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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Office of the Chief of Naval Operations to Rear Admiral Albert Gleaves, Cruiser Force Commander; Rear Admiral Hilary P. Jones, Cruiser Division Four; Admiral Henry T. Mayo, Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet

OPERATIONS

Sept. 9th. 1918.

COMMANDER CRUISER FORCE

COMMANDER DIVISION FOUR CRUISER FORCE

COMMANDER IN CHIEF ATLANTIC

TRANSLATION

BOX:  Following received from Admiral Sims1 Quote Several reports have been received of three masted auxiliary schooner acting in suspicious manner first report dated July eighth Latitude forty-five degrees twenty minutes Longitude Twenty-seven degrees west comma second report in same vicinity on July Twenty-sixth comma third report on Five August apparently same vessel furled sails using auxiliary engine Latitude forty-six degrees longitude twenty-three degrees unquote period Commander Cruiser Force and Commander Division Four Cruiser Force give this information to all eastbound escort vessels particularly destroyers passing through this general vicinity and direct them to be on lookout for such vessel2 Acknowledge COMDR CRUISER FORCE COMDR DIVISION FOUR CRUISER FORCE COMDR-IN-CHIEF ATLANTIC 15009

Opnav.             

Class 3.

Source Note: C, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. Document identifiers at top of document: “OP-52_H” and “OCC-6108.”

Footnote 1: VAdm. William S. Sims, Force Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters.

Footnote 2: On the same day, the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations informed Sims that all “east-bound escort vessels and destroyers” had been notified concerning the schooner and suggested that Sims give the same notification to “all westbound escort vessels.” Ibid.