Turn your attention back to the autumn of 1914. It was the sinking of the three _Cressys_ on September 22 by U 9 that taught Germany what a wonderful weapon of offence she had in the submarine. Five days later the first German submarine penetrated the Dover Straits. This was U 18, who actually attacked the light cruiser _Attentive_. But it was not until October 20 that the first merchant ship, the British S.S. _Glitra_ in the North Sea, was sunk by a submarine. Six days later the French S.S. _Amiral Ganteaume_, with Belgian refugees, was attacked by a German submarine. A month passed, and on November 23 the S.S. _Malachite_ was attacked by U 21, and after being on fire sank. Three days later the S.S. _Primo_ was sunk also by U 21. It was thus perfectly clear that we had before us a most difficult submarine campaign to contend with, and that merchant ships would not be immune. On the last day of October H.M.S. _Hermes_ was torpedoed off Calais, and on November 11 H.M.S. _Niger_ had a similar fate near Deal. [Illustration: COMMANDER S. C. DOUGLAS, R. N. When serving in the Q-ship “Antwerp,” wearing a false moustache and disguised as an English commercial traveller.] [Illustration: COMMANDER G. HERBERT, D.S.O., R.N. Taken on the bridge of the Q-ship “Antwerp,” disguised as a Dutch pilot with a wig. To face p. 8] What was to be done? The creation of what eventually became known as the Auxiliary Patrol, with its ever increasing force of armed yachts, trawlers, drifters, and motor craft; the use of destroyers and our own submarines formed part of the scheme. But even at this early stage the Q-ship idea came into being, though not actually under that name. Officially she was a special-service ship, whose goings and comings were so mysterious that even among service men such craft were spoken of in great secrecy as mystery ships. This first mystery ship was the S.S. _Vittoria_, who was commissioned on November 29, 1914. She had all the appearance of an ordinary merchant ship, but she was armed, and went on patrol in the area where submarines had been reported. It was an entirely novel idea, and very few people knew anything about her. She never had any luck, and was paid off early in January, 1915, without ever having so much as sighted a submarine. The idea of decoy ships suggested itself to various naval officers during December, 1914, and their suggestions reached the Admiralty. The basic plan was for the Admiralty to take up a number of merchantmen and fishing craft, arm them with a few light quick-firing guns, and then send them forth to cruise in likely submarine areas, flying neutral colours. This was perfectly legitimate under International Law, provided that before opening fire on the enemy the neutral colours were lowered and the White Ensign was hoisted. Seeing that the enemy was determined to sink merchantmen, the obvious reply was to send against them armed merchantmen, properly commissioned and armed, but outwardly