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294 been in a rather sorry plight trying to operate. a merchant fleet of adequate proportions to take care of the war re- quirements. In 1912, the total merchant steaming tonnage under the American flag was 2,033,100 gross. This total, however, included vessels of all classes from 100 tons up and the bulk was not designed for overseas service and incapable of risking the dangers of the deep. At the outbreak of the war, the naval auxiliary reserve included but approximately 125,- 000 deadweight tons of ships, but at its peak the N. O. T. S. fleet totaled 2,500,- 000 deadweight tons. This is representa- tive of the stupendous merchant fleet which was placed under one operating head, a fleet which holds the record of history and one that was primarily con- tributory to the winning of the war. THE MARINE REVIEW in the private vessels taken over. Gun mounts were installed, although not over two-thirds of the vessels were ever armed for defense. While guns might have been found they were not always available to put aboard. The vessels took the risks in convoy, and only 15 ships, of a total: 103,994 deadweight tons, were lost. Six vessels, 42,627 tons, were lost through enemy action, while five, of 44,071 tons, were lost by colli- sion, The remaining four, of 16,994 tons, were lost by fire or explosion. Under the La Follette act, every petty officer in merchant ships is given a stateroom and these quarters were found unsuitable on many of the privately owned vessels taken over by the navy. -The first thing done was to remove all the partitions and turn the quarters into one big dormitory, painted white. June, 1919 the cessation of its duties, N. O. T. Ss. began turning over freighters to the transport service, at least, all such freighters as could be adapted to the movement of troops. <A total of 46 such freighters have been converted into troopers. A considerable amount of work is in- volved in converting a freighter to a troop ship. In the first place, it is necessary to equip them with metal standee berths in all compartments and deck spaces. Where the deckhead room is 7 feet in the clear, the berths are in tiers of 4, and where less than 7 feet in the clear they are in tiers of 3. They are placed in double rows with 24-inch fore-and-aft passageways, with 30-inch passageways between every 8 berths and in the way of hatch coamings. All the standee berths are portable. Gun racks HARRISBURG, FORMERLY THE PHILADELPHIA--THIS FAMOUS LINER WAS PREVIOUSLY OPERATED BY THE INTERNATIONAL MERCANTILE MARINE With this, the navy transported to the military forces supplies, provisions and munitions in a fleet under absolute mili- tary control. All merchant ships available were taken over, including the neutral ships tequisitioned by the government as well as private American ships and_ ships built by the Emergency Fleet corpora- tion. The merchant officers on board the commandeered vessels were given an opportunity to enroll in the navy re- serve, but the civilian crews were re- moved and young men trained by the navy at Pelham bay and other naval training stations were substituted. The chief petty officers were, as a rule, re- cruited from the regular navy, but for the most part the crews were composed of men unaccustomed to the sea. Oper- ating the vessels under war conditions required approximately 10 per cent more men in the regular crews than are present on merchant: ships. Minor structural changes were made. Here, under strict military regime, the crews of the N. O.. T. S. vessels were quartered and the influence on health and discipline was immediately percepti- ble. The cleanliness and general good condition of the vessels has been not- able. As before stated, an account of the accomplishments of the fleet would fill many volumes. N. O. T. S. was given notice to prepare to transport 30,000 horses a month' to France and_ there was not an animal transport available. One contractor offered to transform a freighter into an animal transport with- in 21 days. The navy undertook the job itself and the first animal transport was turned out within five days. Within six weeks sufficient animal transports were provided to load 35,000 horses for France. . Upon another occasion, 80-ton locomotives were transported to France in such a condition that within five hours after their landing on the other side they were ready for service. With are clipped to the bulkheads and frames. Racks for the storage of life preservers are provided in all troop compartments and one life preserver for each man is carried, plus the 10 per cent demanded in the specifications. New lavatories are built in two parts, one fitted with latrines and urinals and the other with showers and wash-basins. Where the toilets are placed 'tween decks, bulkheads are built of a double thickness of spruce laid diagonally and covered with 6-pound sheet lead, which is worked around the base of all bulk- heads. ' The mess compartments are equipped with permanent white-ash tables, and benches fitted, with the long length of the tables laying fore and aft. The steward's stores are bulkheaded off, and meat boxes constructed. The ship's re- frigerator is converted into a chill-room by installing shelves, racks, hooks, grat- ings and refrigeration piping. Companionway ladders, 40 inches wide