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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

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

Chronological Copy.                          File No. <28-11-2>

Cablegram Received <November 2, 1918.>  Y-56

Origin:   Opnav Washington                   Ser. No. 4390

M-4   3 Nov

43 ADR

Simsadus

4390 URGENT RUSH. Owing to changed political and military conditions in Mediterranean Sea, department considers adopting following tentative mine program advisable and requests your <opinion>; 1st Abandon Aegean project 2nd Suspend Adriatic Sea plans with probability of abandonment 3rd Assume North Sea barrage will be renewed or paralleled next year owing to deterioration of mine and prepare necessary material accordingly 4th, If Adriatic Sea barrage s<h>ould become necessary portion of material prepared for North Sea can be used on GARGANO-CURZOLA Line.|1|

          It is undesirable to continue preparation of special material for mines in 500 to 600 fathoms since such material could not be used in normal depth. Market conditions require strict conservation of wire rope material. Material for lower Adriatic Sea barrage could not be supplied within eight months whereas material for middle Adriatic Sea barrage could be supplied immediately. 10102 4390

<Opnav.> 

Sent 10:05 p.m. Nov. 2, 1918

Recd.12:58 aM Nov. 3, 1918.

              N.B. “Requests your” comes clear

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. The handwritten date is confirmed by the time/date notation immediately following the text and the sent/received notation below the signature.

Footnote 1: On the plans that the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations is proposing to revise, see: Nathan C. Twining to Allied Naval Council, 16 October 1918 and Sims to Bureau of Ordnance, 16 October 1918.

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