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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

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

Action Copy.                                     File No.

Cablegram Received <September 17, 1918.> Y-14

Origin Opnav Washington                          Ser. No. 1622

Ref’d. to

Date

ACTION, NOTES and INITIALS.

CS-2

18 Sept.

<SX- No action-Dept was informed she

               would sail by Sept 25.

<O-1

 

<PJJ?> <BVZ?>  Please send orders->

<S-12>

 

        

     31 ADR.

S E C R E T

Simsadus

1622 Your 48581 Direct U.S.S. BALTIMORE return to Hampton Roads, Virginia as soon as practicable.2 21017. 1622.

Benson

Sent

Recd 455 AM 18 Sept. 1918

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. The handwritten date is confirmed by the time/date notation following the text. Someone has handwritten an identifying number below the table: “3/C/J.”

Footnote 1: This cable has not been found.

Footnote 2: Because creating a mine barrage in the Mediterranean required laying mines at great depths, a special type of mine was needed. The Bureau of Ordnance had a developed a prototype they believed would work, but it was necessary to conduct tests before beginning manufacture. “No vessel was available in the United States for this purpose, so the Baltimore was ordered home to carry out the required experiments.” It was had proceeded as far as Pentland Firth with the mine laying squadron as part of the “tenth excursion,” when it was ordered to Scapa Flow to obtain routing instructions to return home. Northern Barrage: 117.

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