On April 12th the armed liner _Campania_ returned from a lengthy refit at Liverpool, during which the ship had, at my request, been provided with a “flying-off” deck for her sea-planes, as experience throughout the War had shown conclusively that it was of little use to depend on sea-planes rising from the water, except under the most advantageous conditions, and that the only system which would give reasonable certainty of the machines being able to get into the air when required was to fly them from the ship. At the same time I formed the conclusion, after consultation with Captain O. Schwann, of the _Campania_, and pressed it upon the Naval Air Service, that the sea-plane should be replaced by aeroplanes flown from ships, since the weight of the floats of sea-planes greatly limited their climbing powers, their radius of action and their speed. This alteration to the _Campania_ was the commencement of the system, gradually introduced, of providing light cruisers, battle cruisers and battleships with scouting aeroplanes, which could rise from the ship under practically all conditions. I make no apology for referring again to this subject in view of its importance. The _Campania_ had also been fitted to carry a kite balloon aft, for use for spotting the fall of shot and for reconnaissance purposes. This fitting was the beginning of the arrangement, gradually introduced during 1916, of carrying kite balloons in capital ships. The success in large ships led, before the end of the year, to their being also provided for light cruisers, destroyers, and other small craft, an arrangement which proved to be of great use for anti-submarine and convoy work. On April 17th the patrol areas of the 10th Cruiser Squadron were modified; “A” and “C” patrols took up a line running from Lat. 56.30 N., Long. 11.30 W. to Lat. 63.30 N., Long. 16.00 W., ships 40 miles apart and steering 70° and 250°. Two ships were also stationed to the northward of Iceland. On April 20th a force left to carry out an extensive sweep into the Kattegat, designed (1) to intercept and examine all mercantile traffic, (2) to operate against enemy vessels in the Kattegat, (3) to engage any enemy vessels drawn out from North Sea ports by the movements in the Kattegat of the light forces, which it was intended should be sighted from neutral shores in the expectation that they might be reported to the enemy by his agents.