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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 the Chief of Naval Operations

TRANSLATION                                  <September 5, 1918>

From: Sims

To  : Opnav

  4191. Enemy appears to believe since August 23rd. that there has been uninterrupted transporting of troops into St.Nazaire and Bordeaux (comma) that in the Mediterranean Sea nearly all American troop ships are proceeding to ports Northern Italy (period) That early in September very great convoys of new ships will leave America and proceed via Cape Hatteras north of Bermuda Islands, the Azores to St.Nazaire(period) U-118 has been fixed in about latitude 47 degrees, longitude 8 degrees W, at 11:56 September 4th.1 and so may be going to lay between Gironde River and Franco-Spanish frontier. 204205. 4191.

5:59pm             9-5-18

WB  

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. Address list below close: “OP 19/[Op] 22/[Op] 23/[Op] 28/[Op] 38/[Op] 46/[Op] 47/[Op] 49.”

Footnote 1: U-118 operated in European waters in September, sinking two ships.

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