The U.S.A.

also adopted our system of net defence for their harbours on entry into the war.

Many anxious months were passed at the Admiralty and at the ports named until the anti-submarine defences were completed.
The escort of the convoys through the submarine zone imposed very heavy work upon the destroyers, sloops and other screening vessels.

This was due partly to the fact that there were not sufficient vessels to admit of adequate time being spent in harbour to rest the crews and effect necessary repairs, and partly to the nature of the work itself and the weather conditions under which so much of it was carried out.

It will be realized by those who have been at sea in these small craft that little rest was obtainable in the Atlantic between the west coast of Ireland and the mouth of the Channel and positions 800 to 400 miles to the westward, except in the finest weather.