The Acting Secretary of State to Ambassador McCormick.
Washington, March 5, 1906.
Sir: The date of the formal removal of the remains of John Paul Jones at the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., has been fixed for April 24 next. It is the present intention of the Navy Department to have present on that occasion a naval force consisting of the second and fifth divisions of the United States Atlantic Fleet, the former composed of four battle ships and the latter of four cruisers. The second division is commanded by Rear-Admiral [Page 637] Charles H. Davis, and the fifth division by Rear-Admiral R. B. Bradford, the former being the senior. The superintendent of the Naval Academy is Rear-Admiral J. H. Sands, U. S. Navy, who as senior officer present will have general charge of the arrangements of the naval ceremonies to be observed on that date.
You will communicate these facts to the French Government and request the courtesy of an attendance at Annapolis on that occasion of such French naval forces as it may deem convenient and desirable to send; and you will advise the department of the names of the vessels that may be sent and the name and rank of the officer commanding.
I am, etc.,