Naval History and Heritage Command

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

ACTION COPY.

CABLEGRAM RECEIVED <September 20, 1918> Y-12

Origin:   Opnav Washington.                  Ser.No. 1869.

     Ref’d to            Date

       CS                Sept 21

53 ADR                        SECRET

Simsadus

     1869 6974 4523 48851 Plan for meeting raider menace approved and will be substituted in place of present plan. For the present our Division 8 with duty corresponding to Division 62 will base at Hampton Roads, though later some ships of the division may base at Halifax. Issue necessary instructions to put this plan into effect and furnish Department with rendezvous route. Directions will be given to Commander-in-Chief and Commander Cruiser Force3 to issue instructions from this end putting plan into effect immediately after. Though plan does not embrace westbound shipping proceeding independently Department infers that the provision of paragraph 3 first sentence4 your cable 4523 will hold and that if necessary westbound shipping will be guided by warning received and by any subsequent instructions broadcasted, is this correct? 21020 1869

Benson                  

N.B. No record this office of 6974

Time sent 4:00 AM Sept 21, 1918

Time recd 9:42 AM Sept 21 1918.