CHAPTER TWENTY-FOURAfter the War
The war over, the reorganized United States fleet was to include only theSan Francisco,Baltimore,Shawmut, andAroostookas minelayers. The Big Four ships were to bring troops home, and theQuinnebaugandSaranacto go back to their owners, the Old Dominion Steamship Company. TheSan Francisconeeding repairs, the squadron flag was transferred temporarily to theBaltimore. This took place 17 January, 1919, at Newport, Rhode Island, whence we had sailed on our mission eight months before.
Never before in all my experience had I been in an organization where harmony, mutual confidence, good will, and loyalty prevailed so completely as in this Mine Squadron. The high spirit of the officers and men showed in the condition of their ships, their work, their discipline, and their individual personal bearing. To command such a body was an honor that could not be laid down in silence, and so, before the two pioneer minelayers parted, I spoke to their assembled officers and men as follows:
I am speaking to you to-day as representing the Squadron. It is very appropriate that, on this occasion of temporarily transferring the flag, I should get together the officers and crews of the two old war horses,San FranciscoandBaltimore, that have made our success possible. The work in the Northern Mine Barrage did not begin only a year ago. It began for a squadron of mining ships when theBaltimoreand theDubuquejoined theSan Francisco, in the middle of 1915. These old ships set an example that made the rest aspire to follow, to live up to the high standard and steady pace necessary to accomplish what we have done.To-day marks the end of the “Yankee Mining Squadron,” that did four-fifths of the Northern Mine Barrage. I do not need to tell you how highly mentioned our work has been. When the reports have been published, no doubt it will be highly thought of in this country and by all who read about it in the future. This success is due, not to any one of us, not to any few of us, it is due to all of us. I am very proud to have commanded such a force. It is a deep gratification to have such a success come as a result of the efforts we have made through four years. Naturally, I shall never forget, but I wish to let you know that you should never forget it.The Squadron is now reorganizing. Some of you may go to other duty, some may go out into civil life, where you will work during the conditions of peace which you helped to bring about. And now let me remind youof the principles on which we won success in our part in this war and on which we always did our work. Remember this! that the everyday things are the easiest to forget, and it is because we have carefully kept before us the importance of doing the everyday things right that we have earned success. We have not been afraid of work, we have never shied at any job. Every man has felt his part as important to do properly as any other man’s part, and as long as the work was to be done he has kept up his attention. That has been the main principle—not to slack down—that a job is not finished until it is done, and it is not done until it is done right. We have not sought the easiest way but the right way, and we have generally found that the right way was the easiest way in the long run. And further, that a job, to be rightly done, must be as good at the end and in the middle as in the beginning. We have not slackened. The 860th mine of theCanonicus, of the longest string ever laid, was as good as the first or the 300th or any other mine.I congratulate you all on the work you have done. It will be a very satisfactory and proud memory for you and for all those connected with it. But I congratulate you most on the preparation that it gives you to do still more, to be better men, to be better citizens. Nothing more valuable could come from our work than that.You can fancy what my associations are with these two ships. I made my first cruise as a commissioned officer in theBaltimore; and the past four years in her and theSan Franciscohave been the most interesting I ever had. I am very sorry to leave you of theSan Franciscoeven for a short time, but I could not leave under happier conditions. To leave at a time of a success like this happens only once in a lifetime. Good luck to all of you.
I am speaking to you to-day as representing the Squadron. It is very appropriate that, on this occasion of temporarily transferring the flag, I should get together the officers and crews of the two old war horses,San FranciscoandBaltimore, that have made our success possible. The work in the Northern Mine Barrage did not begin only a year ago. It began for a squadron of mining ships when theBaltimoreand theDubuquejoined theSan Francisco, in the middle of 1915. These old ships set an example that made the rest aspire to follow, to live up to the high standard and steady pace necessary to accomplish what we have done.
To-day marks the end of the “Yankee Mining Squadron,” that did four-fifths of the Northern Mine Barrage. I do not need to tell you how highly mentioned our work has been. When the reports have been published, no doubt it will be highly thought of in this country and by all who read about it in the future. This success is due, not to any one of us, not to any few of us, it is due to all of us. I am very proud to have commanded such a force. It is a deep gratification to have such a success come as a result of the efforts we have made through four years. Naturally, I shall never forget, but I wish to let you know that you should never forget it.
The Squadron is now reorganizing. Some of you may go to other duty, some may go out into civil life, where you will work during the conditions of peace which you helped to bring about. And now let me remind youof the principles on which we won success in our part in this war and on which we always did our work. Remember this! that the everyday things are the easiest to forget, and it is because we have carefully kept before us the importance of doing the everyday things right that we have earned success. We have not been afraid of work, we have never shied at any job. Every man has felt his part as important to do properly as any other man’s part, and as long as the work was to be done he has kept up his attention. That has been the main principle—not to slack down—that a job is not finished until it is done, and it is not done until it is done right. We have not sought the easiest way but the right way, and we have generally found that the right way was the easiest way in the long run. And further, that a job, to be rightly done, must be as good at the end and in the middle as in the beginning. We have not slackened. The 860th mine of theCanonicus, of the longest string ever laid, was as good as the first or the 300th or any other mine.
I congratulate you all on the work you have done. It will be a very satisfactory and proud memory for you and for all those connected with it. But I congratulate you most on the preparation that it gives you to do still more, to be better men, to be better citizens. Nothing more valuable could come from our work than that.
You can fancy what my associations are with these two ships. I made my first cruise as a commissioned officer in theBaltimore; and the past four years in her and theSan Franciscohave been the most interesting I ever had. I am very sorry to leave you of theSan Franciscoeven for a short time, but I could not leave under happier conditions. To leave at a time of a success like this happens only once in a lifetime. Good luck to all of you.
Long before the barrage was finished we were studying how to sweep it up, and soon after the signing of the armistice, experiment began towards safeguarding the sweeping vessels. Before leaving for home the squadron transferred over 400 men to the bases for the sweeping duty, and subsequently a number of new sweepers were sent over from the United States, in groups commanded by officers formerly of the mine squadron.
The British authorities took steps immediately to mark out the barrage area, with light-vessels and gas buoys, and actual sweeping began as early as December, 1918. It will take months to complete, but well inside a year from its laying the Northern Barrage will have become a thing of the past.
It served its purpose, and more besides. Through the part played in former wars, submarine mines grew in recognition, though slowly, as important means of defense. In this war they came into extensive employment in offense, the largest as well as most striking offensive use being the Northern Barrage, which, in popular phrase, put mines on the map.