When this division was sent abroad it had, in common with other
units of the Atlantic Fleet, suffered in efficiency from the expansion
of the Navy, which required reduction in the number of officers and
transfers of numbers of men to furnish trained and experienced nuclei
for other vessels. Upon reporting in the Grand Fleet, it immediately
took its place in the battle line on exactly the same status as other
units of the Grand Fleet. The opportunities for gunnery exercises are
limited but drill and adherence to standardized methods and procedure as
developed in our own naval service have brought this division to a
satisfactory state of efficiency, which continues to improve.

[Sidenote: General efficiency of the squadron.]

(_c_) It is pleasing to record that the efficiency of this unit in
gunnery, engineering, and seamanship is deemed by the British commander
in chief to be in no way inferior to that of the best of the British
battle squadrons. In fact, it is perfectly proper to state the belief
that our ships are in some respects superior to the British, and perhaps
chiefly in the arrangements for the health and contentment of personnel,
which have been very thoroughly examined into by the flag officers,
captains, and other officers of the Grand Fleet. These ships have also
been the subject of much favorable comment in regard to their capacity
for self-maintenance, a matter which has been given much attention in
our own Navy of late years.

[Sidenote: Capacity for self-maintenance.]

(_d_) Service in the Grand Fleet is noteworthy by reason of the fact
that the fleet is at never less than four hours' notice for going to
sea, so that liberty is restricted and whatever is necessary in the way
of overhaul and upkeep of machinery must always be planned with a view
to assembly in case of orders to sea.

[Sidenote: Mine-laying operation.]

[Sidenote: Readiness to attack difficulties.]

_The Mine Force of the Atlantic Fleet_, under the command of Rear
Admiral Strauss, is an independent unit, except that the mine-laying
operations are under the jurisdiction of the commander in chief of the
Grand Fleet, who has to choose the time when arrangements can be carried
into effect to furnish the necessary destroyer escort and heavy covering
forces. The arrangements made at home prior to the departure of the mine
force appear to have been well considered and thoroughly developed. The
mine-laying operations themselves give an im