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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Lieutenant Commander Charles R. Train, United States Naval Attaché at Rome, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

CABLEGRAM RECEIVED May: 06104 <1918> TOH

Origin    Alusna,   Rome.                   Ser. No. 109

Ref’d to  Date

N-1       4 May

N-3       5        R.C.H.

32 ARD

Simsadus.

109. Officers in general Italian Navy Department deplore action of Vice-Admiral Revel at Paris conference.1 Understand he will change his mind and send Dreadnoughts to Corfu.2 Naval Attache knows that Minister of Marine informed the Prime Minister3 now at Supreme War Council that there was absolutely no reason why dreadnoughts should not go to Corfu. As sure best interests of Italian and Allies served by removal of Revel and believe Italian Navy at large would like it. If Allies make such suggestion believe change would be quickly made in which case recommend Vice-Admiral Millo4 for position, this concurred in by British Naval Attache.5 14003

Train

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 520, Box 415. Di Revel ultimately weathered this storm, and was not replaced in his position as Chief of the Italian Naval Staff.

Footnote 1: Chief of Naval Staff VAdm. Paolo Thaon di Revel. Revel was a known as something of a malcontent in the Italian Navy who resisted any efforts to place the Italian Navy in harm’s way. See: Train to Sims, 16 April 1918, and Sims to Train, 18 April 1918.

Footnote 2: Although Train believed di Revel would change his mind on the deployment of Italian ships to Corfu, di Revel reneged on this promise. See: Train to Sims, 9 May 1918.

Footnote 3: Minister of the Navy VAdm. Alberto del Bono, and Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando.

Footnote 4: Adm. Enrico Millo, Commander, Adriatic Fleet.

Footnote 5: Capt. Dennis A. H. Larking, British Naval Attaché at Rome.

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