Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Admiral William s. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

 

CABLEGRAM Received March 15, 1918.

VERY SECRET

Origin:  Opnav. Washington.

To:      Simsadus.

3896.  Ship Control Commission purposes <proposes> withdraw cross-channel service the larger ships now used by Perishing1 and substituting in same work about 20 steamers LAKE HURON type.2 Should these ships be armed and manned with Armed Guard<?>

13015    3896

Benson.

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

Footnote 1: Maj. Gen. John J. Pershing, Commander, American Expeditionary Forces.

Footnote 2: Due to a shortage of commercial ocean-going vessels for requisition, the United States also acquired 64 ships designed for use in the Great Lakes and converted them for use on the Atlantic. A dozen of these proved too large to take out through the Erie Canal and had to be cut in two and fused back together. Hurley, Bridge to France, 44-45.

Related Content