s on and off the coast
as to keep clear of both. Three out of eight escort units are provided
by United States vessels for the coastal convoy system, which is
operated by the French. Unity of purpose and sympathy of understanding
have combined to make the handling of cargo convoys on and off the coast
a matter of ready adjustment to the general conditions obtaining in
regard to destination of cargo ships and availability of escort vessels.

[Sidenote: Rate of movement of troops by transports.]

At the end of the fiscal year United States naval forces in France are
stated to have been escorting troops into France at the rate of 134,000
per month. Since May 1, 1918, the number of troopships and cargo-vessel
convoys east and west bound have averaged more than 1 a day, and the
number of ships over 200 a month. No convoy of troopships has failed to
be met by destroyer escort before entering the area of submarine
activity, and no passenger intrusted to the care of the United States
naval forces in France has been lost.

[Sidenote: Destroyers controlled from Brest.]

(_a_) _The destroyers based on Brest_ are controlled directly from
headquarters at Brest and are at present maintained in readiness for
service with the aid of the fleet repair ship _Prometheus_ and lately
also by the destroyer tender _Bridgeport_. Additional repair shops on
shore are in process of completion.

[Sidenote: Gunnery and torpedo exercises.]

(_b_) Arrangements are now in hand for the carrying out of gunnery
exercises including torpedoes, the need of which has been recognised but
had hitherto been deemed impracticable on account of press of work.

[Sidenote: Facilities for repairing vessels.]

(_c_) The United States naval repair facilities here as well as
elsewhere on the coast of France have to be made use of not only for the
upkeep of the United States naval vessels based on the coast, but also
for necessary repairs to troopships and cargo vessels, whether naval,
Army, or Shipping Board, the guiding idea being to keep the ships
moving.

[Sidenote: French divided into districts.]

(_a_) _Coastal Districts in France._--The north and west coasts of
France are divided into districts which correspond with the French
prefectures maritimes, and the district headquarters are in every case
located in the same place as those of the several prefects maritimes.
These headquarters are communication and operating centers and provide
naturally by arran