Rear Admiral Henry S. Knapp, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels and Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations
30 April, 1919.
From: Force Commander.
To: The Secretary of the Navy (Chief of Naval Operations)
SUBJECT: Status of demobilization to date.
References:Force Commander’s letter[s] of 1 January 1919.
1 February, 1919.
20 February, 1919.
24 March, 1919.
31 March, 1919.
1. In submitting this report, it is considered advisable to classify the progress of demobilization to date under the following headings:-
(a) Activities completely demobilized.
(b) Activities partially demobilized.
(c) New activities undertaken since the Armistice.
2. The following activities are completely demobilized:-
(a) Sixth Battle Squadron.
(b) Battleship Division Six.
(c) Destroyer Flotillas and Submarines.
(d) Sub Chaser Detachments.
(e) U.S. Patrol Squadrons Based on Gibraltar.
(f) Base 17 – Invergordon, Scotland.
(g) Base Hospital #2 – Strathpeffer.
(h) Base Hospital #3 – Leith.
(i) U.S. Naval Hospital #1, London.
(j) Receiving Ship, Liverpool.
(k) Medical Supply Depot, Liverpool.
(l) Pipe Line Unit, Glasgow.
(m) Naval Supply Depot, Aberdeen.
(n) Naval Air Stations as follows:-
ENGLAND:
Killingholme.
IRELAND:
Whiddy Island.
Berehaven.
Queenstown.
Wexford
Lough Foyle
FRANCE: -
Dunkirk
Moutchic
La Pallice
Arcachon
Guipavas
Cujon
St. Trojan
L’Averbach
Ile Tudy
Paimboeuf
Le Croisic
Fromentine
La Trinite
Northern Bombing Group
Lorient
Pauillac
Brest.
ITALY: -
Porto Corsini
Bolsena
(o) Base #6, Queenstown.
(p) Base #8, St. Nazaire.
(q) Base #14, Bordeaux.
(r) Base #19, L’Orient.
(s) Base #20, Rochefort.
(t) Base #30, Bizerta.
(u) Base #9, Gibraltar.
(v) Base #25, Corfu.
(w) Base #28, Malta.
(x) All districts in France.
(y) Radio Station – Lyon.
(z) Naval Railway Batteries.
(aa) Naval Base Hospital, Genoa.
(bb) Naval Port Offices as follows:-
Haligan Nantes
St. Malo Bayonne
Cherbourg St. Jean de Luz
Havre Sables d’Olonne
L’Orient Pauillac
Rouen
(cc) Lafayette Radio Station. (Agreement reached turning over to French. U.S. Navy to complete construction: Civil Engineer Copeland in charge.)
3. The following activities are partially demobilized:-
a) U.S. Naval Headquarters, London.
Buildings 12, 14, 16 and 18 have been given up. Building 20 is being given up with the exception of basement, which is being held for the work of the photographic party.
(b) Inverness – Base 18
This base has been demobilized as much as practicable, retaining such part as is necessary for the mine-sweeping operations.
(c) Naval Base Cardiff – Base #29
The force at this base has been reduced to 20 vessels which are carrying coal for the Army and 5 vessels which are carrying coal to Brest for the Navy.
(d) SOUTHAMPTON – CROSS CHANNEL SERVICE
The three vessels in active service will probably be with drawn within the next two weeks. The NARRAGANSETT, which is under repairs, will probably be able to leave for the United States some time toward the latter part of May. At this time it is expected that all U.S. naval activities will be withdrawn from Southampton.
(e) LIVERPOOL – PORT OFFICE.
Arrangements have been made to retain Knotty Ash Camp near Liverpool until June 1st to quarter drafts of men passing through England. As the greater part of the excess enlisted personnel are sent home, the Port Office at Liverpool will be reduced to one or two officers and a very few men – merely sufficient to look out for drafts arriving or departing from Liverpool.
(f) HEADQUARTERS – BREST, FRANCE.
The following vessels remain based on Brest:-
(a) Repair Ships
|
2 (1 at Bordeaux) |
(b) Gun Boats |
1 |
(c) Destroyers |
8 (3 are under repair) |
(d) Salvage Ships |
2 |
(e) Tugs |
10 |
(f) Yachts |
2 |
(g) Chasers |
11 |
(h) Mine Sweepers |
6 |
(i) Naval Colliers |
3 |
(j) Barges |
3 |
(k) Steam Lighters |
1 |
This base will have to be maintained until the Army is completely demobilized.
(g) BASE HOSPITAL NO. 5.
This base must be maintained so long as our forces remain in Brest.
(h) Naval Staff Office, Paris.
The personnel at this office has been reduced to the minimum necessary to efficient service.
(i) PORT OFFICES
In England:
Liverpool (for Army and Navy)
Plymouth (for Army, Navy and Food Commission)
Southampton (for Army and Navy)
Newcastle (for Food Commission)
In Ireland:
Belfast (for Army)
In France : (all for Army)
Marseilles |
St. Nazaire |
Bordeaux |
Brest |
Verdon |
Tours |
La Pallice |
Dunkirk (will be closed on May 10) |
In Italy:
Genoa (for the Army)
Venice
In Spain:
Gibraltar.
