ater, under the convoy
system, submarines began to be very wary in the matter of triumphant
conversations with officers of merchantmen. In fact, this appears to
have been the last interchange of the sort.

Working with the British, the American destroyers patrolled the seas six
days at a stretch, each craft being assigned to a certain area, as far
out as three hundred miles off shore. 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.

An assignment to convoy a liner from home is regarded as a choice
morsel, and the boats that get the job are looked upon as favored craft.
The transatlantic passengers invariably make a fuss over the Americans,
and the interchange of amenities gives our sailors concrete evidence of
how their work is regarded in this country.

On June 6, 1917, Secretary Daniels, with warrantable pride, announced
the arrival in a French port of the naval collier _Jupiter_, with 10,500
tons of wheat and other supplies.