Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
Information Copy.
Cablegram Sent <October 7, 1917>
To Opnav Washington Serial No. 799
Via Q 22 Prep. by Roys Appvd. by C. of S.1
File No.
Copies to C. of S.; L. Commander Roys.
VERY SECRET.
799. Class B.2 Torpedoed and Sunk twenty nine September: E3343 Latitude 43,304 North Longitude 9,55 West Period Thirty Sept. A322 Latitude 47,15 North Longitude 18,50 West Period Two October E867 Latitude 33,41 North Long. 15,23 West Period A 692 Latitude 35,30 North Long. 8,00 West Period Three October B204 Latitude 43,15 North Long. 10,30West period Four October Trawler PERSERVERANCE fourteen miles southwest Eddystone period Destroyed by gunfire One October S94 Latitude 48,38 North Long 11,45 West period Four October fishing smacks YOUNG CLIFFORD and RUPPE Lat 51,23N. Longitude41,46 West period V 76 Latitude 35,33 North Long 14,21 West period Submarines sighted twentieth September latitude 48,07 North Longitude 12,09 West period First October Latitude 43,43 North Longitude 5,51 West period Latitude 27,55 North Longitude 13,32 West period Two October Latitude 48,48 North Longitude 8,35 West period Latitude 43,32 North Longitude 3,43 West Period Four October latitude 51,23 North Longitude 1,47 east period Latitude 55,17 North Longitude 6,25 West period Eighteen miles south of Fair Isle period Latitude 46,58 north longitude 8,28 west period Latitude 46,41 north longitude 8,40 west period Latitude 45,38 north Longitude 6,18 west period Latitude 52,10 north Longitude 6,20 west period Latitude 50,43 north longitude 0,15 east period Fifth October latitude 54,18 north longitude 0,20 west period Latitude 50,15 north longitude 3,36 west period Latitude 35,50 north longitude 6,35 west period Sixth October latitude 48,33 North longitude 5,06 west period Latitude 45,55 north longitude 7,05 westeperiod <11107.> sims.
Source Note: Cy, RG 45, Entry 517B. Someone hand wrote the date and the identification number just before the signature. For background on this report, see: Sims to Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 6 October 1917.
Footnote 1: Lt. Cmdr. John H. Roys, who had been sent from Washington to serve as a liaison officer with British Naval Intelligence. “C. of S.” meant Sims’ Chief of Staff Capt. Nathan C. Twining.
Footnote 2: In the report of 6 October, Sims explained that Class B meant approximate location while Class A was exact location.
Footnote 3: The British Admiralty assigned a number to each merchantman at sea at any given time. The lists of these numbers have not been found.
Footnote 4: The first number is degrees, the second number is the minutes, i.e., 46° 36'.
