Paris Peace Conf. 184.511/3

Memorandum by the Executive Officer of the Commission to Negotiate Peace ( Patterson )

Memorandum No. 10

Subject—Courier Service—Plan of Operation

The Commission has attached to it a representative of the Overseas Courier Service which was established by the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy and which is now operated by the General Staff in the United States, and by the Postal Express Service in cooperation with the State Department and the Navy Department in Europe.

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This places at the disposal of the Commission the following service:—

I.—Between Europe and America

Officer Couriers depart for and arrive from New York and Washington at intervals of about three or four days, connecting with every fast vessel. Special facilities are provided throughout for expediting in every way possible the handling of the dispatches and to provide for their safety. The service has maintained the following record since its installation:—

Number of couriers dispatched between Europe and America 80
Best time between Paris and Washington 7 days and 20 hours.
Average time between Paris and Washington 11½ days.

II.—Throughout Europe

Courier service is available in Europe as follows:

(1) Within Paris and to Versailles.

Regular couriers operate by motorcycle between 4 Place de la Concorde, the American Embassy, 5 Rue Chaillet, Office of Colonel E. M. House, 78 Rue de l’Université, Office of the Commanding General, U. S. Troops, District of Paris, 7 Rue Tilsit, and the Office of the Supreme War Council, Versailles, leaving each point at intervals of one hour from 10:00 A.M., until 10:00 P.M.

A plentiful supply of special motorcycle and other messengers are available to handle dispatches for other points in Paris.

(2) Between Paris and London.

Couriers operate daily between Paris and London via train and U. S. Naval Destroyers. They leave Paris at 10:15 P.M. and leave London at 11:35 A.M. The time of transmission of dispatches is about 12 hours.

(3) Between Paris and General Headquarters American Expeditionary Forces, General Headquarters British Expeditionary Forces, and Quartier Générale of the French Army.

Regular couriers operate daily between Paris and the General Headquarters of the French, British, and American Armies. The time of transmission of dispatches are approximately as follows:

(a) Between Paris and G. H. Q., Amer. Expeditionary Forces 5 hours.
(b) Between Paris and British General Headquarters 5 hours.
(c) Between Paris and Grand Quartier Générale 2 hours.

(4) Between Paris and Army Post Offices in Europe.

Army Post Offices of the Postal Express Service have been established at all the principal places where American troops are located [Page 205] in Europe, including the Army, Corps, and Division Headquarters, and the principal cities of France. Dispatches are forwarded between Paris and these post offices through motor dispatch riders, railway postal cars, and other agencies of the Postal Express Service.

(5) Between Paris and Berne, Switzerland.

Couriers will operate daily between Paris and Berne, leaving Paris at 8:25 P.M. and leaving Berne, Office of the American Embassy at 10:00 A.M. The time of transmission of dispatches is about 22 hours.

(6) Between Paris and Rome, Italy.

Couriers will be dispatched daily between Paris and Rome, leaving Paris at 8:25 P.M. and Rome at 11:00 P.M. The time of transmission of dispatches is approximately 36 hours.

(7) Between Paris, Brussels and the Hague.

Couriers will operate daily between Paris and the Offices of the American Embassy at Brussels and the Hague. The time of transmission of dispatches between Paris and Brussels is approximately 12 hours and between Paris and the Hague approximately 20 hours.

(8) Between Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Munich, Budapest, Prague, Sofia, Belgrade, Constantinople, Odessa, Agram, Warsaw and Frankfort.

Upon the establishment by the State Department of representatives at these places, communication by courier with them will be instituted.

R. C. Patterson, Jr.
,
Captain, U. S. A.

Approved:
J. C. Grew
Secretary.