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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Rear Admiral Mark L. Bristol, Senior Naval Officer Present, and United States High Commissioner, Turkey, to Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations

U. S. NAVAL COMMUNICATION SRVICE

ATTACHED TO

THE AMERICAN COMMISSION TO NEGOTIATE PEACE

4 PLACE DE LA CONCORDE, PARIS

CABLEGRAM RECEIVED

Date April 10, 1919           Serial No. 65

Time Rec’d 10 p.m.            Cipher    E

From: Stanav, Constantinople

To:  AMMISSION, PARIS.

65. April 8, 12:50 p.m.

     For Simsadus, from Stanav.

     Following received from Admiral Bristol at Odessa: “The Consulate was closed at noon Saturday and after that it was considered unsafe in city of Odessa. The consulate officer1 came on board NAHMA. The records had been previously taken on board. Our guard was maintained at dock with boat continuously evacuating civilians from city to ships outside the breakwater during Friday and Saturday night and day until 10 p.m., Saturday when dangerous because of the promiscuous rifle fire. Cooperation with other foreign government forces. American citizens all on board Transports Friday, sailed Saturday for Constantinople. French headquarters has left city and General Anselme2 on board ship all troops have retreated from city towards Ackeryu with 1,000 refugees accompanying troops. Have not had flag flying on city hall but Soviets have promised not to molest evacuating before 6 p.m. Sunday when Allies finally evacuate water front and inner harbor. Greek forces falling back from eastward with ships shelling beach to cover the retreat. About 20,000 troops embarked on ships they have about 30 merchant vessels now anchored outer harbor. Repeat Sims.” 65

BRISTOL.                

(N.B. R/T to Simsadus as No. 977)

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B.

Footnote 1: William L. Jenkins. Previously the Consul at Trebizond from July 1916 to January 1918 (he and the other consular officials there were forced to flee in May 1918 following the Turkish invasion of Transcaucasia), Jenkins was dispatched to Odessa in January 1919 to open the new consulate there.

Footnote 2: Gen. Philippe Henri Joseph d’Anselme, Commander, Southern Russia Intervention Forces.