[Illustration: THE SCORPION, ONLY AMERICAN NAVAL VESSEL INTERNED DURING THE WAR Interned by the Turks, she was later used as station ship at Constantinople by Rear Admiral Mark L. Bristol (inset), High Commissioner at Constantinople.] He promoted trade between the Italians and Jugo-Slavs, the first transaction being made on his flagship, the historic _Olympia_. That opened the door to better understanding. He was in direct touch with the governments at Rome and Belgrade and was in a very real sense the friendly mediator. His duties were mainly diplomatic, and he exercised the good offices of his country so impartially and fairly as to secure and maintain peace and business dealings. This was made possible, of course, through earnest friendly intervention, whose disinterested nature was soon recognized, and the judgment, ability, poise and courtesy of Admiral Andrews. In proof of his impartiality and the appreciation of both nations, he was decorated both at Belgrade and Rome. It was only the wise and prompt action of Captain David F. Boyd, of our Navy, that saved the situation when Trau was captured by soldiers from the Italian Zone, September 23, 1920. They crossed the armistice line without Italian authority and surprised and captured the small Serbian guard. This imitation of D'Annunzio's _coup_ was short-lived. Captain Boyd, after agreement with the Italian admiral, put the offending Italian army captain and soldiers in an Italian motor boat, and turned them over to an Italian naval officer. The situation was so acute that Captain Boyd's service called for this high commendation from Vice Admiral Knapp: "The whole affair was most creditably handled and the very prompt action of Captain Boyd, in my opinion, undoubtedly prevented a very serious incident which might have resulted in open warfare between Italians and Serbians." Admiral Andrews thought that, but for the action in securing the withdrawal of the Italians so promptly, "the Serbs would have killed them all, and a small war would have been started." War between the other Allies and Italians was narrowly averted at Fiume at the time of the D'Annunzio _coup_. The French and British had troops ashore, and there were Allied ships in the harbor, Admiral Andrews having with him on his flagship Major General C. P. Summerall, U. S. A. The question was whether the Allied troops would drive out the D'Annunzio forces or withdraw. They were disinclined to withdraw. Admiral Andrews urged withdrawal on the ground that, as it was the Italian regulars who had let D'Annunzio's troops into the city, it was the duty of Italy to get them out and not the duty of the Allies to make war in order to expel them. This course opened the way for continued Allied friendship after the passing of the storm.