_August 25th._--The 3rd Battle Squadron left Scapa to relieve the 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron in immediate support of the cruisers at 6 A.M., and while _en route_ to its position captured an Austrian steamer, the _Attila_. The remainder of the Battle Fleet left its cruising ground, arriving at Scapa at 7.30 A.M. on the 26th, with the 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron to fuel. The _Agincourt_, a new battleship which was bought from Turkey when still in an unfinished state, was met off Noss Head and entered with the Fleet. At 5.30 P.M. a submarine was sighted from the bridge of the _Iron Duke_, and the Fleet manœuvred clear of the position. One-half of the 4th Flotilla, which had screened the 3rd Battle Squadron to sea, joined the Commander-in-Chief at 5 P.M., and was ordered to search for this submarine, but without result. The _Drake_, of the 6th Cruiser Squadron, left the Norwegian coast for Scapa at 4 A.M., the 25th, owing to condenser trouble. The _Dominion_ reported two of her 12-inch guns cracked. The _King Edward VII_. left Scapa for Devonport to change her two guns, which had also cracked, Vice-Admiral Bradford shifting his flag to the battleship _Dominion_. The weather was thick during the night of the 25th–26th, but the fog lifted sufficiently for the Battle Fleet to enter Scapa. _August 26th._--The _Iron Duke_, the 2nd and 4th Battle Squadrons, 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron, and 2nd Flotilla, were at Scapa fuelling. The 1st Battle Squadron, with one-half of the 4th Flotilla, left to join the 3rd Battle Squadron at sea, their departure having been delayed for some hours by thick fog. The 2nd Cruiser Squadron left patrol at 5 P.M. for Rosyth to coal. The 6th Cruiser Squadron left patrol at 8 P.M. to coal, the _King Alfred_ at Scapa, and the _Alsatian_ at Liverpool; the arrangements in the large merchant-ships were such as to render coaling from colliers a difficult and slow progress. The 10th Cruiser Squadron, except the _Mantua_, left the northern patrol to coal at Scapa. During the day the Admiralty informed me of some operations which the southern forces were intended to carry out in the Heligoland Bight on the 28th, and directed that the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron should join in the operations. I made urgent representations as to the necessity of supporting the force with battle cruisers, and informed the Admiralty that I was sending the 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron to take part. I requested that the Vice-Admiral, 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron, and the Commodore, 1st Light Cruiser Squadron, might be informed direct by the Admiralty of the positions which the other ships would occupy, and that the senior officers of the southern force taking part should also be informed of the presence of the battle cruisers and 1st Light Cruiser Squadron.