The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-10-13
S.WANTS GREAT.
SEA DRIVE ON FOE ..
Admiral Mayo Will Report Oh
Allies Opinion.
BACK FROM MISSION ABROAD
Commander-in-Chief of Atlantic Flee!
Sought to Get Cooperation in Naval
Offensive if That is Practical.

Washington, Oct 13.-Admiral Mayt
is back from England.
Secrecy attended his departure as
well as return and more secrecy will
attend what he accomplished.
Before he left he received instruc
tions personally from President vii
son and Secretary of the Navy Dan
iels. To both he will report the re
suits of his mission. AS commander
in-chief of the Atlantic fleet Admira
Mayo went to England not simply OH
an inspection trip of American forces
but to get cooperation in a naval OF
fensive if that is practicable.
What the consensus of opinion OF
final judgment of American and Brit
ish naval officers was is not known
to anybody as yet. The chances are
that it will remain unknown, for ii
there is to be an offensive, that fact
would be concealed from the enemy
as long as possible and if there is to
be none, considerable advantage would
accrue in keeping the German fleet
guessing.
VI COulSC lllS nav OCPSNi ILL IL
gave no linking as to the subjects
discussed by Admiral Mayo. The Of
fetal announcement by the secretary
read:
admiral Mayo, United States navy
and his staff have returned from Eng
land The purpose Of the visit OF
Admiral Mayo to England was tC
permit him, in conference with the
other officials of the allied navies, &c
become intimate in every detail with
the situation as It is at present, what
has been done before, and to discuss
the plans for the future.
The British admiralty extended
every courtesy and every facility to
promote the success of this mission
Admiral Mayo will proceed immedi
ately to Washington, and will there
make a full report to the secretary
Of the navy. Admiral Mayo visited
the English fleet and our own forces
in British and French waters in order
that he might familiariZe himsel.
with the conditions under which the
allied forces are operating
Reading between the lines of the
above, admiral Mayo had every oppoT-
tunity to bring about the very co
operation which many naval officers
in this country felt they had not been
getting IN European waters. This
may have been due to long-distance
difficulties and a lack of personal
touch, but the Mayo mission was sent
to remove any possible cause Of mis-.
understanding, and the impression in
naval circles is that the American ad
miral succeeded in his delicate task.
From now on, therefore, vigorous
plan of campaign in European waters
BY the joint naval forces of the Unit
ed States and Great Britain Is conf
iently expected. In fact, it is not over
emphasizing the importance Of the
Mayo mission to say that Americas
naval policy for the entire war may
De determined by the advice and sug
gestions given in the conference at
London.
Americas desire to put her entire
navy into action, if necessary, to hunt
he submarines to their base and to
force the German feet into the open
was placed before the British admi
ralty in unnistakable fashion. But
he British experience in naval war
fare is Of such wide range that the
United States would necessarily be
guided in these matters by the judg
nent of Sir Eric Geddes and his naval
staff.
Besides the importance Of a confer
ance on naval plans, the value of Ad
miral Mayo's mission was the oppor
unity it gave to establish close per
sonal relations with the British ad
niralty for the remainder of the war.
1t is quite possible that a British
naval mission may visit this country
Or that a joint naval board may be
rormed to sit in London and direct
he operations of the combined fleets
The encouraging thing IS that the
entire American navy from admirals
% ensigns and enlisted men is eager
Tor action, and that President Wilson
and Mr.. Daniels are determined that
he navy's part in the war shall be a
aaamorable one in American history