1st phase.—The clearing of the outer seas (this had been accomplished).
2nd phase.—The clearing of the North Sea.
3rd phase.—The clearing of the Baltic.
Mr. Churchill laid stress on the importance of the third phase and said this latter operation was of great importance, as Germany always had been, and still was, very nervous of an attack from the Baltic. For this purpose special vessels were required, and the First Sea Lord (Lord Fisher) had designed cruisers, &c., &c.[10] The meeting was adjourned to 6.30 the same evening.
10th Meeting of War Council (same day), January 28th, 1915, at 6.30 p.m.
The plan of a naval attack on Zeebrugge was abandoned and the Dardanelles operations were decided upon.
11th Meeting of War Council, February 9th, 1915.
Mr. Churchill reported that the Naval attack on the Dardanelles would take place on February 15th. (This was afterwards postponed until February 19th.)
12th Meeting of War Council, February 16th, 1915.
Agreed that the 29th Division should be sent to the Dardanelles and other arrangements made to support the Naval attack on the Dardanelles.