On receipt of this report orders were given that the ships of the 10th Cruiser Squadron, on patrol, were to be withdrawn to the northern corner of the area, and later, at 8 P.M., orders were sent that they were to join the 2nd Battle Squadron still farther north, and to be used by the battleships (which were spread for the purpose of intercepting trade or enemy’s ships) for boarding purposes. Meanwhile the senior officer of the 10th Cruiser Squadron ships operating in Area 6 (H.M.S. _Edgar_) reported that he could get no reply to wireless signals from the _Hawke_. The _Swift_, with a division of destroyers, was ordered to proceed from Scapa at high speed to the last reported position of the _Hawke_ in Lat. 57.47 N., Long. 0.12 E., to search for the ship. Two other divisions of destroyers were sent, later on, to assist the _Swift_. It is to be noted that a submarine had been reported off Tod Head on the Aberdeen coast at 8.30 A.M. on the 14th, but this report did not reach the _Iron Duke_ until the afternoon of the 15th. The _Swift_ reported on the 16th having picked up a raft with an officer and 20 men, survivors of the _Hawke_, which had been sunk by a submarine in Lat. 57.40 N., Long. 0.13 W., on the 15th. Shortly after sighting the raft, the _Swift_ was attacked by the same or another submarine (it was thought by more than one) whilst engaged in her work of rescue, and torpedoes were fired at her. Captain Wintour subsequently stated that he was only able to effect the rescue by manœuvring at high speed in the midst of the wreckage, etc., using the destroyers with him to screen his movements. His experience was an unpleasant one, as he naturally desired to remain on the spot until he had ascertained with certainty that he had picked up all the survivors, and this he proceeded to do with praiseworthy persistence, bringing them to Scapa. On the 16th reports were also received that the destroyers _Alarm_ and _Nymphe_ had been attacked by submarines to the eastward of the Pentland Firth, and that the _Nymphe_ had rammed the submarine that had attacked her. Later examination of the _Nymphe’s_ bottom by divers showed that her starboard propeller was damaged. At 4.18 P.M. on the same day, the 16th, it was reported from one of the shore batteries that a submarine was close into the Switha entrance to Scapa Flow. The ships inside were immediately ordered to raise steam with all despatch, and the usual precautions were taken of patrolling the harbour with every available small craft, including destroyers, tugs, trawlers, drifters and picket-boats; and colliers and store-ships were as usual sent alongside the battleships, which were not fitted with torpedo nets, as a precaution.