THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



101 



fore, it will be understood, when each one 

 reported herself fit for immediate service, 

 how deep was the satisfaction and how 

 well the future promised ! 



Various arrangements now interposed 

 a few days' delay, but by June 3 prepa- 

 rations were going full blast for the first 

 mining excursion. 



This term, excursion, was adopted as a 

 cheerful offset to the sense of danger. 

 That there were many risks in our un- 

 dertaking must have been plain to every- 

 body. One cargo of TNT had been 

 enough to devastate Halifax, and our 

 squadron had ten cargoes. Our course 

 would lie through areas where it was nec- 

 essary to search for mines constantly, and 

 we would come frequently in the regular 

 thoroughfare for enemy submarines. 



Moreover, the area where we were to 

 mine had been publicly notified two 

 months beforehand, to warn neutrals, and 

 it would have been natural enough for 

 the Germans to strew a hundred or so 

 mines there on the chance of blowing 

 us up. 



Then it was also expected that when 

 the barrier should begin to bring results 

 the Germans would send out more and 

 more force to break it and incidentally 

 destroy us. 



In this way we would serve as bait, 

 eventually to draw out the German fleet. 

 We were to have "a front seat at the 

 second battle of Jutland." And so it was 

 not altogether inappropriate to dub us 

 the "Suicide Squadron." 



, 





STICK TO YOUR JOB AND GO UP WITH IT 



The risks in prospect, however, had 

 been no deterrent in getting officers and 

 men. It was a very popular operation. 

 While the ships were fitting out, a favor- 

 ite slogan was "Stick to your job and go 

 up with it." 



There were countless volunteers, and 

 those who were fortunate enough to be- 

 long to the squadron felt themselves ob- 

 jects of envy. They buckled to and did 

 all they could to hasten the shipyard 

 work and their own preparation. 



Especially with the Shawmut, Captain 

 Cluverius, and Aroostook, Captain Har- 

 vey Tomb, at Boston, the officers and 

 men made a very substantial contribution 



' '*?' . ./ >. , 



A DEFECTIVE MINE EXPLODING PREMA- 

 TURELY (see page 107) 



Note the four dark splotches on the surface 

 of the sea, forming a "dotted line" in the wake 

 of the mine-layer, which is proceeding away 

 from the geyser of spray thrown into the air 

 by the premature explosion. They convey to 

 the reader some idea as to how thickly the 

 North Sea was strewn w r ith explosives. 



