[74]. A curious coincidence or foreboding. Almost at that moment the Audacious was moving to her doom.
[75]. War Office.
[76]. This will be discussed in the second volume. The alternatives are here only mentioned to explain the context.
[77]. This energetic and practical officer, whom I had employed during the previous eighteen months to supervise the fortification of Cromarty, had already designed a type of anti-submarine boom which he was actually installing at Cromarty.
[78]. I have slightly abridged this minute.
[79]. .sp 2
October 28, 1914.
Dear Mr. Churchill,—
I have lately been driven to the painful conclusion that at this juncture my birth and parentage have the effect of impairing in some respects my usefulness on the Board of Admiralty. In these circumstances I feel it to be my duty, as a loyal subject of His Majesty, to resign the office of First Sea Lord, hoping thereby to facilitate the task of the administration of the great Service, to which I have devoted my life, and to ease the burden laid on H.M. Ministers.
I am,