each day were bringing in survivors of the
various victims. It was a situation which could not go on if the British
cause were not to be very seriously injured. The question of supplies,
food, munitions, and the like, for which both France and England were
relying upon the United States to furnish, was looming vitally. This
country had the things to send, all cargoes, of all sorts. But to send
them to the war zone and then have them lost was a heart-breaking
situation for every one concerned.

One thus is able to imagine the emotions with which the British at
Queenstown received our flotilla when it came in from the sea on the
morning of May 13. Motion pictures of this eventful arrival have been
shown in this country, with the result that we who were not there have
an impression of a crowded waterfront, of American flags flying
everywhere, of the American commander leaving his vessel and going
ashore to call upon the British commander Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly and
the Honorable Wesley Frost, the American Consul at Queenstown. The
destroyers had steamed into the harbor in a long line and with great
precision came to a stop at the designated moorings. All this, as said,
we have seen on the film, as we have seen the British and American
officers going through the motions of formal felicitation. What was
said, however, came to us through another medium. Admiral Bayly, after
the formal ceremony of greeting was ended, said with British directness:

"When will you be ready for business?"

The reply was prompt:

"We can start at once, sir."

Admiral Bayly did not attempt to conceal his surprise, but he made no
comment until after he had completed a tour of the various American
craft. Then he turned to the American commander:

"You were right about being prepared."

"Yes," returned the American; "we made preparations in the course of the
trip over. That is why we are ready."

"Very good," smiled the British commander. "You are a fine body of men
and your boats look just as fit." As a matter of fact, while all
equipment was found to be in excellent condition and the men ready and
eager to go out after submarines, it was deemed best to send one or two
of the craft to dry dock to have their hulls inspected and, if
necessary, shorn of all barnacles or other marine growth that might have
become attached to the plating on the journey across.

In the meantime had occurred a very pretty incident which is now one of
the stock s