summary of these offensives, see, Strachan, The First World War: 290-300.

Footnote 4: For more on the raids on Zeebrugge and Ostend, see: Sims to William V. Pratt, 29 April 1918.

Footnote 5: Frank L. Polk, Counselor of the Department of State.