4. All the vessels engaged on the coast of Ireland should be considered as available on mobilisation, and on receipt of the warning telegram should move to their war stations without the slightest delay. [Sidenote: Will be done as soon as F.O. concur.] 5. It would certainly be desirable that _Triumph_ should be quietly mobilised and that she should be ready to close the China flagship with available destroyers. The position of the German heavy cruisers in China waters makes it clear that this can be done. Please examine and report what disadvantages this mobilisation would entail. We can then discuss whether it is worth while taking them in the present circumstances. [Sidenote: Should concentrate at Hong Kong at once.] The China Squadron must be capable of concentrating as soon as the warning telegram is sent and before a main action is necessary. Without the _Triumph_ the margin of superiority is small and any reinforcement from other stations would be slow. [Sidenote: Decided “No” at Conference.] 6. You should consider whether the position of the _Goeben_[28] at Pola does not justify the detachment of the _New Zealand_ to join the Mediterranean flag. [Sidenote: Settled personally with O. of I.G.S.] 7. Yesterday, after consultation with the Prime Minister, I arranged personally with the Chief of the Imperial General Staff for the better guarding of magazines and oil tanks against evilly-disposed persons and attacks by aircraft. These measures have now been taken. See attached letter from the Chief of the Imperial General Staff and my reply. You should direct the Director of Operations Division to obtain full detailed information from the War Office of what has been done, and in the event of any place being overlooked, to make the necessary representations. [Sidenote: Done.] 8. Director of the Air Division should be asked to report the exact positions of the aircraft which were concentrated yesterday in the neighbourhood of the Thames Estuary, and further to state what is being done to reach a complete understanding between the [Sidenote: L. B.] aircraft and the military authorities in charge of the aerial gun defences at various points. This is of the utmost importance if accidents are to be avoided. W. S. C. The official ‘warning telegram’ was despatched from the Admiralty on Wednesday, the 29th. On this same day I obtained from the Cabinet the authority to put into force the ‘Precautionary Period’ regulations. The work of Ottley and of Hankey and generally of the Committee of Imperial Defence, was now put to the proof. It was found in every respect thorough and comprehensive, and all over the country emergency measures began to astonish the public. Naval harbours were cleared, bridges were guarded, steamers were boarded and examined, watchers lined the coasts.