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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 09530.

Origin:  Opnav, Washington.                       Ser. No. 4367.

                    VERY SECRET.      <March 29, 1918>

Simsadus:

4367. General plan outlined in your 5697 is approved.1 Our 4159 should be amplified to state specifically number of chasers comprising the 2 flotillas for Distant Service mentioned that dispatch total 144.2 If in future with completion Ford Chasers,3 that number abroad can be increased to manifest advantage, it will be done.4 17029. 4367.

BENSON.  

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

Footnote 3: The “Ford Chasers” were submarine chasers being built by the Ford Motor Company.

Footnote 4: For more on sending submarine chasers to Europe, see: Sims to Benson, 25 March 1918. As noted therein, by war’s end 170 U.S. submarine chasers were based in Europe.