[Sidenote:  Ordnance Department, Signal Corps and Engineer Corps.]

As to the more technical services, the able personnel of the Ordnance Department in France has splendidly fulfilled its functions both in procurement and in forwarding the immense quantities of ordnance required.  The officers and men and the young women of the Signal Corps have performed their duties with a large conception of the problem and with a devoted and patriotic spirit to which the perfection of our communications daily testify.  While the Engineer Corps has been referred to in another part of this report, it should be further stated that the work has required large vision and high professional skill, and great credit is due their personnel for the high proficiency that they have constantly maintained.

[Sidenote:  American aviators.]

[Sidenote:  The Tank Corps.]

Our aviators have no equals in daring or in fighting ability and have left a record of courageous deeds that will ever remain a brilliant page in the annals of our Army.  While the Tank Corps has had limited opportunities its personnel has responded gallantly on every possible occasion and has shown courage of the highest order.

[Sidenote:  Other Departments.]

The Adjutant General’s Department has been directed with a systematic thoroughness and excellence that surpassed any previous work of its kind.  The Inspector General’s Department has risen to the highest standards and throughout has ably assisted commanders in the enforcement of discipline.  The able personnel of the Judge Advocate General’s Department has solved with judgment and wisdom the multitude of difficult legal problems, many of them involving questions of great international importance.

It would be impossible in this brief preliminary report to do justice to the personnel of all the different branches of this organization which I shall cover in detail in a later report.

[Sidenote:  Cooperation of Navy and Army.]

The Navy in European waters has at all times most cordially aided the Army, and it is most gratifying to report that there has never before been such perfect cooperation between these two branches of the service.

As to Americans in Europe not in the military services, it is the greatest pleasure to say that, both in official and in private life, they are intensely patriotic and loyal, and have been invariably sympathetic and helpful to the Army.

[Sidenote:  Heroism of the officers and the men in the line.]

Finally, I pay the supreme tribute to our officers and soldiers of the line.  When I think of their heroism, their patience under hardships, their unflinching spirit of offensive action, I am filled with emotion which I am unable to express.  Their deeds are immortal, and they have earned the eternal gratitude of our country.

* * * * *

No one doubted the efficiency of the navy or of its capacity to carry on its operations in a way worthy of the traditions of the American Navy.  What the navy did during the war, and how it did it, is summarized in the following report by its chief.