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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 Secretary of the British Admiralty Sir Oswyn A.R. Murray

U. S. NAVAL FORCES OPERATING IN EUROPEAN WATERS

U.S.S. MELVILLE, FLAGSHIP.

TELEPHONE VICTORIA 9110                 30, GROSVENOR GARDENS.

CABLE ADDRESS, “SIMSADUS”                         London, S.W.1.

Reference No. 01.<11353.>              16 March, 1918.

From: Force Commander.

To:   Secretary of the Admiralty.

Subject:   British Naval Officer for detail in Convoy Section of U.S.Navy Department.

          1.   The U.S.Navy Department has recently established a Convoy Section that will deal not only with the question of convoys, but also of routes of shipping, especially approach routes to the Atlantic seaboard of North America, including the Panama Canal.

          2.  The Navy Department intends to provide approach routes to all the principal ports on the Atlantic seaboard, so that in the event of submarine activities ships or convoys en route to the westward can be instructed as to the safest route of approach to their destinations.

          3.  In order that the Navy Department may have the advantage of the experience of the Admiralty, as well as to provide for co-operation in the protection to shipping, I am directed to request that the Admiralty detail a suitable officer for duty in the Convoy Section of the Navy Department.1

Wm S Sims

Source Note: TLS, UK-KeNA, Adm. 137/655. The letter is on printed stationery.

Footnote 1: On 3 April, the British Admiralty informed Sims that Capt. Hugh B. Mulleneux had been appointed to this station. Ibid.

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