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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

Action Copy.                                File No. <11-2-1>

Cablegram Received <October 17, 1918.>  Y-29

Origin Opnav Washington                      Ser. No. 3301

Ref’d. to

Date

ACTION, NOTES and INITIALS.

O-1

Oct. 18

<RHL - no action>

<C-5>

<RR>

53 ADR

SECRET

Simsadus

3301 Division 8 submarine forces consisting of USS O-3 USS O-4 USS O-6 USS O-7 USS O-8 USS O-9 USS O-10 and USS SAVANNAH expect to sail Newport R.I. direct for Azores Islands about 1st November with orders to report to you for assignment to duty.1 Inform Department where this division will base 12017 3301

Benson    <Opnav.>

Sent: 10:20 PM October 17, 1918.

Recd: 12:36 AM October 18, 1918.

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. The handwritten date is confirmed by the time/date notation at the end of the text and the sent/received notation below the signature. Messages from the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations were usually sent over the signature of Adm. William S. Benson, the Chief of Naval Operations. In this case, however, someone crossed through Benson’s name and handwrote “Opnav” in its place.

Footnote 1: Sims had repeatedly requested that U.S. Navy submarines be assigned to bases in Europe because of the effectiveness of British submarines in destroying their German counterparts. See, for example: Sims to Benson, 1 May 1918.

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