On January 15th the 2nd Battle Cruiser Squadron was reconstituted, under Vice-Admiral Sir A. G. W. Moore, K.C.B., whose flag was transferred from the _Leviathan_, of the 1st Cruiser Squadron, to the _New Zealand_; the 2nd Battle Cruiser Squadron then comprised the _New Zealand_, _Indomitable_ and _Invincible_ (the last not having yet arrived). Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Arbuthnot, Bart., took command of the 1st Cruiser Squadron in place of Sir Gordon Moore, flying his flag in the _Defence_, which took the place of the _Leviathan_; the latter vessel was transferred to the 6th Cruiser Squadron. Rear-Admiral A. C. Leveson, C.B., relieved Sir Robert Arbuthnot as Rear-Admiral in the 2nd Battle Squadron, flying his flag in the _Orion_. On the 17th the 1st and 2nd Battle Cruiser Squadrons and 1st Light Cruiser Squadron left Rosyth for a cruise in the centre and southern portions of the North Sea, and on the 19th, at dawn, arrived in position Lat. 55 N., Long. 5.30 E. to support Commodore Tyrwhitt in carrying out a reconnaissance in Heligoland Bight. Nothing was sighted beyond an airship and a sea-plane, and the force was ordered to return to its bases and arrived during the night of the 20th–21st. On the 18th the Admiral commanding at Queenstown reported that a German mine had been washed ashore at Portrush, as well as bodies and wreckage, apparently belonging to the _Viknor_, an armed merchant cruiser of the 10th Cruiser Squadron. Anxiety had been felt as to the safety of the _Viknor_ for two or three days owing to no reply to wireless signals being received from her, and the ships of the 10th Cruiser Squadron had been directed to search for her. The report from Portrush pointed to the probability that she had struck a mine off the north coast of Ireland, either in the _Audacious_ minefield or a field further to the southward, and had been lost with all hands in the very heavy weather prevailing at the time in this vicinity. All traffic round the north of Ireland was stopped until sweepers were able to examine the whole area. At this time a large number of German mines were being constantly reported both in the North Sea and on the west coasts of Scotland and Ireland, having evidently broken adrift from their moorings in the heavy weather which had been generally prevalent. These mines, which were not safe when adrift, as provided for under The Hague Convention, were a source of some danger to ships, particularly at night. On the 18th the battleship _Superb_, having developed defects in one of her turbines, was sent to Portsmouth. She was absent from the Fleet until March 11th. On January 19th, the orders for the 10th Cruiser Squadron (blockading squadron) were somewhat modified by me; the new centre lines of patrol positions being: Patrol A.--A line 80 miles long, 360° from Lat. 62.20 N., Long. 10.0 W. Patrol B.--A line 80 miles long, 360° from Lat. 61.10 N., Long. 1.15 E.