At 7.45 A.M. on the 22nd wireless telegraphy signals from the _Cressy_ were intercepted indicating that the _Aboukir_ and _Hogue_ had been sunk by submarines in Lat. 52.18 N., Long. 3.41 E. These vessels were patrolling the “Broad Fourteens,” off the Dutch Coast, under Admiralty orders. No further details were received, beyond a wireless signal from Commodore (S), at 11.30 A.M., that he was proceeding in the _Fearless_ with seventeen destroyers to Terschelling to endeavour to intercept the enemy submarines on their way back. The Commander-in-Chief, thereupon, ordered the 2nd Cruiser Squadron (from the southern position of Area 7) to proceed at once to support the Commodore (S). By directions, however, given by the Admiralty these orders were cancelled, and the forces returned. At 10.30 P.M. I ordered the armed merchant-cruisers to proceed at once to a position off Trondhjem, as a report had been received that the German liner _Brandenburg_, lying at that port, was likely to sail. Constant reports to this effect were received for several days, and the _Brandenburg_ was heard using her wireless telegraphy on September 25th. The patrol was maintained until September 28th, when contradictory reports were to hand--one that she had been seen at sea on the 27th, and the other that she was being interned by the Norwegian Government. The latter report proved to be correct. The patrol was then moved to a position off the Utvoer Lighthouse, Lat. 61.3 N., Long. 4.30 E., to intercept the German destroyer _Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm_, said to be leaving a Norwegian port. During the 23rd the Dreadnought Battle Fleet and battle cruisers attempted to carry out gunnery practices, but thick weather interfered. The force returned to Scapa to fuel, arriving on the 24th; the 3rd Battle Squadron arrived for the same purpose on the 25th. On the 23rd and 24th the 2nd Cruiser Squadron proceeded from Area 7 to sweep up the Norwegian coast, thence going to Cromarty to coal. The squadron arrived there on the evening of the 25th. The Dreadnought Battle Fleet remained at Scapa until the evening of the 25th, when it proceeded out to the westward of the Orkneys; on the 26th bad weather again prevented target practice, a heavy westerly gale being experienced. This moderated on the morning of the 27th, when the Battle Fleet was to the eastward of the Shetlands, but increased again to a very strong gale during that day, with a wind force of 70 miles per hour and a very heavy confused sea.