Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

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

Action Copy

CABLEGRAM RECEIVED  24 November 1917.

Origin Train. Naval Attache, Rome.           Serial No. 19

Via: NCB 23 D                                Date No. 15023

Copies to: COS, JVB.1                       File No. 55-4-2

Action Referred to       Action taken    Date Init.   Ref. No.  COS     NOT to File   24 Dec.

VERY SECRET.

19.  Naval conference here November 21st and 22nd. Admirals

Calthorpe, Wimyss and Dekon.2 Object:  Informal discussion mutual operations Mediterranean Sea and Adriatic Sea.  Offensive operations  Adriatic Sea rejected as impracticable. Department informed. 15023.

Train, Naval Attache,        

7 A.M.             

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

Footnote 1: “COS” is chief of staff Capt. Nathan C. Twining; “JVB” is Sims’ personal aide John V. Babcock, who also handled intelligence matters.

Footnote 2: That is, VAdm. Sir Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe, British Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet; RAdm. Rosslyn E. Wemyss, British Second Sea Lord; VAdm. Ferdinand-Jean-Jacques De Bon, French Chef d’Etat-major general. Also attending, but not listed here, were two Italian admirals: VAdm. Lorenzo Cusani Visconti and VAdm. Paolo Thaon di Revel. For more on the topics addressed at the conference, see Wemyss Memorandum, [26 November 1917], and Calthorpe to Admiralty, 27 November 1917, Royal Navy in the Mediterranean, 311-12; 313-14.