Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

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

CABLEGRAM SENT 1 March 1918, ECS

To Opnav Washington (Chief of Operations)   4563

     C-11              SX

24 ADR

Very Secret

4563. The First Sea Lord2 has requested me to convey to you the following information.

     Vice Admiral Grant3 has been instructed to proceed to Washington with Captain Wells4 to discuss with you the general subject of your 3077.5

     Admiral Grant is ultimate convoy authority as well as commander British Naval Forces in America.

     In view of above Admiral Wemyss requests that you be kind enough to advise him as to whether you consider it advisable that Admiral Grant’s headquarters should be in Washington in order to insure immediate action being taken in case of an emergency as to the employment of combined British and American Naval forces to operate against submarine menace on American side and route convoys in accordance therewith.6- <17001.>

/s/  Sims               

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

Footnote 1: “C-1” referred to the communication section on Sims’ staff

Footnote 2: Adm. Sir Rosslyn Wemyss.

Footnote 3: VAdm. Sir William Lowther Grant, Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies Station.

Footnote 4: Based in Newport, Va., Commo. Lionel de Vere Wells was in charge of arranging convoys from the United States.

Footnote 6: See: Benson to Sims, 3 March 1918.

Related Content