oyers picked
up and escorted the _Adriatic_ of the White Star Line. As may be
imagined, the Americans on board were delighted to see a destroyer with
an American flag darting about the great vessel like a porpoise, while
the British appreciated to the full the significance of the occasion--so
much so that the following message was formulated and wirelessed to the
destroyer:

"British passengers on board a steamship bound for a British port under
the protection of an American torpedo-boat destroyer send their hearty
greetings to her commander and her officers and crew and desire to
express their keen appreciation of this practical co-operation between
the government and people of the United States and the British Empire
who are now fighting together for the freedom of the seas."

One may imagine with what emotions the officers and men of the American
war-ship, bound for duty in enemy seas and at the very outset having a
great greyhound intrusted to their care, received this glowing despatch.

There were many functions attending the arrival of the Americans at
Queenstown, aside from those already set forth. Many of the seamen were
granted shore-leave and were immediately captured by the townspeople,
who took them to their homes and entertained most lavishly. They were
the first American naval men that the Queenstowners had seen at close
quarters in years, and the bluejackets were bombarded with questions.

And while the jackies were thus being treated the American officers made
a memorable visit to Cork. They journeyed up the River Lee in an
admiral's barge accompanied by Captain Evans. At the Cork custom-house
they were met by distinguished military officers, by the lord-lieutenant
of the county, and by the lord mayor of Cork. It was a most memorable
occasion, and when they returned they found the British and American
seamen on such good terms that the two bodies had already tried each
other out in friendly fisticuffs, the net results being common respect
one for the other.

Announcement of the arrival of the American vessels was made by the
British Admiralty, the American Navy Department, with a modest reticence
which ever since has been characteristic, saying nothing until the time
came to confirm the admiralty's statement. In doing this Secretary
Daniels announced that as a matter of fact an American flotilla of
destroyers had arrived at an English port on May 4, and the vessels
thereof engaged in the work of sub