File No. 861.00/2089
The Secretary of the Navy (Daniels) to the Secretary of State
C–20–220 Op 36
Washington, June 22,
1918.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your Department’s letter of June 14, 1918, enclosing a
copy of a cablegram from the American Ambassador to Russia in regard
to conditions in Finland.1
For the information of the Department of State, I enclose herewith a
copy of a despatch from Admiral
Sims, dated April 13, 1918, setting forth the
instructions under which the British and French forces were to
operate. These instructions were approved by this department and a
copy given to the commanding officer of the Olympia for his guidance. The Olympia is now operating under the orders of the British
Rear Admiral at Murmansk.
Attention is respectfully invited to the enclosed copy of a despatch
of Admiral Sims concerning
the proposed operations in this region of a British military force
and to the proposed defensive measures by the Russian local
authorities against German submarines.
Sincerely yours,
[Page 488]
[Enclosure—Telegrams]
Admiral Sims to the Secretary of the
Navy (Daniels)
Instructions have been issued to the British Rear Admiral at
Murmansk to take any steps which he may consider necessary and
desirable with the forces at his disposal to protect and further
the Allied interests generally, and to assist in recovering the
Allied stores at Archangel. Instructions have also been given
him that he is not to commit himself to land military operations
away from the port, but subject to the above-mentioned
restriction he may utilize the crew of the ships for the purpose
of stiffening the local resistance against Germans if it be
found practicable. The same instructions have been issued to the
French senior officer. It is considered essential by the
Admiralty that the Allied ships at Murmansk should be placed
under the orders of the senior Allied commander, and that the
ships be instructed to cooperate with him in carrying out the
above instructions. I concur in the above and recommend that it
be carried out.
Admiral Sims to the Secretary of the
Navy (Daniels)
A force of 600 infantry with field and machine guns has been sent
to Murmansk in command of General
Poole of the British Army. General Poole is to have
under his command all the military forces ashore both at
Archangel and Murmansk, his special duty being the organization
of the Czechs, Serbian and other units which are reported to be
at those places. Ships can now approach the harbor at Archangel
safely as the River Dvina at that place is now clear of ice.
The president of Murmansk has requested permission of the central
authorities to organize defensive force against German
submarines, as a result of the recent activity of the enemy
submarines in the Arctic Ocean and the White Sea.
