Evening star., 1919-11-30
VICTORY AT SEA.
CONTINUED from First Page)

(0Onlluueu lTONh y Ehos ~o~'|
ish, American, French, ltalian' Jap
nnese or negro sailors, with cheer-
ing word for each, and afterwaro WIN
sleeves tucked up calmly washing
dishes in a big pan OF hot water.
I have my fears that the admiral
will not be particularly pleased py
the fact that have taken all these
pains to introduce him to the Ameri-
can public. Excessive modesty Is one
Of his most conspicuous traits. When
American correspondents came to
Queenstown, Admiral Bayly would re-
ceive them courteously. "You can have
all you want about the navy he
would say. but remember-not word
about Admiral Bayly." He was SO rcti-
cent that he was averse to having ms
picture taken: even the moving pic
ture operator detailed to get an his
toric record Of the arrival Of our de-
stroyers did not obtain a good view
Of the admiral. for, whenever Sir
Lewis saw him coming. he would turn
his back to the camera! My excuse
for describing this very lovable man.
however. Is because he became almost
an object OF veneration to our Amert-
can officers. and because, since for
eighteen months he was the COM
mander Of the American forces based
on Queenstown. he Is an object of
legitimate interest to the American
people. Tho fact that the admiral was
generally known to our officers as
'Unclo Lewis" and that some of those
who grew to know him best even
called him that to his face. illustrates
the delightful relations which were
established. Any account OF the op-
erations Of our Navy in the European
war would thus be sadly incomplete
which ignored the splendid sailor
who was largely responsible for their
success.
The fact that these American de-
stroyers were placed under the COM
mand Of British admiral was some-
what displeasing to certain Ameri-
cans. remember that one rather
bumptious American correspondent,
on n visit to Queenstown, was loud in
expressing his disapproval Of this
state Of affairs, and even threatened
to expose" us all in the American
press.
+
The fact that was specifically COM
missioned as destroyer commander also
confused the situation. Yet the pro-
cedure was entirely proper, and, in fact,
absolutely necessary. My official title
was Commander Of the L. 8. Naval
Forces Operating in European Waters:
besides this, I was the representative Of
our Navy Department ut the British
admiralty and American member of the
Allied Naval Council. These duties re-
quired my presence In London. which
became the center Of all our operations.
l was commander not only Of our de-
stroyers at Queenstown, but Of de-
stroyer force at Brest, another at
Gibraltar, Of sub-chaser forces at Corfu
and Plymouth. OF mixed force at the
Azores. Of battle squadrons at Scapa
Flow and Berehaven, Ireland, and of
many other contingents. Clearly it was
impossible for me to devote all my time
exclusively to any one OF these COM
mands; so far as actual operations were
concerned 1t was necessary that par
ticular commanders should control them.
All these destroyer squadrons, includ-.
ing that at Queenstown, were under the
command of the American admiral, sta
toned In London; whenever they sailed
from Queenstown on specific duty, how
ever, they sailed under orders from Ad-
miral Bayly. At any time could with
draw these destroyers from Queenstown
and send them where the particular
necessities required. My position, that
IS, was precisely the same as that Of
Gen. Pershing in France. He sent GER
tain American divisions to the British
army; as long as they acted with the
British they were subject to the orders
OF Sir Douglas Haig; but Gen. PershInr
could withdraw these men at anv ttme
Tor use elsewhere. The actual supreme
command Of all our forces, Army and
Navy. rested in the hands OF Americans.
but. for particular operations they NAT.
urally had to take their orders from the
particular officer under whom they vera
stationed.
(To be Continued Next Sunday,
Copyright, 1910. BY Worlds Work and Me
Clure Syndicate,