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CHAPTER XXI

THE NAVY IN THE WAR

N April 6, 1917, when war was declared, the

navy was at once mobilized. Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, issued an order which was sent out from the office of Admiral W. S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, placing the navy on a war basis. Mr. Daniels had for several years been developing the efficiency of the American Navy. He had seen for some months that America would be compelled to take part in the great war, and the Naval Department had been working at high speed preparing for active service. The various naval units which were at the beginning of the war associated with the regular navy, were the Naval Reserve Force, the Marine Corps, the Marine Corps Reserve, the Naval Militia and the Coast Guard, all of which were called into active service in connection with the mobilization.

Elaborate plans had been made to provide training camps for new recruits. Besides the men required for duty in the seaman branch the navy needed men for service in special branches, such as artificers, yeomen, electricians, commissary, hospital corps and aeronautics.

The Naval Reserve Force, authorized by Act of Congress August 29, 1916, contained six classes: the Fleet Naval Reserve, composed entirely of ex-service officers and men, which is intended for active duty at sea; the Naval Reserve, composed of ex-merchant marine officers and men, intended for duty on naval auxiliary vessels; the Naval Auxiliary Reserve, composed of officers and men serving on vessels of the United States merchant marine, listed by the Navy Department as desirable auxiliaries, which is intended to serve on such vessels when they are called into active service; and the Naval Coast Defense Reserve, intended for citizens of all ages who are capable of sea service to the navy, or in defense of the coast. This includes owners and operators

of yachts and motor power boats, suitable for coast defense, who may have their boats taken over upon payment of a reasonable indemnity.

The Naval Reserve also includes the patrol squadron, planned as a defense of the coast and harbors against the operations of submarines or raiders, the Naval Reserve Flying Corps open to qualified aviators, who might be ordered to duty at sea or on shore where aviators are necessary, and the Volunteer Naval Reserve, who served without pay, and without uniform in time of peace.

Women may also enter service in the Naval Reserve as telephone switchboard operators, nurses, and yeowomen.

The United States Marines, the "soldiers of the sea, are an independent branch of the military service of the United States, serving under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy. They protect government property and naval stations at home, they furnish the first line of defense of naval bases and stations beyond the limits of the United States. They go with the war ships, act as landing parties at shore, and are used as expeditionary forces and for advance duty. The Marine Corps was first called into existence during the Revolutionary War. It was disbanded at the close of the war, but was reorganized in 1798. It has participated in every expedition and action in which the navy has engaged, and has co-operated in campaigns with the army. The Marine Corps Reserve was authorized by Congress as a reserve force to be trained in time of peace, and called into active service whenever the country is at war.

The Naval Militia has the same relation to the navy as the National Guard to the army. In time of war the Naval Militia become active members of the navy and serve in the main or reserve fleets, wherever they may be assigned.

The United States Coast Guard was established in 1915 to combine the revenue cutter service and life-saving service. In peace times it operates under the Treasury Department. It has for its purpose the saving of life and property from the destruction of the seas. In war times it operates as part of the navy. The United States Junior Naval Reserve was an organization for the training of American boys for the Ameri

can Navy and merchant marine. These boys are enrolled at small posts throughout the country and are given instruction in naval training in addition to their regular schooling.

It

A Flying Corps is also associated with the navy. conducts an aeronautic school at Pensacola, Florida, for a course of training and instruction. At this school men may qualify as mechanics or as flyers. Balloonists are also instructed and dirigible balloons are used at Pensacola for training purposes.

Russian (British control) - 20,000% 1%
French - 47,000 - 2%-

Italian – 65,000 - 3%

AMERICAN TROOPS CARRIED BY SHIPS OF EACH NATION

The operations of the United States Navy during the World War have extended all over the world. Its forces have been stationed at Corfu, Gibraltar, along the Bay of Biscay, at the English Channel ports, on the Irish Coast, in the North Sea, at Murmansk, at Archangel, as well as along the coast of the United States and its various territories. exploits may not have been as spectacular as that of the army, yet without it our forces at the front could not have carried on the successful campaign that they did. Indeed, they would not have been able to reach the fighting front in great strength.

Its

Naval men have served on nearly two thousand craft that plied the waters-on submarines and in aviation. On land marines and sailors have shared with the army their glorious victories, and gun crews of sailors have manned the monster fourteen-inch guns which were of such notable importance in land warfare.

In the official report of Secretary Daniels the employment of the fighting craft of the navy is summed up as follows: "(1) Escorting troop and cargo convoys, and other special vessels. (2) Carrying out offensive and defensive measures against enemy submarines in the western Atlantic. (3) Assignment to duty and the despatch abroad of naval vessels for operations in the war zone in conjunction with the naval forces of our Allies. (4) Assignment to duty and operation of naval vessels to increase the force in home waters. Despatch abroad of miscellaneous craft for the army. (5) Protection of these craft en route. (6) Protection of vessels engaged in coastwise trade. (7) Salvaging and assisting vessels in distress, whether for maritime causes or from the operations of the enemy. (8) Protection of oil supplies from the Gulf."

It may be added that before the war began, during the period of what was called an armed neutrality, merchant ships were armed by the government for protection against the submarine, and crews from the navy assigned to work the guns.

On April 6, 1917, the day the United States declared war on Germany, there were 364 vessels on the navy list, and the regular navy comprised 64,680 enlisted men and 4,376 officers. On the day the armistice was signed, November 11, 1918, there were no fewer than 2,003 vessels in the service of the navy, and the total personnel had been increased to 540,059— 507,607 enlisted men and 32,452 officers. Including the reserves and marines and the several thousand workmen and civilian employees, there were more than 700,000 men and women under the naval establishment.

On the day war was declared the enlistment and enrollment of the navy numbered 69,056 officers and men. On the day Germany signed the armistice, the enrollment of the navy

Transports 287888

1000

42% O

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