Please concert these measures with the War Office. It is most important that these double convoys each way should hit off our fortnightly escorts which are the governing consideration. Pray let me have a scheme showing how all this movement can be fitted in with the greatest speed and smoothness. W. S. C. Secretary. First Sea Lord. Chief of Staff. Sir Henry Jackson. _September 18, 1914._ In addition to the 2 Divisions now coming from India and the expedition for German East Africa, we must expect the following:— (_a_) A third Indian Division. (_b_) 31 batteries of field artillery from India, to be exchanged for an equal amount of Territorial artillery from home. (_c_) 39 battalions of British infantry from India, to be exchanged for an equal number of Territorial battalions from home. (_d_) As many more Indian troops as India in these circumstances finds it convenient to despatch. (_e_) Reinforcements to make good wastage of Indian troops in the field. These later movements are not all finally settled and approved, but it is certain that from now till Christmas we shall require to maintain regular fortnightly convoys. We cannot delay till then the work of hunting down _Königsberg_ and _Emden_ by our own fast cruisers, nor can we keep these vessels employed indefinitely on duties for which they are unsuited. It is necessary that 3 old battleships, including _Ocean_ from Gibraltar, should proceed at once to the East Indies Station to relieve, as they arrive, first _Dartmouth_ and _Chatham_, and next _Black Prince_. _Minerva_ should go on to India with the transports she is now escorting to Egypt, and the East Indies convoy force should be as follows:— SUEZ: 2 _Majestics_[54] and _Minerva_. BOMBAY: 1 _Majestic_, _Swiftsure_, and _Fox_. These escorts should sail every fortnight to exchange transports at the rendezvous 500 miles east of Aden. Modern ships would be released for other duties as these came on the spot. (2) In the Mediterranean the French should be asked to supply 4 old battleships and 2 old armoured cruisers for convoy duty between Marseilles and Port Said, and asked to arrange fortnightly sailings via Malta to fit in with the Indian convoy service. We will escort all transports from England to Malta at times which will enable the French convoys to take them up _en route_. (3) The force at the Dardanelles must be raised to a strength sufficient to fight the Turco-German fleet. As soon, therefore, as the French escort becomes available, _Indomitable_ should join _Indefatigable_. Defence should also be ordered there from Malta. _Weymouth_ should come home. The four destroyers from the Canal should rejoin their flotilla at the Dardanelles.