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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

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

Subject Copy.                               File No. <51-1-9>

              Cablegram Sent Y-56      Nov<ember 1> 2, 1918.

To Amnavpar Paris                 Serial No. 34

Prep. by CS             NCT D.R.

                                  43 ADR

S E C R E T.

34 For Admiral Benson. With reference to proposed changes in assignment of battleships to Division Opnav 3923 and my 7,1 Admiralty now agrees to proposed rotation of ships of Division 6 and 9. Department has been asked to state Whether plan is formally approved and if so when first relief ship will be ready to sail from United States and what ship it will be. Rodman2 has been asked which ship he would prefer to send home first and which ship of Division 6 he would prefer to have as her relief.3 190701 34

Sims                        

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. The handwritten date at the top of the page is confirmed by the time-date stamp at the end of this document.

Footnote 1: Neither of these documents have been located, but for more information on this proposal, see: Sims to Murray, 16 October 1918, and Sims to Benson, 27 October 1918.

Footnote 2: RAdm. Hugh Rodman, Commander, Battleship Division Nine.

Footnote 3: Although both the United States and Britain agreed to the principals of this proposal, due to the end of the war, the selection and rotation of battleships never took place.

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