The sinking of the _Antilles_ was followed--October 25, 1917--by an
announcement that thereafter bluejackets would man and naval officers
command all transports. Up to that time, while there had been naval
guards on the transports, the crews and officers of ships had been
civilians. It was believed that highly disciplined naval men would be
more effective than the constantly shifting crews of civilians. So it
has proved.




CHAPTER IV

Destroyers on Guard--Preparations of Flotilla to Cross the
Ocean--Meeting the "Adriatic"---Flotilla Arrives in Queenstown--
Reception by British Commander and Populace--"We are Ready
Now, Sir"--Arrival of the Famous Captain Evans on the American
Flag-Ship--Our Navy a Warm-Weather Navy--Loss of the "Vacuum"


When we entered the war the Navy Department had one definite idea
concerning its duty with regard to the submarine. It was felt that it
was more necessary to deal drastically with this situation than to meet
it merely by building a large fleet of cargo-carrying vessels in the
hope that a sufficient number of them would escape the U-boats to insure
the carrying of adequate food and supplies to France and the British
Isles. The view was taken that, while the ship-building programme was
being carried out--there was of course no idea of not furthering the
policy embodied in the plea of the British statesman for ships, ships