World's War Events Volume III Part 32

The Adjutant General's Department has been directed with a systematic thoroughness and excellence that surpa.s.sed any previous work of its kind. The Inspector General's Department has risen to the highest standards and throughout has ably a.s.sisted commanders in the enforcement of discipline. The able personnel of the Judge Advocate General's Department has solved with judgment and wisdom the mult.i.tude 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 hards.h.i.+ps, 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 grat.i.tude 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.

THE AMERICAN NAVY IN

EUROPE

EXTRACTS FROM REPORT OF

ADMIRAL H.T. MAYO

[Sidenote: Activities in Ireland, Great Britain, and France.]

In conformity with instructions contained in the reference, the following preliminary statement is herewith submitted in regard to United States naval activities in Europe. This preliminary report relates to our naval activities in Great Britain, Ireland, and France, visit to the last named having been concluded on November 1, 1918. A complete and detailed report will be submitted later and upon completion of the current tour of inspection and observation.

In view of the fact that United States naval activities in Europe are chiefly matters of cooperation with the allied navies, and that the cooperation amounts practically to consolidation where effected with the British Navy, this preliminary report is arranged on that basis in several parts:

[Sidenote: General cooperation.]

I. COOPERATION WITH THE ALLIED NAVIES IN GENERAL.

(1) Commander United States naval forces in Europe.

(2) Allied naval council.

(3) Naval staff representative, Paris.

(4) Naval staff representative, Rome.

[Sidenote: Naval Headquarters in London and Ireland.]

II. ACTIVITIES IN COOPERATION WITH THE BRITISH.

(1) United States naval headquarters, London.

(2) United States naval activities in Ireland.

(_a_) Battles.h.i.+p Division Six, Berehaven.

(_b_) Submarine detachment, Berehaven.

(_c_) Destroyers based on Queenstown.

(_d_) Subchaser Detachment Three based on Queenstown.

(3) United States naval air stations in Ireland; seaplane stations; kite-balloon station.

(4) Battles.h.i.+p Division Nine.

(5) Mine Force.

(6) Subchaser Detachment One, based on Plymouth.

(7) United States Naval Air Stations, Great Britain, Seaplane Station, Killingholme; Northern Bombing Group, a.s.sembly and Repair Plant, Eastleigh.

(8) Cross-channel Transport Service.

[Sidenote: Paris, Brest and coast districts.]

[Sidenote: Naval air stations.]

III. ACTIVITIES IN COOPERATION WITH THE FRENCH.

(1) Naval staff representative, Paris.

(2) United States naval headquarters, Brest.

(3) French coastal districts.

(4) Destroyers based on Brest.

(5) United States naval air stations on French coast: (_a_) Seaplane stations.

(_b_) Dirigible stations.

(_c_) Kite-balloon stations.

(_d_) a.s.sembly and repair plant, Pauillac.

(_e_) Aviation Training School, Moutchie.

[Sidenote: Radio stations, hospitals, etc.]

IV. OTHER COOPERATING ACTIVITIES.

(1) Naval liaison officer at Army General Headquarters.

(2) Naval Radio Station, Croix d'Hins.

(3) United States Naval Railway Battery.

(4) Naval Pipe-Line Unit.

(5) Stations not yet inspected or not to be visited.

V. UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION IN EUROPE.

VI. Y.M.C.A. AND SIMILAR ACTIVITIES.

VII. HOSPITAL FACILITIES, ETC.

VIII. CONCLUDING REMARKS.

I. COOPERATION WITH THE ALLIED NAVIES IN GENERAL.