Squadron Organization and Ships’ Data 46 9. Athletics 49 10. The Squadron Complete 53 11. Tactics 57 12. Some Incidents 61 13. Signals 67 14. The Barrier Across 69 15. Finishing the Barrier 72 16. The Thirteenth Excursion 77 17. Results 82 18. General Living Conditions 86 19. Farewell to the Highlands 89 20. Scapa Flow 92 21. Home 94 22. The Mine Sweepers 96 23. The Mine Force, Old and New 98 24. After the War 108 Summary of Mines Laid 110 ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE The North Sea Mine Barrage Frontispiece Mine Assembly and Storage Sheds 22 A Mine in Mid-Air, Being Hoisted in 25 Launching a Mine Through the Stern Port 26 The Sequence of Operations After a Mine is Launched 27 A Mine Carrier Steamer 30 Mines and Mine Anchors Awaiting Assembly 35 Loading Mines into Lighters 36 Squadron Flagship _San Francisco_ 37 The Mine Squadron at Sea 40 Arrangement of Mine Tracks, Elevators, and Turntables, in _Roanoke_ Class of Minelayers 51 The Squadron in Minelaying Formation 59 Approaching and Laying the Fourth Mine Field 63 The Boston-New York Passenger Liner _Massachusetts_ 101 The 20-Knot Minelayer _Shawmut_ 102 Organization of the Mine Force 105 THE YANKEE MINING SQUADRON CHAPTER ONE THE MINE FORCE READY