PREFACE BY SECRETARY DANIELS The record of the _U.S.S. Leviathan_, queen of the troop transport fleet which made possible the successful participation of the United States in the war with Germany, is a record of consistent service and remarkable efficiency which upholds the best and noblest traditions of the United States naval service. The nation owes and gladly gives a great meed of praise to every officer and man, regular and reserve alike, who shared in the hardships, the dangers and the successes of the _Leviathan’s_ great wartime service. The potential strength of the 98,000 fighting men the _Leviathan_ carried to the shores of France can never be estimated. We know that when the night was blackest, when the fortunes of the world hung in the balance and the eyes of all nations were turned toward the western continent, that the great _Leviathan_ with her tremendous troop-carrying capacity was ready and that, trip after trip, without failures or accidents, the great transport plowed her way across the Atlantic, scornful alike of the submarine’s stilettos of the sea and the wrath of the elements, carrying to the shores of our nearly exhausted allies those inestimably precious cargoes of men who turned the tide and saved the day. Although the _Leviathan_ did not participate in any great naval engagement, although the battle flags never flew proudly at her mast-heads as she swept into the tempest of a modern naval engagement, her achievement in carrying across the sea more than three divisions of American soldiers entitles the gallant ship’s name to a place forever in the hall of American naval fame. I cannot but feel a thrill of admiration for the efficiency, loyalty and devotion to duty of the officers and men of the _Leviathan_ who repaired the damage wrought by the Germans, quickly and skillfully organized the ship for service at sea and who, week after week and month after month, “carried on” regardless of the lurking menace beneath the waves, in the face of an enemy who would have made any sacrifice to add the giant _Leviathan_ to his list of victims. On March 15, 1919, Mrs. Daniels and myself had the pleasure of going aboard the _Leviathan_ with a party of naval officers who were accompanying me to Europe on important public business. The remembrance of this voyage will ever be among the most cherished memories of all the members of our party. The never-failing courtesy and kindness of both officers and men, the thoughtful consideration with which we were treated, will always cause us to remember the U.S.S. Leviathan with the warmest personal regard. With all good wishes for the future for the crew of the _Leviathan_ and the hope that the ship’s great work, so wonderfully carried out thus far, may be as successfully completed. [Illustration: Josephus Daniels] [Illustration: ADMIRAL GLEAVES AND STAFF] Roster of Officers Cruiser and Transport Force United States Atlantic Fleet