pression of efficiency which
can only come from thorough preparation and complete understanding of
the work. The assembly of mines in the bases has been somewhat changed
by the necessity for certain alterations in the mine itself, most of
which are due to difficulties inherent in the application of the
operating principle of the mine. Here, as elsewhere, the cheerful
readiness of officers and men to attack difficulties and to surmount all
obstacles is producing results of magnitude and importance of which all
too little is known even in the Navy itself.

[Sidenote: Crossing the channel.]

_The Cross-channel Transport Service_ was brought into being to render
indispensable assistance to the British in ferrying United States troops
across the channel from England, in whose ports over half of our troops
were landed from British ships. At the time of inspection late in
September four United States vessels were in service, and four more were
expected in the course of a few weeks. The vessels in service were
superior in capacity to British vessels engaged in the same work and
combined with the efficiency of their naval personnel made them the
subject of favorable remark by the British transport authorities.

[Sidenote: Subchasers at Plymouth.]

_Subchaser Detachment One_, based on Plymouth, Captain L.A. Cotten, had
been operating for some time. A very compact and efficient base was in
process of completion and should, with the aid of the subchaser tender
_Hannibal_, amply suffice for the requirements of a larger number of
chasers than that now available. This base is to be expanded into a
United States naval base, of which Rear Admiral Bristol will be in
charge. The upkeep of chasers is effected entirely with the resources of
the base; operations are initiated by the British commander in chief at
Plymouth. A great deal of development work in listening devices is being
carried on at and from this base. The work of the subchasers from this
base has proved their usefulness up to the limit of their sea-going
capacity.

(_a_) _United States Naval Aviation in England_ is carried on by
cooperation in two British commands.

[Sidenote: Seaplanes at Killingholme.]

(_b_) _The United States Seaplane Station, Killingholme_, Commander K.
Whiting, is under the vice admiral commanding on the east coast of
England. It has been in operation for some time and does escort of
coastal convoys, escort of mine layers in the southern part of