Now and again, however, there comes the inevitable leak
-- the human equation is always to be reckoned with -- and
word finds its way into the public prints of some brisk bit
of business that the Navy has been doing. But that is all.
The highest tribute that a loyal people can possibly pay to
the Navy is that of unquestioning and abiding faith which,
certainly, is the evidence of things not seen.

Public interest and popular enthusiasm turned ever,
perforce, to the soldier whom we had always with us.
Sturdy, clean, competent, and happy, he was forever tramping
up and down the thoroughfares, a welcome visitor at the
Red Cross Canteens. Yet, during these anxious years, our
ships together with those of our Allies held watch over
the German Navy, netted the harbors, mined the runways,
keeping up night and day a sleepless vigil while it safely
convoyed 2,000,000 soldiers and many more millions of
supplies across the Atlantic.

Almost at the start the Red Cross had one of its oppor-
tunities to coöperate with, or better, to help the Navy. It
was at a time when newly fledged naval recruits were being
hurried into the great formation and four hundred of them
were rushed east from the Great Lakes station to Washing-
ton. They were forced to depart so hurriedly that their
account books were left behind. They arrived in the
capital with practically no money and there was no prospect
that the governmental machine could provide them with
funds. A request was made to the Red Cross to finance
them over the period of delay, which was cheerfully granted.

But to go back a little: In August, 1916, Congress had
created the Naval Reserve, unlimited as to number for the
duration of war; the old naval militia became Class Two
of the Reserves. By this measure the Navy, later on, was
able to reach out and gather in men who had seen service, as
well as thousands of recruits. The regular establishment
increased in numbers from 55,000 to 88,000 in a few months

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