Returning to port, the destroyers
would lie at their moorings two and three days. Later the time in port
was reduced. But it depended upon conditions. The orders to the
Americans were: first, destroy submarines; second, escort and convoy
merchant ships; third, save lives. And in all three respects the
Americans from the very outset have so conducted themselves and their
craft as to earn the highest encomiums from the Entente admiralties.
The Americans entered very heartily into their work, and developed ideas
of their own, some of which the British were very glad to adopt. Between
the men of the two navies there has been the best sort of feeling.
CHAPTER V
British and American Destroyers Operating Hand in Hand--Arrival of Naval
Collier "Jupiter"--Successful Trip of Transports Bearing United States
Soldiers Convoyed by Naval Vessels--Attack on Transports Warded Off by
Destroyers--Secretary Baker Thanks Secretary Daniels--Visit to our
Destroyer Base--Attitude of Officers Toward Men--Genesis of the
Submarine--The Confederate Submarine "Hunley"
A correspondent who visited the British base on the Irish coast a month
after the arrival of the Americans, found the two fleets operating hand
in hand and doing effective work. With the boats out four and five, and
then in port coaling and loading supplies two and three days, the seamen
were getting practically half a day shore-leave every week. The seamen
endured the routine grind of patrol and convoy work, accepting it as the
price to be paid for the occasional fights with submarines.
Pages:
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79