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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Secretary of the Admiralty Sir Oswyn A. R. Murray, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

                   Admiralty.                   28-6-5

                             3rd September, 1918.

                   :SECRET:

The Force Commander,

     United States Navy.

          In reply to your letter of the 16th August, No. A.C.29808,1 requesting an appreciation of the results obtained from the Northern Barrage, I am to inform you that at the present time the following definite results may be said to have been attained :-

(1) The Northern Barrage is functioning as a Barrage, in that no enemy submarines attempt to cross it.

(2) It is certain that the enemy decided to avoid the dangerous area after they had had tangible proof that this barrage was a reality and not a threat.

(3) Its present value, therefore, is that it has restricted enemy submarines on both outward and homeward journeys to two comparatively narrow passages, and has thereby reduced the area over which anti-submarine operations need to be planned and put into execution.

2.-   Should changes in the situation at any time warrant the production of a weekly or periodical report, Their Lordships would make the necessary arrangements for its production but so long as the situation remains as set forth above, perhaps you will agree that such periodical reports are hardly necessary.

                                  /S/ Alex Flint

                                      For Secretary.

Source Note: Cy, DNA RG 45, Entry 517B. Document identifier in upper left-hand corner: “M. 023232.” Document identifier in upper right-hand corner in columnar fashion: “1/2/A/J.”

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