“In addition there are great difficulties in concentrating detached ships and flotillas and in forming the Fleet prior to battle, also in the recognition of ships and destroyers.” This passage is of interest because of its bearing on the Jutland battle some two years later when somewhat similar conditions prevailed. The difficulty of recognition mentioned made so much impression on my mind that special daylight recognition devices which could be seen at a considerable distance were subsequently devised and used by our own light cruisers and destroyers when in the presence of the enemy. When it became evident that there were no enemy vessels to engage, I organised a sweep to the northward on a large scale, with a view to intercepting any enemy ships that might be at sea and of closely examining all merchant ships and fishing vessels which were met with. The starting-point of the sweep was Lat. 55.30 N., Long. 4.0 E., the dispositions being: The _Invincible_ (which had now joined the Battle Cruisers) and the _Inflexible_, to sweep towards Dundee. 3rd Cruiser Squadron towards Aberdeen at 12 knots speed of advance. 1st Light Cruiser Squadron towards Pentland Firth at 11 knots speed of advance. 2nd Cruiser Squadron towards Fair Island at 10 knots speed of advance. All ships spread as widely as visibility admitted. The 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron (which now once more included the _New Zealand_) to be in general support. The Battle Fleet with divisions spread four miles apart to extend the sweep to the eastward. These dispositions are shown in Chart No. 2. At 3 A.M. on the 11th the sweep was directed to turn to N. 16 E., and, later, the 2nd Cruiser Squadron was stationed in a new area, No. 7, between Lat. 55.20 N. and 57.30 N., between 50 and 150 miles from the coast. The 3rd Cruiser Squadron was sent to Cromarty to coal; the 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron and 1st Light Cruiser Squadron rejoined the Battle Fleet, and the _Invincible_ and _Inflexible_ were sent to Scapa to coal, as well as the 3rd Battle Squadron, a half flotilla of destroyers screening these vessels into the base. During the 11th and 12th the Battle Fleet and 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron carried out battle tactics and gunnery exercises, and the Battle Fleet then proceeded to Loch Ewe, and the 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron and 1st Light Cruiser Squadron to Scapa to fuel. During the passage south and north numerous reports of floating mines were received. The majority proved to be fishermen’s bladders which at this time were being frequently reported by merchant ships as floating mines.