[Sidenote:  Liaison officers with the War Council and the Naval Council.]

The United States naval staff representative in Paris is the United States naval liaison officer with the Supreme War Council, and a member of the staff of Vice Admiral Sims is the liaison officer with the secretariat of the Allied Naval Council.  The United States naval staff representative in Paris is also liaison officer at the French Ministry of Marine and is at present naval attache as well.

[Sidenote:  Naval attache to Italy.]

The naval attache to Italy, Capt.  C.R.  Train, maintains naval liaison with the Italian Ministry of Marine and keeps in touch with the United States naval activities in Italian waters.

II.  ACTIVITIES IN COOPERATION WITH THE BRITISH.

Inasmuch as the British are predominant in naval activity, it is natural to find that a major part of our naval activities are in cooperation with them and controlled by them.  In fact, the British have been in position to carry so much of the “naval load” of this war that our first and our principal efforts have been toward taking up a share of that load.

[Sidenote:  Friendly rivalry between British and Americans.]

Cooperation has in many cases been carried to such an extent that the coordination necessary for efficiency has developed into practical consolidation.  It is pleasing to note that while consolidation is all but a fact, our own naval forces have in every case preferred to preserve their individuality of organization and administration and, as far as feasible, of operations; and that a healthy and friendly rivalry between them and their British associates has resulted in much good to the personnel of both services.

[Sidenote:  On the coast of Ireland.]

The largest single group of naval activities wherein cooperation is effected with the British is that in Ireland, all of them being under the jurisdiction of the commander in chief, coast of Ireland, who has been and is Admiral Sir Lewis Bayly, whose cordial appreciation of the work of our forces has gone far to stimulate the personnel coming under his direction.  The chief of staff, destroyer flotillas, and the officer in charge of aviation in Ireland are designated by the British Admiralty as members of the staff of Admiral Bayly.

[Sidenote:  Battleship Division Six.]

Battleship Division Six, Rear Admiral T.S.  Rodgers, is based on Berehaven, Ireland, in readiness for the protection of convoys in general and of troop convoys in particular.  Arrangements are in effect for the supply of their needs as to fuel and stores.  While lack of destroyers has operated to restrict their training underway, they are in good material condition and their efficiency is being maintained by utilizing all available facilities.

[Sidenote:  The submarine patrol.]