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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

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

                        CABLEGRAM  RECEIVED      Sept. 25, 1917

     From: Opnav Washington                Ser. No. 530

 

Simsadus

530. Following Tankers privately owned have been requisitioned by the Navy Department on bare ship basis1 and commissioned in Navy as auxiliaries:

GOLDSHELL, LOS ANGELES, ROCKEFELLER, STANDARD ARROW, TOPILA.2 Officers and crews above named vessels are enlisted or enrolled in naval service or reserve. 15027.

Benson       

 

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. The original date has been marked through and someone handwrote “September 27” above it. In a cable to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 3 October, Sims wrote that this cable was dated “Sept. 25th.” See, Sims to Opnav, 3 October 1917, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B.

Footnote 1: An agreement to charter a ship without crew or stores for a predetermined period of time. The fee for its used is based on the price per ton of cargo handled.

Footnote 2: Gold Shell, a tanker chartered from the Shell Oil Company; Los Angeles, chartered from the Union Oil Company of California; William Rockerfeller, chartered from the Standard Oil Company of New York; Standard Arrow, chartered from the Standard Transportation Company of New York; Topila, chartered from the East Coast Oil Company.

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