6–inch ammunition is urgently required for monitors, and must be sent as soon as possible, otherwise they will be useless....

October 21, 10.55 p.m.

Rear-Admiral Hood to Admiralty.

Fired to-day 11 hours continuously, could see no improvement in situation. Patrolling coast every night. Monitors expended 600 6–inch shells daily. In Foresight alone 1,100 shells fired to-day, and even then unable to comply with all demands.

October 22.

Rear-Admiral Hood, Dunkirk, to First Lord.

I have returned for a few hours to Dunkirk, at the request of Colonel Bridges, to confer on future movements.

I have enough ships.

Firing has been less to-day.

In the event of a sudden northerly gale, the monitors and Bustard would be lost. This is a justifiable risk if they are doing valuable work, and is much less than submarine risk.