William Sowden Sims to Josephus Daniels

AMERICAN EMBASSY
Office of the Naval Attache
London

From: Rear Admiral W. S. Sims.
To: Secretary of the Navy.
SUBJECT: CONCERNING DISPATCHES AND MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.
1. Owing to danger of sending confirmations of cipher dispatches during war, I am depending upon the past three years experience of the Embassy which indicates that all dispatches are understood unless inquiry ton contrary is received. I have sent 10 dispatches to date and will hereafter number all dispatches commencing with No. 1.
2. The following memoranda is herewith attached:
-(a) List of certain anti-submarine devices which have been tried and discarded for reasons stated - forwarded to prevent duplication of effort.
(b) Tactical use of smoke producing apparatus for merchantmen.
(c) Confidential instructions issued to Mercahant Masters British vessels.
(d) Report of Admiralty conference with Merchant Captains.
3. All essential information has been covered by cavble dispatch. Up to the present my time has been too fully occupied in ascertaining and confirming information concerning the military situation to give much attention to questions of material.
4. I strongly recommend that expert representatives of the Bureaus of Construction and Repair, Ordnance and Steam Engineering be sent here as rearly as possible, as all channels of information are now open. Such representatives should be of as high rank as practicable.
5. ANTI-SUBMARINE HOWITZERS. The Britsih have under construction about one thousand bomb throwing howitzers for use on trawlers and similar vessels against submarines. Of these thirty are of three and a half inch calibre throwing 200 lb. bomb with 94 lb. bursting charge. These recommended are as follows, all of about 350 footnseconds:-

No. on       Max.      Type.      Calibre.    Weight     Bursting
Hand        Range                                Bomb       Charge
                            rifled 
750          1400       B.L.         7.5"       100         43
210          2600       B.L.          11"       350         120

Also one 13.5" experimental B omb Thrower.
6. SMOKE PRODUCING APPARATUS FOR MERCHANTMEN :There us attached desciription and instructions concerning portable smoke producing apparatus which has been issued to all ships armed, about 2000. It is to be noted that there are two types of smoke producing apparatus, one the Cowl or smoke producing plant and the other the bomb type which may be thrown overboard or triced up in the rigging.
7. ARMED MERCHANTMEN.About 2000 merchantmen have been armed with one gun aft. The guns have been mounted aft primarily to force the merchant ships to maneuver away from the submarine. About 5000 more guns are under contract both for ships not now armed and to increase the number of those already having one gun.
8. VICKERS ELIA MINES.Confirming my despatch concerning these mines the Admiralty reports this type of mine as originally designed has not proven satisfactory and that service improvements found necessary and developed since war began are essential to its efficiency. In fact British are now abandoning the type in favor of the German type, similar to the Carbonnit mine as covered by intelligence reports of Lieut. Babcock before the war.The principal changes made in the Elia mine have been in the anchor and firing mechanism. It has been found essential to keep the anchor and mine together as a unit for some time after launching. The latest Admiralty modifications do not permit mine and anchor to separate until both have sunk about ten feet. A special pawl, developed by Admiralty, is used on mororing line reel. Shearing pins formerly used in firing mechanism have been eliminated. A new type of firing mechanism sleeve release had to be designed as it was found that after mine was laid two weeks the necessary force to move firing lever had increased from 10 to 70 lbs.
It is possible that Vickers representatives in United States aware of these changes but in case they are not there are forwarded herewith drawings. In case questions of Patent Rights should arise with Vickers during or after the war, I have assured the Admiralty that our Government will protect of indemnify them. Copy of assurance is attached hereto.
By my request the Admiralty have detailed Lieut-Commander H. O. Mock, R.N.V.R. to proceed at once to the United States and place himself at the disposal of the Bureau of Ordnance. Lieut. Mock is thoroughly familiar with all developments to date by the Admiralty in connection with mines, and is, in fact, responsible for a number of the most valuable improvements.
9. THE SITUATION.The military situation almost daily grows more critical as is indicated by my cabled reports of merchant tonnage loss. The critical area continues to the southward and westward of Ireland.

/s/ Wm. S. Sims#He leaves by American Line sailing Saturday, April 28, 1917#Referring to Lieut. Mock.