Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Admiral William H. G. Bullard, Commander, United States Naval Forces, Eastern Mediterranean
Form B.
Subject Copy. File No.
CABLEGRAM SENT 12/21/18
To ADMIRAL BULLARD VENICE Serial No. Adriatic 19
Prep. by 2-H D. R.
The United States Food Administration is sending vessels with food into certain eastern Adriatic ports comma probably Ragusa comma Cattaro or Attavari. Vessels should be eight thousand tons net. Previous dispatch requested information from you as to whether or not there are facilities for discharging and storing this quantity of provisions. No reply yet received. Paragraph. Food Commission has appointed Colonel McIntosh with a staff to take charge in the name of Mr. Hoover of supply bases being established at Trieste and possibly at ports mentioned above.1 Food Commission has also appointed Colonel Atwood2 with a staff to take charge distribution food supplies in interior Jugo-Slavia and Serbia. It is anticipated that these gentlemen will experience considerable difficulty in moving around in Adriatic and getting their respective organizations established. You will please issue such directions as you may consider necessary to insure the complete co-operation of naval vessels and naval personnel with the work of these commissions and assist them in any way practicable consistent with the duties of your force. <10322.>
BENSON
Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B.
Footnote 1: Col. Joseph W. McIntosh, aide to Herbert Hoover, Director, United States Food Administration.
Footnote 2: Col. William G. Atwood, United States Food Administration.
