[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 impression 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.