On November 3rd the Admiralty issued a general notice proclaiming the North Sea as an area in which hostile operations were being carried out, and pointing out the danger incurred by neutral vessels which entered the North Sea without first ascertaining the steps necessary for safety.
On November 5th the Invincible and Inflexible left Cromarty for Devonport by Admiralty orders, prior to proceeding to search for Admiral von Spee’s squadron in the South Atlantic. This order, the necessity for which was apparent, and the subsequent results of which were undoubtedly of high value, had, however, the effect of still further weakening the Grand Fleet.
The Iron Duke, with the 1st, 2nd and 4th Battle Squadrons cruised between the Hebrides, Faroe Islands and Shetlands after November 4th, and carried out gunnery practices and battle exercises as opportunity occurred. The 1st Battle Squadron was sent to Scapa to coal on the 7th, the 2nd Battle Squadron on the 8th, and the Iron Duke and 4th Battle Squadron arrived there on the 9th.
The 2nd, 3rd and 10th Cruiser Squadrons were engaged on blockade work during this period.
On November 6th, the 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron, with the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron and one-half of the 4th Flotilla, was sent from Cromarty to carry out a sweep of the North Sea, passing through the following positions, namely:
| 1. | Lat. 56.0 | N. |
| Long. 1.30 | E. | |
| 2. | Lat. 57.50 | N. |
| Long. 5.0 | E. | |
| 3. | Lat. 60.10 | N. |
| Long. 3.15 | E. | |
| 4. | Lat. 61.20 | N. |
| Long. 3.0 | E. | |
| 5. | Lat. 61.0 | N. |
| Long. 1.0 | E. | |
| 6. | Lat. 58.50 | N. |
| Long. 0.0 | . |
thence the Battle Cruiser Squadron and destroyers were to go to Cromarty and the light cruisers to Scapa.
The new battle cruiser Tiger, which had been working up gunnery and torpedo practices at Bantry Bay in the south of Ireland, arrived at Scapa on November 6th to continue her practices and to join the 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron. It was felt that she would prove a very welcome reinforcement when efficient, since the departure of the Invincible and Inflexible had left us in a questionable position with regard to battle cruisers as compared with the Germans.
After the Battle Fleet left Lough Swilly, and in consequence of information sent to me by Admiral Colville as to the slow progress being made with the submarine obstructions, orders were given to the various ships to prepare sections of rope net submarine detectors for use in the entrances to Scapa Flow, and these were rapidly placed in position by the Fleet in Hoxa, Switha and Hoy Sounds when the ships arrived at Scapa, armed trawlers being detailed to watch each section. It was very disappointing to find on returning to the base that so little headway had been made with the supply of material for the permanent submarine wire net obstruction, and that the Fleet was still, therefore, open to submarine attack. The increase in the number of patrol trawlers, however, for service in the vicinity of the base gave some protection to the entrances, and relieved the hard-pressed destroyers to a welcome extent.
At this time the watching and blockading cruisers were disposed in areas between the Shetland Islands, Faroe Islands, and Iceland and to the north-westward of the Hebrides, but the whole of the cruisers were beginning to show signs of overwork.