File No. 812.48/3288
The Assistant Secretary of War to the Secretary of State
Washington, July 6, 1916.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 3d instant, in which it is stated that the services of the Sumner are desired to convey about 200 Porto Rican refugees from New Orleans to Porto Rico, and to inform you that the master of the [Page 703] Sumner has been advised by radio to proceed to New Orleans after disembarking at Port Tampa the refugees brought from Vera Cruz, for the purpose of transporting the Porto Ricans to San Juan, Porto Rico.
Unless otherwise notified, the Sumner will be returned to Newport News, Va., after disembarking the Porto Rican refugees at San Juan, P. R.
Very respectfully,