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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

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

<September 1, 1918.>

SECRET

SIMSADUS

     Your 4523 and 48851  <Plan> for meeting raider <menace> approved and will be substituted in place of present plan period  For the present our Division Eight with duties corresponding to Division Six2 will base at Hampton Roads comma though later some ships of the Division may base at Halifax period  Issue necessary instructions to put this plan into effect and furnish Department with rendezvous routes period  Directions will be given to C in C and to Commander Cruiser Force3 to issue instructions from this end putting plan into effect immediately period  Though the plan does not embrace westbound shipping proceeding independently Department infers that the provisions of paragraph three first sentence your cable 4523 will hold and that if necessary westbound ships will be guided by warnings received and any subsequent instructions broadcasted comma  Is this correct period 

Opnav              

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. The handwritten date is the only one provided on this copy.

Footnote 1: These cables have not been found.

Footnote 2: Battleship Division Six was stationed at Berehaven, Ireland, to guard convoys in the event a German raider escaped through the blockade. For a detailed discussion, see, Jones, U.S. Battleship Operations in World War I: 100-107.

Footnote 3: Adm. Henry T. Mayo, Commander, United States Atlantic Fleet, and RAdm. Albert Gleaves, Commander, Cruiser Force and Transport Force.

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