The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-04-04

which formed the basis of the reports
recommending the conditions upon
which the American Navy should CO.
operate with the Allies. Commander
Babcock was constantly at my elbow
during all these consultations, and was.
all the time Independently conducting
Investigations in the several depart
ments of the admiralty The final
drafts of all my written and cabled
communications to the department
reports which from a connected story
of our participation in the naval war
during this period-were prepared by
him.
Able as Commander Babcock was
human endurance still had its limita-
lions. public spirited American
business man in London, Mr.. r. E.
Gillmor, who had formerly been an of
hcer in the navy, begged to be accept
ed as volunteer; he brought two OF his
best stenographers, English girls, and
personally paid their salaries for sew
eraf weeks while they were devoting
all their time to the American navy.
navy. Subsequently he was enlisted in
the naval reserves and Performed very
valuable services on the staff through
out nearly the entire period Of the
warmth orc red to America where
his technical knowledge was required
in connection with certain important
appliances concerning which he had
expert knowledge. His experience as a
business man in London was of great
value to our forces, and his time and
energy were devoted to our service
with a zeal and loyalty that endeared
him to us all
Unpaid Volunteers.
Shortly afterward a number OF
Rhodes scholars, and other young
Americans then in Europe, G. B. Stock
ton, E. III. Mccormick. Il. B. Kittredge.
p. f. Good, r. NJ. d. Richardson, III.
Willard. L. S. Stevens and j. c. Bail
largeon, joined our forces as unpaid
volunteers and gave us the benefit of
their trained minds and Europeans ex-
perience. They were later enrolled as
reserves and continued their work
throughout the war. Lieutenant Stock
ton performed the arduous and impor-
tant duties of chief business manager,
or executive officer. of headquarters in
a most efficient manner.
Mr.. Page, the American Ambassa-
dor, aided and encouraged us in all
possible ways. Immediately after my
arrival in London he invited me to call
upon him and his staff for any assist
ance they could render. In his en-
thusiastic and warm hearted way, he
said: Everything we have is yours, |
will turn the Embassy into the street
If necessary" and throughout the war
he was a tower of strength TO the
cause. He gave us his time and the
benefit of his great experience and
personal prestige in establishing COR
dial relations with the various
branches of the British government
and all this with such an absence of
diplomatic formality, such courteous
and forceful efficiency. and such cor
dial sympathy and genuine kindness
that he Immediately excited not only
our sincere admiration but our person
al affection.
Period of Accomplishment.
During all this period events of the
utmost Importance were taking place;
it was within these four months that
the convoy system was adopted, thta
armed guards We're placed on merchant
ships, that the first American troops
were escorted to France, and that our
destroyers and other warships began
arriving in European waters. In July
it became apparent that the strain of
doing the work of a dozen men, which
had been continuous during the past
four months, could no longer be sup
ported by my aide, Commander Bah
cock. When the destroyers and other
ships arrived. he went through their
lists; here and there he hit upon a
man whom we regarded as qualified
for responsible staff duty, and trans
ferred him to the London headquarters.
This proceeding was necessary if our
essential administrative work was to be
done. We also obtained two valuable
workers, Stockton and Kittredge, men
who had been serving under hoover
in Belgium.
Among the reserves who began to be
assigned to our forces, many excellent
staff officers also were developed for
handling the work of communications,
cypher codes. and the like. When the
Colonel House Commission came over
in october, 1917, l explained our ne