Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-10
In an Interview With
Star CORRESPONDENT in
London He Says the
Spirit of '76.No,u Rules
OurF1eet-ARemark-
able Tribute to the
: American Sailor By
His Commander.

His Commander.
SPec'a' correspondence of The Star.
LONDON. November 1, 1918
ERE Is talk with the sailing
master of Americas flotillas
In the great war:
Admiral Henry Il. Mayo, in
command of the Atlantic fleet.
now on this side of the ocean. in 1t
speaks freely to the American people
as befts bluff and hearty sailor
Who is proud of the great service in
Which he, has won distinction, who is
certain that the job on which he is
engaged will be carried through to
a successful finish, and, especially,
who Is proud of his allies.
Very soon after the United States
entered the war I got into touch
with Admiral Sir Montagu Browning
OF the British navy and Admiral
Grasset of the French fleets" he told
me. Our Navy Department wished
to ascertain how best America could
help n>the great war;
X X
These eminent allied sailors were
told what we hoped to do, not in a
spirit of American brag, but with
American optimism. They cheered US
on our task. When these prelim-
mary interviews had ended the i'm
preston that almost anything which
we could do would be appreciatively
received was fixed firmly in my mind
$50 we began our work. In a gen.
eral way We have made good. al
though time has proved undoubtedly
that when we started we were mis-
taken with regard to certain matters.
We have found some things which we
thought possible beyond our power
and certain things which we had
thought too difficult to tackle have
been accomplished.
when I again came over some
months later I feared we had done
less than our allies had expected; that
I would find here reaction Of disap-
pointment; that it would be my duty
ence had been that OF everybody
else-some successes and some fail
ures.
I'm my heart 1 knew that we had
failed in many ways, and felt that
must say to those in high position
VII lHlS SLUG Iudt uORou lh0y WoulO
not judge these failures harshly; that
because of our shortcomings they
must not think America half-hearted
ITO my surprise both admirals in
formed me that they were more than
pleased; that they had been agree
ably disappointed because we had
done so we'll.
Americans. The feeling for our
country on this side is not one Of
criticism, but of brotherly affection.
Whether we deserve 1t or not, our
for us. Every one is infinitely con-
siderate. infinitely appreciative.
Their estimate of the work Of
'Pershing and his men Is more than
generous. Our soldiers in France
have made wonderful impression.
Admiral Grasset especially has men
toned to me their attitude Of affec-
tionate solicitude. Of real big brother
Illness toward French children; and
the French commanders, I am told,
speak we'll Of their fighting quail
tiles. And in both France and Eng
land the feeling is as pleasant to-
ward the efforts Of our Navy and
done everything which has been in
the bounds of possibility.
And it is quite true. No matter
now great may nave Deen our mani
fold shortcomings, 1t Is a matter of
great satisfaction to me and to all
Americans l know who have been
working on the great war job that
at home as we'll as here we have
done our very best. If that best has
been worth while we are delighted.
\. X
"And our whole endeavor, from now
on, must be. as it will be. to do
everything we can. accepting every
detail as a thing of vital moment.
Nothing must be shirked, nothing
must be forgotten; we owe that to
our allies and the cause Of world
democracy.
1.-THE English have quite won my
heart. The whole-souled way in
which they have accepted us in fine.
full comradeship, despite the fact
that as participants lin this war we
still must be regarded as mere anna
tours where they are full profession
ais, Is warming, satisfying. without
reserve they have opened to us all Of
their experience. placing at our dis
position every possible opportunity
of obtaining information.