lines minus two of their number.

With the coming of dawn two solitary hostile machines circling at a
fairly low altitude could be seen. They dropped no bombs, but the reason
for their presence was soon apparent. Shells from the long-range guns
behind the German lines began to moan, whistle and burst in and around
the luckless town. A hit was signified by a cloud of smoke, dust and
debris, and ambulances again became busy in the stone-paved streets.

One shell, carrying sufficient explosive to blow up an average-sized
ship, ploughed up the water of the harbour, but did no damage, and by 6
A.M. Allied squadrons had chased away the hostile aerial observers. Once
again the peace of an ideal summer morning reigned over the historic
town.

The few minesweeping and other ships which had remained in the harbour
through the night now commenced to show signs of returning life and
activity. Heavy brown smoke poured from the funnels of some, the
staccato noise of oil engines came from others, and men were busy on the
decks of all. The night's "rest" was over and the vital work of
sweeping, possibly under an irritating fire from shore batteries and
the strain of a necessarily ever-alert patrol, commenced afresh. The
steady barometer promised a fine day for the harvesting of mines and,
for the ships that returned, another night's _rest_ similar to the
previous three!

INDEX

ABERDEEN harbour mined, 209

Aden, mine-field laid off, 145

Admiralty dispatch bearers, 108

Aerial attacks, 293-300

-- bombs, effect of, 297

-- warfare and submarine fighting, 273

Aircraft and convoys, 116

Airship, salving of, 273-279

Allied navies, 69

A memorable Christmas, 191-201

American first army, transport of, 124

Arctic patrol, 52, 227

-- seas, work in, 193-201

Area of sea covered daily by sweepers, 161

Areas, command of, 23

-- patrol of, 128-131

Armed liners, 51

Armies, transport of, 116

Atlantic patrol, 226-232

Australian first army, transport of, 123

Auxiliary patrol office, 25

BASES and their fleets, 113-115

-- war, 23, 24, 102-115

Battle of Jutland, 248-256

Beatty, Sir David, 249, 255, 256

Blister system on monitors, 17