lities. That our efforts were
not useless was evident from the comparatively small loss of life that
has resulted from late transport disasters.

The system of escort varies largely in the different seas. Homeward from
Canada and, latterly, from the United States the troopships are formed
in large convoys under the ocean escort of a cruiser. On arrival at a
position in the Atlantic within working distance of the destroyers'
range of steaming, the convoy is met by a flotilla of fast destroyers
who escort the ships to port. For transport work in the Mediterranean no
such arrangement could be operated. Every sea-mile of the great expanse
is equally a danger zone. Usually, vessels of moderate speed are
accompanied by sloops or armed drifters, but the fast troopships require
destroyers for their protection. The long courses call for relays, as
the destroyers cannot carry sufficient fuel. Marseilles to Malta, Malta
to Suda Bay, Suda Bay to Salonika--a familiar voyage of three
stages--required the services of no less than five destroyers. The
numbers of our escorting craft were limited: it called for keen
foresight on the part of the Naval Staff and unwearying sea-service on
that of the war craft to fit their resources to our demands.

[Illustration: TRANSPORTS IN SOUTHAMPTON DOCKS]

In the narrow seas, with the patrols more numerous and closely linked,
the short-voyage transports proceed on a time-table of sailings that
keeps them constantly in touch with armed assistance. The vessels are
mostly of light draught and high speed. Whilom railway and pleasure
craft, they make their voyages with the exactitude of the
rail-connections they served in the peaceful days. Although many of them
are built and maintained (and certificated by the Board of Trade) for
smooth-water limits only, the emergency of the times has given
opportunity of proof that their seaworthy qualities are underestimated
by the authorities. The high gales and dangerous short seas of the
Channel are no deterrent to their voyages; under the pressure of the
continual call for reinforcements on the Western Front, and serving the
line of route from England to the Continent, to Marseilles and beyond,
they stand no hindrance. They are specially the objects of enemy
attention. Their high speed and rapid turning power enables them to run
moderately free of torpedo attack--though the attempts to sink them by
this weapon are frequent enough--but in the German sea-mines th