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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

Chronological Copy.                     File No. <4/1/2>

Cablegram Received  May <29, 1918,> 04436    LEM

Origin    Opnav Washington              Ser. No. 6638

A1 May 30

Sigcode

Simsadus.

6638.     Referring recent request by Cone1 that department does not approve of establishment of large technical Aviation staff abroad. All latest information plans and recommended models should be forwarded to department for study and development. No experimental plants authorized abroad and test work will be limited to test of completed articles to ascertain their operating usefulness when purchases are being made. The mission of office abroad is to facilitate operation at the front and supply information to assist production of material in this country. 14029 6638

BENSON.       

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

Footnote 1: Capt. Hutchinson I Cone, Commander, Naval Aviation Forces, Foreign Service. Cone was asked to construct and staff bases along the English Channel and made it clear that such a plan was untenable for American forces under his command. See: Sims to Cone, 22 April 1918.

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