Captain Richard H. Jackson, American Naval Staff Representative in Paris, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 10/12/1917

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Captain Richard H. Jackson, American Naval Staff Representative in Paris, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

HEADQUARTERS

UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT

32 Rue De la Paix

Paris, France. October 12th, 1917.

From: Captain R. H. Jackson, U.S.N.

TO: Force Commander.

Subject: Change of duty for American Trawlers.

1. Since the foundering of the REHOBOTH1 there has been a consultation between the French Rear Admiral2 and the French Navy Department and it has been decided that the nine trawlers brought over will be refitted for mine sweeping and dragging, as they would be unable to convoy vessels along the coast during the winter months. I thingk the guns are being taken off the deck houses as part of the modification.

2. The French will shift a detail of nine boats which were to have been used for mine sweeping and put them on the coastwise convoy.

/s/ R. H. Jackson.

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 520, Box 413. Notation in upper right-hand corner: “COMDR. U.S.NAVAL FORCES/FECR 15 Oct 1917/London/file/3/o.”

Footnote 1: On the foundering of the American trawler REHOBOTH, see: Sims to Josephus Daniels, 11 October 1917.

Footnote 2: VAdm. Zépherin Alexandre Antoine Schwerer. The idea to convert the trawlers to minesweepers came from the Americans. See, William B. Fletcher to Schwerer, 10 October 1918, DNA, RG 45, Entry 520, Box 413.

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