What is known as the Harwich Force, towards the end of 1914, was composed of the light cruisers _Arethusa_, _Fearless_, _Undaunted_, and _Aurora_, and forty destroyers forming two flotillas. The force gradually increased its strength of light cruisers, being joined at various times by the _Penelope_, _Conquest_, _Cleopatra_, _Canterbury_, _Carysfoot_, and others. Commodore Tyrwhitt--now Rear-Admiral Sir Reginald Tyrwhitt--commanded the force from the beginning, his first flagship being the _Arethusa_. He is still in command of the force, with the _Curacoa_ as his flagship. Various were the duties performed by this light force--the patrolling of the enemy's coasts, keeping the Grand Fleet informed of the enemy's movements, the perpetual harassing of the enemy, the hunting down of his submarines and mine-layers, the enticing out of his heavy ships to fall into our traps, the convoying of merchantmen, and so forth. The work was extremely important and highly dangerous. Throughout the war there was always some portion of the Harwich Force upon the seas, and always a portion of it in harbour under steam, ready to rush out at a moment's notice should the wireless waves give notice of something doing on the North Sea. On one occasion practically the entire Harwich Force got out of harbour within twenty minutes of a call for its assistance. Even when there was no urgency, no longer than three hours' notice was ever given. A force so actively engaged as was this one could not fail to suffer many casualties--in all probability heavier casualties in proportion to its numbers than any other naval force. Admiral Lord Jellicoe, on one occasion, in a message of greeting to the force, said: "Your casualties alone in this war show what your work has been," or words to that effect. What the total casualties of the force were I do not know; but the narratives that have been communicated to me account for the total loss of over twelve of the destroyers, while the number of others seriously damaged by shell, mines, and torpedoes is still larger. Harwich, possibly, was nearer to the war and its tragedies than any other port in England. For often, by day or in the quiet night, would be heard the weird signal of the sirens that summoned officers and men on leave on shore to hurry back to their ships, as something was happening on the North Sea that called for the Harwich Force, or a portion of it, to put to sea at once. This recall signal, say those who heard it in Harwich, had a most impressive effect. Taking the time from the flagship, each cruiser in the harbour sounded both her sirens three times, each blast being of three minutes' duration.