such cordial appreciation and the few minor
difficulties have yielded so readily to sympathetic understanding that
all zeal displayed was in the common interest of "winning the war" that
there is and can be nothing but reciprocal praise for each other's
efforts, which will be of lasting benefit in future when the present
compelling community of interest is no longer operative. The United
States and the allies know each other better individually and
collectively and are and will continue to be the greater and better
friends for the experience that has come out of the cordial cooperation
and coordination required by the common interest in this war.

[Sidenote: Spirit of men and officers.]

There is ample evidence on every hand, from the north of Scotland to the
shores of the Mediterranean, that officers and men of the naval service,
regular and reserve alike and together, have "turned to" on the work in
hand, inspired by the guiding idea of doing all in their power, however
humble the task, of "helping to win the war." Officers whose preference
is for duty at sea, men who came over with a view to doing battle with
the enemy, one and all, have done and are doing the work that comes to
hand, even to the digging of ditches, with a will and with a cheery
readiness for more of the same kind, for anything that will help to "get
on with the war," that is an inspiration to all who work with them and
of vast satisfaction to those over them who will know what their
preferences in the matter of war employment are. They are a credit to
the service and to their country.

[Sidenote: High standard of conduct.]

Furthermore, this large body of men, which occupies the position of the
advance guard of the Navy, as a whole have so conducted themselves as to
earn the highly favorable comment of the citizens in whose country they
found themselves and whose guests they are in some measure. It is
believed that it may well be said that the men on duty in Europe, far
away from home ties and influences, will return to their own country
unharmed by the temptations and pitfalls which their relatives and
friends may have feared. They are a fine, upstanding lot of men, and
their adaptability and efficiency have been so apparent as to fully
warrant the oft-made statement that the men of the United States Navy,
which includes the Marine Corps, can do anything, anywhere, and at any
time.

[Sidenote: The _President Lincoln_ is torpedoed.]

On May