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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Bureau of Ordnance to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

Action Copy.                                 File No. <28-11-2>

<September 7,1918.>

Cablegram Received   LOR

Origin   Opnav Washington (Buord)            Ser. No. 1109

Ref’d. to

Date

ACTION, NOTES and INITIALS.

M-4

Sept 8

<TAG>

 

 

 

 

 

 

31 ADR.

SECRET

Simsadus.

1109. Your 4188.1 For your information in considering proposed mining project the available supply of wire rope for mining is limited to about 5,000,000 feet per month because of the great quantity required for air craft shipping and other war activity. It is possible to obtain 15,000,000 feet in next three months which would be sufficient for all needs if the Aegean and middle Adriatic Sea projects are adopted. Bureau hopes no depth greater than 250 fathoms will have to be mined owing to shortage wire rope, the uncertainty of reliability of mining in greater depths, and impossibility of carrying out test of mining in great depths before the manufacture of required material must begin.

          Referring Aegean project Bureau finds greatest depth between Mykonos and Nikaria2 is 300 fathoms but chart shows very few sounding indicating uncertain depths. By bending line between these islands short distance southward apparent depth would be less than 250 fathoms. Can you arrange to have this verified by line of soundings.

          Bureau will appreciate earliest possible information concerning contemplated project so that material may be ordered without risk of important change after production starts.  11107  1109

Benson             

6:28 a.m., September 9, 1918.

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. The handwritten date is confirmed by the time/date notation immediately following the cable’s text.

Footnote 1: This cable has not been found.

Footnote 2: That is Mykonos and Icaria, Greek islands in the southern Aegean Sea.

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