Meanwhile, to the intense relief of Plymouth, another British Squadron hove in sight. Signals and messages were rapidly exchanged, and certain cruisers and destroyers were at once detached for scouting work--their duty being “to track the Germans, shadow them cautiously, and send back news by wireless telegraphy of their latest movements.” The scouts, in turn, were lost to view. Their orders were to cruise along an east and west line some fifty miles from land, to meet twice a day, exchange reports, and then return in opposite directions to the limits of their beat. At sunset the battleships and cruisers remaining at Plymouth went to general quarters, and the crews were kept at their guns during the night. Every officer and bluejacket felt the tension of the hour. None knew what test of courage, skill, endurance the night or the morning might exact from them. The honour of the Flag, the responsibility of upholding great traditions, the safety of their country might suddenly be entrusted to their keeping. The scene might well inspire English hearts. For all remembered that hither came in those far-off days the mighty fleets of Spain in the period of her power; and, again, it was out yonder in the misty sea that once upon a time the Dutch admiral, Van Tromp, flaunted his flag--jacks and pennants flying--in the face of the fiery Blake, who accepted the defiance and at once attacked and beat the Dutchman’s ships. The older navies of the kings and queens of England had known how to exact the salutation of the Flag. And Cromwell, too, had known. For in a treaty of his time it was provided “that the ships of the United Provinces, as well those fitted out for war as others, which should meet in the British seas any of the ships of war of England, should strike their flag and lower their topsail in such manner as had been any time practised before under any former Governments.” Sir Cloudesley Shovel and Sir George Rooke--they, too, had exacted homage to the Flag when Queen Anne was on the throne; and no foreign navy had ventured to withhold the first salutation in the long reign of Queen Victoria. To the navy of King Edward VII., in this supreme moment, was committed the maintenance of our marine supremacy.