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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Based in Europe, to Office of the Chief of Naval Operations

Chronological Copy.                           File No. <31/4/6>

Cablegram Sent  <September 30,> October 1, 1918. TFW

To   Opnav Washington.                          Ser. No. 5929

Prep. by  CS                RCT1  D.R.

     B

5929 Your <2545> 4782 of April tenth and my 6351 of April 11.2 This matter has been unofficially discusses<d> with Italian Naval Officials with the result that the Minister of Marine, the Chief of Staff and the Commander-in-Chief of the Italian Fleet3 have all expressed their desire to have Commander Train officially designated as the representative in Italy of the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Operating in European Waters. I, therefore, now repeat the recommendation originally made in my 6218 of April eighth.4 In addition to the reasons then given there now exists the reason that our increasing aviation activities in Italy require that some one person shall have authority to deal with the Italian Navy Department on all naval matters and this person should not be merely the Naval Attach but should be my subordinate and representative.5 181430 5929.

SIMS.

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B.

Footnote 1: “CS” was chief of staff, which was Capt. Nathan C. Twining; the “RCT” may have been a mistyped version of his initials.

Footnote 2: These cables have not been found.

Footnote 3: In the order these are: Vice-Ammiraglio Alberto Del Bono; Vice-Ammiraglio Marchese Lorenzo Cusani; and Vice-Ammiraglio Paolo Thaon di Revel.

Footnote 4: Sims’ cable has not been found.

Footnote 5: In a cable of 3 October, Benson approved Charles R. Train’s appointment to be Sims’ representative in Italy. See: Benson to Sims, 3 October 1918.

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