THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



107 



A GROUP OF BLUEJACKETS OE THE U. S. S. BALTIMORE 



The Baltimore was sent over seas in advance of the other ships of the mine-laying squad- 

 ron at the request of the British, to assist in laying a field of British mines in the North Irish 

 Channel. Immediately upon her arrival, the Baltimore reported ready for duty, and as soon 

 as the mines were received proceeded to lay the whole field alone. 



At 4.27 a. m. the signal is made that 

 mining will begin at one hour later. The 

 crews go to mining stations, and in the 

 flagship we look for signals reporting 

 whether the other ships are ready. They 

 are ready, every one. It is like a horse- 

 race when the starter's flag is up. How 

 will it go, after all these months — for 

 some of us years — of preparation? 



The squadron stretches a mile and a 

 half in a beautifully straight line abreast. 

 Several destroyers ahead have their 

 sweeps out, to explore for enemy mines 

 in our path (see page 98). 



Xow the mine-planting signal is flying ; 

 they will begin when it starts down. 

 Commander Canaga stands, watch in 

 hand — "two minutes, one minute, thirty 

 seconds more, fifteen" — he looks up in- 

 quiringly. All right, "Five seconds — 

 haul down !" 



And in answer red flags break out on 

 the other ships, showing that they have 

 begun to plant. On the flagship's bridge 

 the call-bell rings, and from the launching 

 station at the stern the report comes, 

 "First mine over." 



All well so far — a good beginning. 



Xow comes the trying time for the 

 squadron commander — the endless wait- 

 ing, all alert, for whatever may befall. 

 Nothing to do while all goes well, but 

 instant decision and action in case of 

 mishap. 



Hour after hour the mining goes on. 

 The staff officers watch the scheduled 

 events and compare the times with what 

 they should be. A few seconds out here 

 and there ; otherwise all goes without a 

 hitch — just as planned before leaving the 

 United States. 



Some defective mines explode astern, 

 which is startling at first, then reassuring 

 as to the safety features of the mine. At 

 the same time, one's respect grows for 

 the mine's deadly power (see page 101). 



A WORLD RECORD IX MIXL-LAYIXG 



Now we watch the Housatonic, a new 

 ship, with a new, untried installation, do- 

 ing a string of 675 mines, one every 11^2 

 seconds throughout two hours and ten 

 minutes Her mate stands by, ready for 

 any interruption; but the Housatonic 



