On March 11th the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron, with a division of destroyers of the 1st Flotilla, left Rosyth at 7.30 A.M. for operations off the Norwegian coast, the objective being the capture of any enemy merchant-ships found outside territorial waters between Ekersund and the Naze. It had been ascertained that some of the German merchant-ships engaged in trade with Norwegian ports, and especially Narvik, occasionally ventured outside territorial waters in this locality. It was the only locality, besides the vicinity of Stadlandet, in which they did so venture, and in which, therefore, there was a chance of capturing them. The remainder of the Battle Cruiser Fleet sailed later, on the 11th, for a position to the southward of the Naze for supporting purposes. It was also intended that the remainder of the Grand Fleet should be cruising in the neighbourhood. But an easterly gale sprang up, which prevented the destroyers from accompanying the Battle Fleet, and this portion of the programme was cancelled; Sir David Beatty was informed that, if the weather conditions farther south prevented his destroyers from screening the battle cruisers, the latter should return to their base and a light cruiser squadron be left to support the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron. The conditions being unfavourable for destroyers, this course was adopted. The weather eventually became too bad for the light cruiser squadrons to maintain their speed, and the sweep, which was unproductive, was curtailed. Submarine E30 proceeded into the Kattegat on March 14th to intercept contraband trade and for reconnoitring purposes. She did not sight any enemy vessels, but sent in one neutral vessel suspected of carrying contraband. The 5th Light Cruiser Squadron, from Harwich, was at sea on March 14th and 15th, and the _Roxburgh_ and two destroyers left Rosyth on the 15th for another sweep on the Norwegian coast from Udsire Lighthouse to the Naze. This was again unproductive. The cruiser _Theseus_ left Barry on the 15th for Alexandrovsk in the White Sea. On the same date the cruiser _Crescent_, _en route_ from Scapa to the south, was fired at and missed by a submarine south of the Hebrides. On the 19th the light cruiser _Calliope_, with two destroyers, left the Tyne, where she had been refitting, with orders to proceed to the Naze and sweep _up_ the Norwegian coast to Udsire; and the _Comus_ and two destroyers left Scapa to proceed to Udsire to sweep _down_ the Norwegian coast to the Naze, the object being again the capture of any German merchant-ships found outside territorial waters in this locality. The _Calliope_ was forced to put in to Rosyth owing to a serious fire occurring in her after boiler-room. The _Comus_ completed her sweep in bad weather without sighting any enemy vessels.