Skip to main content
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 Captain Joel R. Poinsett Pringle, Chief of Staff, Destroyer Flotillas

September 11th, 1918

My dear Pringle:

          Referring to your letter of September 6th,1 I am much pleased to hear that the Admiral2 returned in such good feather. He seemed to me to be enjoying his trip thoroughly. You may be sure we did all we could to render his visit to London satisfactory.

          I do not think there is any real cause for any of my friends to be disturbed over certain rumors to which you refer. Human nature would not be what it is if I did not have a number of enemies, or at least a number of people who were willing to agitate to oust me out of the job. However, as I said before, I do not think there is much danger of this.3

          I hope to hear good news soon that the submarine chaser situation is satisfactory. I think you and Hepburn4 will be able to pull this off.

          I am off the day after to-morrow for Paris to attend a meeting of the Allied Council, but expect to be back again about the 15th or 16th.

          I have no doubt Admiral Mayo5 will be pleased with the conditions he finds at Queenstown.

Very sincerely yours,             

Source Note: Cy, DLC-MSS, William S. Sims Papers, Box 79. Addressed below close: “Captain J.R.P.Pringle, U.S.N./U.S.S.MELVILLE.”

Footnote 2: Adm. Sir. Lewis Bayly, Commander, Naval Forces, Southern Ireland.

Footnote 3: Sims’ is referring to rumors of his being replaced. See: Pringle to Sims, 6 September 1918.

Footnote 4: Cmdr. Arthur J. Hepburn, Commanded Submarine Chasers at Queenstown.

Footnote 5: Adm. Henry B. Mayo, Commander, Atlantic Fleet, who was then on a visit to England.