(j) PONTA DEL GADA – AZORES
Instructions have been received from the Navy Department to maintain this base until further orders. The following vessels are based on Ponta del Gada:-
Repair Ships |
1 |
Tugs |
2 |
Yachts (unseaworthy) |
2 |
Tankers |
1 |
(k) AVIATION
All air stations in France have been demobilized. A Board of Claims is at present closing out claims incident to our occupation. In the United Kingdom, all stations in Ireland have been demobilized, but a small amount of personnel is still in Ireland in connection with the sales of material at the different stations. Eastleigh is practically demobilized, but a small party is still retained at that place to make sales of property.
(l) U.S. NAVAL FORCES IN NORTHERN RUSSIA
The USS YANC<K>TON is now station ship for Admiral McCully at Murmansk. The following vessels are now en route and should be in Northern Russia before the end of May:-
USS DES MOINES
USS SACREMENTO
3 Eagle Boats
Twelve submarine chasers are now repairing at Inverness preparatory to going to Northern Russia. The HANNIBAL is en route to join these sub chasers.
NEW ACTIVITIES
4. The following new activities have been undertaken since the Armistice:-
(a) PORT OFFICES ESTABLISHED
In England:
Newcastle (for Food Commission)
In France:
Dunkirk (for Food Commission: will be closed on May 10)
In Belgium:
Antwerp (for Food Commission and Army)
In Holland:
Rotterdam (for Food Commission)
In Denmark:
Copenhagen(for Food Commission)
In Germany:
Danzig (for Food Commission)
Hamburg (for Food Commission)
In the Adriatic: (all for Food Commission)
Trieste |
Spalato |
Fiume |
Gravosa |
Venice (for Navy communication) |
|
With Sub-Offices at Zelinica and Antivara.
(b) U.S. FORCES IN ADRIATIC
In order to see that the armistice terms with Austria were carried out and in order to assist the Food Commission in the distribution of its supplies, an Adriatic forces has been formed, consisting of the USS OLYMPIA as flagship, 8 destroyers and 6 submarine chasers.
(c) SENIOR U.S. NAVAL OFFICER, TURKEY
In order to have a naval representative in Turkish waters and to assist the Food Commission in the distribution of its supplies, a senior U.S. Naval Officer in Turkey has been appointed. He uses as his flagship the SCORPION. The other vessels attached to his force are the NAHMA, the NOMA and 3 submarine chasers. Three submarine chasers are stationed at Piraeus to assist the Red Cross in the distribution of its supplies.
It is expected that four submarine chasers from the above forces will be sold. The TONOPAH and 2 destroyers are en route to relieve the NOMA and NAHMA. In addition to the above, the CHATTANOOGA is en route to this station form the United States, and is due to arrive in Southampton on May 13.
(d) VESSELS ON SPECIAL SERVICE
In order to see that Germany complies with the terms of the naval armistice and in order to make inspection of certain German vessels – men of war and merchant ships – a special service force has been formed under the command of Rear-Admiral S.S. Robison. At present the force consists of:-
USS CHESTER
USS GALVESTON
USS APHRODITE
USS HARVARD
3 Destroyers.
(e) GERMAN MERCHANT SHIPS
The IMPERATOR and BRANDENBURG are now en route to be taken over by the U.S. naval force in Brest and Southend respectively. Of the other German vessels mentioned in reference (e), they have either been commissioned or delivery is not expected, except in the case of the BERLIN, which may or may not be received by the United States.
(f) NUCLEUS CREWS FOR GERMAN MERCHANT SHIPS.
At this date the only nucleus crews awaiting their vessels are those for the BRANDENBURG, IMPERATOR and STEPHAN. The nucleus crews formerly held for the BERLIN will be sent home, and no excess personnel will be retained for German ships which may be delivered in future.
(h) SUBMARINE CHASERS
73 submarine chasers have sailed are or are en route to the United States.
There remain in these waters the following:-
At Inverness |
33 (12 for Northern Russia) |
In France |
|
In the Adriatic |
6 |
In Greece (Red Cross) |
3 |
Sold in Italy |
4 |
Constantinople |
3 |
(i) EX-GERMAN SUBMARINES
Five ex-German submarines have been sent home. The sixth – U.140 – will have to be towed to the United States later when certain repairs have been completed.
(j) SPECIAL COMMUNICATION WORK
For the purpose of maintaining communication in enemy countries, special radio communication parties have been established at Vienna, Odessa and Warsaw. Of these, there remain one man at Warsaw and one at Vienna.
(k) PHOTOGRAPHIC PARTY
The photographic party is now in London preparing to make another tour.
<W.R. Sexton,>|1|
<By direction.>
Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B.
Footnote 1: Capt. Walton R. Sexton, a member of Knapp’s staff.
