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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

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

                        Cablegram Received        Oct. 5, 1917.

    

Origin    Opnav     Washington            Serial No. Opnav 597

Via      N C R D 15                            Date No. 13006

Copies to C. of S., J.V.B., B. A. L.1

Action Referred to.

Action taken

Date

Init.

Ref. No.

B.A.L.

<Answered>

<8/10/17>

[<BAL>?]

 

 

Simsadus.

Opnav 597. Your instructions to route our chartered vessels in Eastern Coast convoys only results in peculiar situation. Our 6 chartered oil tankers are all slow ships and slow Eastern Coast convoys leave every 16 days from Hampton Roads. We may route few slow ships from Sydney N. S. [to?] Wales but date of sailing falls close to Hampton Roads date. The net result is frequent delays of two weeks in getting these oil ships started across after loading. Is it practicable to send tank ships and other slow chartered Navy ships and Navy auxiliaries bound for Queenstown in Western Coast convoys as well as in the Eastern Coast convoys. 13005.

Admiral Benson.

4:30 am.

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. A notation in the upper-left corner has been completely obliterated, but most likely reads “Action Copy.

Footnote 1: Capt. Nathan C. Twining, Sims’ Chief of Staff; Cmdr. John V. Babcock, Sims’ aide and de facto Intelligence Officer; and Cmdr. Byron A Long.

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