This searching mine-sweep was carried out because of the increasing probability of the enemy laying mines intended to catch our heavy ships when proceeding towards the southern portion of the North Sea, and the consequent necessity for a periodical examination of a route which the Fleet could traverse with some safety. This policy was maintained throughout the period of my command, alternative routes being periodically examined; although it was obviously impossible to carry out this examination frequently, it did afford some chance of a mine-field being discovered before serious losses were sustained by the Fleet. During the month of February a reorganisation of the battle cruiser and light cruiser squadrons was carried out by Admiralty orders, and a “Battle Cruiser Fleet” instituted under the command of Sir David Beatty, with the title Vice-Admiral Commanding the Battle Cruiser Fleet. The organisation was as follows: _Lion_, Fleet-Flagship. _1st Battle Cruiser Squadron_: _Princess Royal_ (Flag of Rear-Admiral O. de B. Brock), _Queen Mary_, _Tiger_. _2nd Battle Cruiser Squadron_: _Australia_ (Flag of Rear-Admiral W. C. Pakenham), _New Zealand_, _Indefatigable_. _3rd Battle Cruiser Squadron_: _Invincible_ (to be Flag), _Inflexible_,[D] _Indomitable_. _1st Light Cruiser Squadron_: _Galatea_ (Broad pennant of Commodore E. S. Alexander-Sinclair), _Cordelia_, _Caroline_, _Inconstant_. _2nd Light Cruiser Squadron_: _Southampton_ (Broad pennant of Commodore W. E. Goodenough), _Nottingham_, _Birmingham_, _Lowestoft_. _3rd Light Cruiser Squadron_: _Falmouth_ (Flag of Rear-Admiral Trevelyan Napier), _Yarmouth_, _Gloucester_, _Liverpool_. [D] The _Inflexible_ had not yet joined by the end of February. The Battle Cruiser Fleet remained an integral portion of the Grand Fleet. In some respects the term “Fleet” was an unfortunate selection, as it implied, incorrectly, an independent organisation. On my taking office as First Sea Lord at the end of 1916, the title was altered to the more appropriate one of Battle Cruiser Force. The _Australia_ joined the Battle Cruiser Fleet at Rosyth on February 17th, and the _Invincible_, having concluded the very successful operations in the South Atlantic under Sir Doveton Sturdee, which culminated in the destruction of Admiral von Spee’s Squadron of cruisers and light cruisers, arrived at Scapa for gunnery practices during the latter part of February, and joined the Battle Cruiser Fleet at Rosyth early in March; the _Indefatigable_ also arrived on the 24th from the Mediterranean.