American admiral Sims asked for more involvement in handling surrendered German submarines in December 1918

An item referred to a cable telegram of the Secretary of the Navy (1) dated Washington 1 December 1918 to admiral W.S. Benson (2) in which he wrote to put none American crews or sent any to this country. The American submarine experts would study the submarines abroad. In fact he proposed that not a single submarine was to be handed over to any country until a peace conference had decided what to do with the submarines. Benson sent this telegram to admiral Sims.(3)

Notes

1. Secretary of the Navy between 5 March 1913-4 March 1921 was Josephus Daniels (18 May 1862 Washington, USA-15 January 1948 Raleigh, North Carolina, USA). Assistant Secretary between 1913-1920 was Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

2. William Shepherd Benson (25 September 1855 Bibb County, Georgia, USA-20 May 1932 (Washington D.C., USA). Served in the US Navy between 1877-1929 ending in the rank of admiral. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) 11 May 1915-25 September 1919.

3. William Sowden Sims (15 October 1858 Port Hope, Canada West-28 September 1936 Boston, Massachusetts, USA), commander-in-chief of the US naval forces in Europe during the First World War. Served in the US Navy between 1880-1922 ending in the rank of admiral.

Source

National Archive. Misc. Material Print File World War August 1918-January 1922.Drawer 3. Microfilm No. T829-403.