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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Office of the Chief of Naval Operations to Rear Admiral Albert Gleaves, Commander, Cruiser Force

Op-46                      SECRET              25 November 1918.

COMMANDER CRUISER FORCE

              Reference your secret letter 25006 dash 21 dash 1541 direct all transports on arrival Europe report Commander U.S. Naval Forces Europe2 the number of additional troops which each ship can carry by turning in turning out method period3 Whenever excess troops are embarked Sims will be directed to route on return voyage by Southern route period4 Furnish Department list of such excess capacities when collected.

Opnav

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. There is a note below close: “Copy to General Hines.” Maj. Gen. John L. Hines was Chief of the Army’s Embarkation Service.

Footnote 1: Gleaves’ letter has not been found.

Footnote 2: VAdm. William S. Sims.

Footnote 3: In his history of the Transport Service, Gleaves did not define the “turning in turning out method,” but did write that the service was able to increase the number of troops carried by more than twenty percent by “the installation of standees, increase of ventilation, washroom and galley facilities and life saving equipment. . . The troops were necessarily crowded and deck spaces for airing and exercising troops limited, but in no case was this overdone and no justified or serious complaint was received.” Gleaves, History of the Transport Service, 93.

Footnote 4: The southern route went by way of the Azores.

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