e on the
sea was as lightly held. We made our voyages as in peace-time. We had no
means of communication with the naval ships at sea other than the
universally understood International Code of Signals. Any measures we
took to keep out of the way of enemy war vessels, then abroad, were our
own. We had no Intelligence Service to advise us in our choice of
sea-routes, and act as distributors of confidential information. We were
far too 'jack-easy' in our seafaring: we estimated the enemy's sea-power
over-lightly.

In time we learned our lesson. Tentative measures were advanced.
Admiralty, through the Trade Division, took an interest in our
employment. Orders and advices took long to reach us. These were first
communicated to the War Risks Associations, who sent them to our owners.
We received them as part of our sailing orders, rather late to allow of
considered efforts on our part to conform with their tenor. There was no
channel of direct communication. When on point of sailing, we projected
our own routes, recorded them in a sealed memorandum which we left with
our owners. If we fell overdue Admiralty could only learn of our route
by application to the holders of the memorandum. A short trial proved
the need for a better system. Shipping Intelligence Officers were
appointed at the principal seaports. At this date some small echo of our
demand for a part in our governance had reached the Admiralty. In
selecting officers for these posts an effort was made to give us men
with some understanding of mercantile practice; a number of those
appointed to our new staff were senior officers of the R.N.R. who were
conversant with our way of business. (If they did, on occasion, project
a route for us clean through the Atlantic ice-field in May, they were
open to accept a criticism and reconsider the voyage.) With them were
officers of the Royal Navy who had specialized in navigation, a branch
of our trade that does not differ greatly from naval practice. They
joined with us in discussion of the common link that held few
opportunities for strained association. Certainly we took kindly to our
new directors from the first; we worked in an atmosphere of confidence.
The earliest officer appointed to the West Coast would blush to know the
high esteem in which he is held, a regard that (perhaps by virtue of his
tact and courtesy) was in course extended to his colleagues of a later
date.

The work of the S.I.O. is varied and extensive. Hi