Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Rear Admiral Leigh C. Palmer, Chief of the Bureau of Navigation
Admiral Sims’
Personal File.
December 14th, 1917.
My dear Palmer,
Your letter of November 5th,1 turned up in due time. It expressed the sad state of the commissioned personnel in our Navy, in reference to lack of regular trained officers. I have also gone over carefully the tabulated statement that was made out with a view to finding the number of officers allowed to vessels of each type. There is no doubt that you are entirely correct in this matter, provided the estimate of the situation upon which it is evidently based is equally correct.
If all the vessels enumerated are to be kept in commission, and if they are to be kept on a war basis, of course you will need all the men that your tabulation shows. The only point I have made in the matter is that in all human probability many of the numerous vessels that are kept in commission on the other side can, by their activities, have no material effect upon the ending of this war. Of course, I may be mistaken in this matter. But according to my idea the situation is now of such a grave character as to demand the most serious consideration as to how it can be improved by the increased force, and the increased efficiency of the forces, on this side. That is, at the Front, where alone the fighting is going on.
I have represented this as strongly and as earnestly as I can to the Department, and the final decision rests with them. This is not a war in which, according to my opinion, we are justified in playing the game on a basis of safety first. Risks will have to be taken in some areas in order that the necessary power may be exerted where it will have to be exerted if we are going to win.
If I had the decision in this matter I would go through the Navy on the other side with a fine tooth comb and I would rake out every active commissioned officer that can possibly be spared, even at the expense of a certain amount of inefficiency on the other side, in order that our power at the front might be increased. But, as I said before, the decision in this matter rests with the Department.
However, no matter what this decision may be, you may depend upon it that the forces on this side will cheerfully accept it, and do the best they can.
Very sincerely yours,
Source Note: Cy, DLC-MSS, William S. Sims Papers, Box 23. Addressed below close: “Rear Admiral L.C.Palmer, U.S.N./Chief of Bureau of Navigation,/Navy Department,/Washington,D.C.” Document reference: “1/3/J.”
Footnote 1: See: Palmer to Sims, 5 November 1917.
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- List of Documents
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Rear Admiral Leigh C. Palmer, Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, 12/14/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, 12/1/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operation in European Waters, to Anne Hitchcock Sims, 12/1/1917
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More Documents (129)
- Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, 12/1/1917
- Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Captain Richard H. Jackson, United States Naval Representative in Paris, 12/1/1917
- Rear Admiral Henry B. Wilson, Commander, United States Naval Forces in France, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/1/1917
- Captain William V. Pratt, Assistant Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/2/1917
- Rear Admiral Albert Gleaves, Commander, Cruiser and Transport Force, Order for Ships in Convoy, Addendum No. 3, 12/3/1917
- Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/3/1917
- Captain William V. Pratt, Assistant (Acting) Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/3/1917
- Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, 12/3/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Anne Hitchcock Sims, 12/3/1917
- Lieutenant Commander Kenneth Whiting to Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, 12/3/1917
- Diary of Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, 12/4/1917
- Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/4/1917
- Commander Walter N. Vernou to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/4/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/5/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/5/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, 12/5/1917
- Admiral Henry T. Mayo, Commander, Atlantic Fleet, Standing Order, 12/5/1917
- Captain Nathan C. Twining to Rear Admiral Henry B. Wilson, Commander, United State Patrol Forces based in France, 12/6/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Anne Hitchcock Sims, 12/6/1917
- Captain William V. Pratt, Assistant (Acting) Chief of Naval Operations, to Rear Admiral Leigh C. Palmer, Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, 12/6/1917
- Commander Powers Symington to Rear Admiral Marbury Johnston, Commander, Squadron Two, Cruiser Force, 12/6/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/6/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters to Captain Richard H. Jackson, United States Staff Representative in Paris, 12/7/1917
- Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces in European Waters, 12/7/1917
- Admiral Henry T. Mayo, Commander, Atlantic Fleet, to Force Commanders, 12/7/1917
- Secretary of State Robert Lansing to United States Embassy in London, 12/7/1917
- Captain Richard H. Leigh, Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Steam Engineering, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/7/1917
- Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/7/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/7/1917
- Captain Nathan C. Twining, Chief of Staff for Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Captain Joel R. Poinsett Pringle, Chief of Staff, Destroyer Flotilla, 12/7/1917
- Captain Nathan C. Twining, Chief of Staff, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, 12/8/1917
- Captain Nathan C. Twining, Chief of Staff to Vice Admiral Sims, to Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, 12/8/1917
- Captain William V. Pratt, Assistant (Acting) Chief of Naval Operations, to Naval Bureaus and Commandants of Navy Yards, 12/8/1917
- Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/8/1917
- Commander Charles R. Train, United States Naval Attaché in Rome, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/9/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Anne Hitchcock Sims, 12/9/1917
- Lieutenant Commander David W. Bagley, Commander, U.S.S. Jacob Jones, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Navy Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/10/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Navy Forces Operating in European Waters, to Captain Joel R. Poinsett Pringle, Chief of Staff, Destroyer Flotillas, 12/10/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Lieutenant Commander Frank D. Berrien, Commander, U. S. S. Nicholson, 12/10/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Navy Forces Operating in European Waters, to Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly, R.N., Commander, Naval Forces, Southern Ireland, 12/10/1917
- Circular Letter of Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/10/1917
- Lieutenant Commander David W. Bagley’s Report on Sinking of U.S.S. Jacob Jones, 12/10/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/10/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters to Rear Admiral Albert P. Niblack, Commander, Patrol Squadrons Based on Gibraltar, 12/10/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Captain Joel R. Poinsett Pringle, Commander, Destroyer Flotilla, Queenstown, 12/11/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, 12/11/1917
