American admiral Sims pointed out the importance of collecting German submarine knowledge in December 1918

An item referred to a cable telegram of Force Commander Wm.S. Sims(1) dated Paris 2 December 1918 to admiral W.S. Benson (2) he wrote that apparently the Secretary of the Navy Daniels (3) did not fully understood what the situation was and Sims urged to reconsider the issue. Daniels wrote on 1 December to Benson that an expert party was enough and that no German submarines were to be sent to the USA. At that moment was a large number of by the Germans surrendered submarines lying in British harbors and under the terms of the Armistice owned by the Allies including the USA. The British authorities would inspect and examine very critically those submarines. The technical branches of the Admiralty would benefit of the results. France would also take advantage of what is going on with the transfer on short notice of some submarines to French harbors. Sims stated that the USA should have the same opportunity as the United Kingdom and France to obtain the technical knowledge as a result of a thoroughly inspection and examination. To get this knowledge it was necessary to obtain some submarines and sent those to the USA. The American inspection party was at that moment present at Harwich, United Kingdom stating that there was enough vital technical information in sight to keep all available personnel employed for a longer period in service. Also it was impossible to obtain complete data without docking, operating, testing and dismantling meaning that submarines had to be sent to the USA. There was no discussion about a permanent ownership of submarines by the USA as was to be decided by the Peace Conference. On the other hand the USA should have the same opportunity to obtain the technical knowledge as the United Kingdom and France had.

Notes

1. 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.

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. 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.

Source

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