Skip to main content
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 the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations

Subject Copy.                               File No. <55-5-2A>

Cablegram Sent November 11 ,1918   Y-53

To   Opnav Washington                  Serial No      9439

Prep. by  CS                      NCT D.R.

                                           Clear

9439 Having been officially informed by the British Admiralty of the signing of the armistice with Germany I have informed all the Forces under my command of the fact and have directed immediate cessation of hostilities. The Forces have been warned that there are still certain German submarines on the high seas which may not have received information of the cessation of hostilities and have been directed that necessary precautions be observed to forestall attack by these submarines.1 115411 9439

SIMS          

Source Note: Cable, DNA, RG 45, Entry 520, Box 679.

Footnote 1: No submarine attacks occurred after the Armistice, although three Allied ships struck mines that had previously been planted by German submarines. The steamer War Typhoon was damaged by a mine on 20 November 1918. The passenger steamer Chaouia and the torpedo boat Torpilleur 325 were sunk by mines on 15 and 22 January 1919, respectively.

Related Content