- President Woodrow Wilson’s Declaration of War on the Austro-Hungarian Empire, 12/11/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, 12/12/1917
- Admiral Lewis Bayly, R.N., Commander, Naval Forces, Southern Ireland, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Navy Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/12/1917
- Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/13/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/13/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, 12/13/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Captain William V. Pratt, Assistant (Acting) Chief of Naval Operations, 12/13/1917
- Lieutenant Commander Charles R. Train, United States Naval Attaché in Rome, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/13/1917
- Commander Harris Laning, Commander, Officer Personnel Division of the Bureau of Navigation, to Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, 12/14/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/14/1917
- Commander Paul Foley and L. I. Thomas to Edward N. Hurley, Chairman, United States Shipping Board, 12/14/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Admiral Lewis Bayly, R.N., Commander, Naval Forces, Southern Ireland, 12/14/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/14/1917
- Rear Admiral Ralph Earle, Chief of Bureau of Ordnance, to Commanders of All Naval Forces, 12/14/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, 12/15/1917
- 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, 12/15/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/15/1917
- Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/15/1917
- Secretary of State Robert Lansing to United States Embassy in London, 12/16/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/16/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Edward N. Hurley, Chairman, United States Shipping Board, 12/17/1917
- First Sea Lord Admiral Sir John R. Jellicoe, R.N., to Commodore Guy R. Gaunt, R.N., British Naval Attaché in Washington, D.C., 12/17/1917
- G. A. Steel, Private Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty, to Secretary of the War Cabinet Lord Maurice P. Hankey, 12/17/1917
- Commander Simon P. Fullinwider, Bureau of Ordnance, to Rear Admiral Ralph Earle, Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, 12/17/1917
- Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/18/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/18/1917, First cablegram of the day
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/18/1917, Second cablegram of the day
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/18/1917, Third cablegram of the day
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/18/1917, Fourth cablegram of the day
- Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/18/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/19/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, 12/19/1917
- Rear Admiral Hugh Rodman, Commander, Battleship Division Nine, to Admiral Henry T. Mayo, Commander, Atlantic Fleet, 12/19/1917
- Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/20/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, First cable of the day, 12/20/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, Second cable of the day, 12/20/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, Third cable of the day, 12/20/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Rear Admiral Hugh Rodman, Commander, Battleship Division Nine, Atlantic Fleet, 12/20/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Rear Admiral Henry B. Wilson, Commander, United States Patrol Forces based in France, 12/20/1917
- Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/21/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/21/1917
- Operations Report, U.S.S. Destroyer Benham, 12/21/1917
- Commander Frank R. McCrary, Aviation Specialist, United States Navy, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/21/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/22/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/22/1917
- Captain Nathan C. Twining, Chief of Staff, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, 12/22/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Commander Hutchinson I. Cone, Commander, United States Naval Aviation Forces, Foreign Service, 12/22/1917
- Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, to Captain Hutchinson I. Cone, Commander, United States Naval Aviation Forces, Foreign Service, 12/22/1917
- Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels to Secretary of War Newton D. Baker, 12/22/1917
- Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/22/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters to Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, 12/23/1917
- 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, 12/30/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/23/1917
- Summary of War Diary of U.S.S. Davis for period 16 to 23 December 1917, 12/23/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/24/1917
- Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/24/1917
- Captain Nathan C. Twining, Chief of Staff, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Rear Admiral Albert T. Gleaves, Commander, Cruiser and Transport Force, 12/24/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Rear Admiral Henry B. Wilson, Commander, United States Patrol Forces based in France, 12/25/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/25/1917
- Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/26/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, 12/26/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, 12/26/1917
- Captain Nathan C. Twining, Chief of Staff to Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Secretary of the British Admiralty Sir W. Graham Greene, 12/27/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/27/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/27/1917
- Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels to Secretary of State Robert Lansing, et al., 12/27/1917
- Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Commandants of the Navy Yards, and Chiefs of Naval Bureaus, 12/27/1917
- Commander Hutchinson I. Cone, Commander, United States Naval Aviation Forces, Foreign Service, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, 12/28/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, Force Instructions, 12/28/1917
- Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Lieutenant Commander (Retired) Hugh McL. Walker, Commandant, Fifth Naval District, 12/28/1917
- Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/28/1917
- Captain Nathan C. Twining, Chief of Staff, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Vice Admiral Sir Douglas E. R. Brownrigg, R.N., Chief Censor, British Admiralty, 12/29/1917
- Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/29/1917
- Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt Circular, 12/29/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Anne Hitchcock Sims, 12/29/1917
- Rear Admiral Albert Gleaves, Commander, Cruiser and Transport Force, to Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, 12/29/1917
- Captain Mark L. Bristol to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, 12/29/1917
- Captain David C. Hanrahan, Commander USS Santee, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters., 12/29/1917
- 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, 12/30/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, 12/30/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Captain Richard H. Jackson, United States Naval Representative in Paris, 12/31/1917
- Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, 12/31/1917
- Diary of Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels, 12/31/1917
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