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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

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

Chronological Copy.                         File No. <49-8-3>

          Cablegram Received <October 3, 1918.> TFW

Origin Opnav Washington                Ser. No. 2554

     R-1       Oct.3

53 ADR

Simsadus

2554. Your 4360.1 Harbor tugs will not be delivered before December and are not capable of making passage. Effort will be made to <send> 4 going tugs this fall and others next spring. 9 standard barges capacity about 150,000 gallons each will be built for water and oil requirements. Standard 500 ton steel barges will be used for large flat lighters and converted for covered freight lighters to avoid time necessary for new designs. Investigating possibility of building abroad small wooden lighters of 50 and 100 tons and ash lighters and of converting 500 ton flat lighters to covered freight lighters. If this plan is practicable bill of material can be submitted and material prepared and shipped from here ready for assembly. Have not been able to locate suitable bulk for oil storage. 21003. 2554

OPNAV.                  

Sent: 3:25 A.M. OCT. 3, 1918.

Rec’d:6:29 P.M. OCT. 4, 1918.

N.B. “sea” evidently omitted before going tugs.

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 the document.

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