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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

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

TELEGRAM

                      PARAPHRASE OF TELEGRAM  September <1>, 1918

CONFIDENTIAL

FROM:     Sims, London

TO:       Opnav

     3958. To O.N.I. There is every sign that Germany is preparing to evacuate Pakoff and withdrawing to old defense lines running from Riga South to Divinsk: Would thus get probably ten divisions for West increase. Situation in Ukraine more unfavorable each day to Germans. Widespread and determined opposition by people. Serious talk withdrawal by Germans of troops which would give them about thirty divisions, ten for border and twenty for West Front. Germany getting less and less from Ukraine and supply of fuel draining on coal supply of Germany. Bolsheviki Government Moscow believed to have been maintained by Lettish1 rifles and few thousands paid Chinese. Information with reference to Moscow checks with French. That the hatred of Germans is growing daily is indicated from all sources.2 150201.

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. This copy is on a printed form with an extensive table at the top. As several of the spaces on the table are left blank, it has not been recreated. The table notes that copies of this telegram were sent to the Director of Naval Intelligence [Capt. Roger Welles Jr.] and to an Adm. Kimball. There was no Adm. Kimball on active duty at this time, but retired RAdm. William W. Kimball had served as an intelligence officer in the Spanish-American War and was likely being consulted by the Navy at this time.

Footnote 1: Another word for Latvian.

Footnote 2: For the situation of German troops in Ukraine, and Eastern Europe more broadly, see, Strachan, The First World War: 286-290.

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