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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Vice Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly, Commander, Southern Ireland

[Extract]

September 22nd. 1917.

My dear Admiral,

     I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 14th. as this was written on the day I left London for France, I received it only upon my return to the office this morning.1

     . . . . During my absence in France I visited Brest, St.Nazaire, Bordeaux and inspected the installations in those ports , and I am glad to say that everything seems to be going very satisfactorily.2

     I am returning herewith the letter from Bishop Brown which I have read with much interest. I have no doubt the good Bishop will be able to correct the impression caused by his hot headed subordinate. I hope the unfortunate incident to which he refers will be settled to the satisfaction of all parties concerned. . . .3

Source Note: TLS, DLC-MSS, William Sims Papers, Box 47.

Footnote 1: Bayly’s letter has not been found.

Footnote 2: Sims had recently accompanied Adm. Henry T. Mayo, COmmander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet, to France.

Footnote 3: Robert Browne, Bishop of Cloyne, Ireland, which included Queenstown. For more on the incidents referred to here, see: Sims to Josephus Daniels, 15 September 1917.

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