The greatest anxiety constantly confronting me was the defenceless nature of the base at Scapa, which was open to submarine and destroyer attacks. Whilst the Fleet was fuelling the only protection that could be afforded was to anchor light cruisers and destroyers off the various entrances and to patrol outside the main entrance; but these measures were no real defence against submarines, and the position was such that it was deemed most inadvisable to keep the Fleet in harbour longer than was absolutely necessary for fuelling purposes. Accordingly, at 6.30 P.M. on the same day, the Battle Fleet again proceeded to sea, being screened through the Pentland Firth to the westward until dark by the 4th Flotilla, and course being then shaped to pass round the Orkneys into the North Sea. In order to provide some protection against destroyer attack, a request was forwarded to the Admiralty asking that two of the older battleships might be sent up to defend the main entrances. This measure was approved and a reply was received that the _Hannibal_ and _Magnificent_ were being despatched. The _Russell_, _Albemarle_ and _Exmouth_, of the 6th Battle Squadron, belonging originally to the Channel Fleet, arrived at Scapa to join the Grand Fleet on the night of the 7th–8th. At 9.30 P.M. on the 8th the battleships _Orion_, _Monarch_ and _Ajax_ were detached to carry out target practice, and the remainder of the Fleet proceeded to the south-eastward from Fair Island, carrying out Fire Control Exercises; but, on receipt of a report from the _Monarch_ that a torpedo had been fired at her by a submarine, the practice was stopped and the ships rejoined, one-half of the 2nd Flotilla being directed to search for the submarine. At 6.30 P.M. the officer of the watch on board the _Iron Duke_ sighted a periscope and altered course to ram; the same periscope was shortly afterwards reported by the _Dreadnought_, but was not seen again. At 4 A.M. on the 9th, the Fleet was in Lat. 58.31 N., Long. 1.9 E. Shortly afterwards the _Orion_ reported a strong smell of oil, and bubbles were seen on the surface, and the _Birmingham_, commanded by Captain A. M. Duff, of the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron, which had been screening ahead of the Fleet with the 2nd Cruiser Squadron, claimed to have rammed and sunk the German submarine U 15, which she had sighted on the surface. This initial success was hailed with great satisfaction in the Fleet. Subsequent information showed that the _Birmingham_ had been handled with great promptitude. During daylight of August 9th, the Battle Fleet and 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron were cruising in company, the noon position being Lat. 58.41 N., Long. 0.15 W., and as the presence of submarines was suspected, the Fleet was constantly zigzagging, the ships altering course by “Blue Pendant” turns, that is, turning together by signal. At midnight, 9th–10th, the position of the _Iron Duke_ was Lat. 57.51 N., Long. 1.2 E.