In diplomacy, in investigation at home and in all parts of the world by naval officers and civilian agents, in protecting plants and labor from spies and enemies, in promoting new industrial organizations and enlarging older ones to meet war needs, in stimulating production of needed naval craft--these are some of the outstanding operations which mark the heroic year of accomplishment. FIGHTING CRAFT The employment of the fighting craft of the navy may be summed up as follows: 1. Escorting troop and cargo convoys and other special vessels. 2. Carrying out offensive and defensive measures against enemy submarines in the Western Atlantic. 3. Assignment to duty and the despatch abroad of naval vessels for operations in the war zone in conjunction with the naval forces of our allies. 4. Assignment to duty and operation of naval vessels to increase the force in home waters. Despatch abroad of miscellaneous craft for the army. 5. Protection of these craft en route. 6. Protection of vessels engaged in coastwise trade. 7. Salvaging and assisting vessels in distress, whether from maritime causes or from the operations of the enemy. 8. Protection of oil supplies from the Gulf. In order to carry out successfully and speedily all these duties large increases in personnel, in ships of all classes and in the instrumentalities needed for their production and service were demanded. Briefly, then, it may be stated that on the day war was declared the enlistment and enrollment of the navy numbered 65,777 men. On the day Germany signed the armistice it had increased to 497,030 men and women, for it became necessary to enroll capable and patriotic women as yeomen to meet the sudden expansion and enlarged duties imposed by war conditions. This expansion has been progressive. In 1912 there were 3,094 officers and 47,515 enlisted men; by July 1, 1916, the number had grown to 4,293 officers and 54,234 enlisted men, and again in that year to 68,700 in all. In granting the increase Congress authorized the President in his discretion to augment that force to 87,800. Immediately on the outbreak of the war the navy was recruited to that strength, but it was found that under the provisions of our laws there were not sufficient officers in the upper grades of the navy to do the war work. At the same time the lessons of the war showed it was impossible to have the combatant ships of the navy ready for instant war service unless the ships had their full personnel on board and that personnel was highly trained. In addition to this permanent strength recourse was had to the development of the existing reserves and to the creation of a new force. NAVAL VOLUNTEERS