Record of Messages bearing on the Operation

APPENDIX II RECORD OF MESSAGES BEARING ON THE OPERATION

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Messages are arranged in chronological order of Time of Despatch, all times being G.M.T. Complete reliance, however, cannot be placed on the absolute accuracy of these times owing to the differences of ships' clocks and the difficulties experienced in logging signals in action, 2. The following types have been used for printing :

Messages to or from Com.-in-Chief.	Clarendon
Messages between Senior Officers of Squadrons {other than the Commander-in-Chief) and their Squadrons and between ships of the same squadron	Italics
All other messages	Roman

On 30th May 1916 the Admiralty received news which pointed to early activity on the part of the German Fleet. The Commander-in-Chief, Grand Fleet, and the Vice-Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Fleet were informed accordingly by telegram. The Admiralty also informed the Commander in -Chief that eight enemy submarines, which they had reason to believe had recently sailed from German ports, were probably in the North Sea.
Admiralty telegram No. 434 of 30th May 1916, time of origin 1740, sent to the Commander-in- Chief and repeated to the Vice Admiral Commanding Battle Cruiser Fleet, contained the following instructions :-
" You should concentrate to Eastward of Long Forties ready for eventualities."

Date, Time of Despatch.	From	To	Sys. tem.	Message.	Time of Origin
May 30th 11.58 a.m.	Admiralty	V.A.Dover	L/T	Harwich Destroyers return there at once, Recall Belgian coast patrol temporally.	1158
12.5 p.m.	Admiralty	R.A. East Coast.	L/T	Recall minesweeping sloops	1205
12.17	Admiralty	S.O. 3rd B.S., S.O. 3rdC.S., C.-in-C.Nore	L/T	3rd B.S. and 3rd C.S. should have steam at short notice by daylight to-morrow, and 3rd C.S. should proceed to Swin to-day.	1217
12.33	S.O.M.S.	C.-in-C.	W/T	Positon 58 45' N., 2 15' W. Torpedo fired at Gentian missed.	1230
12.37	Admiralty	Captain S., Maidstone.	L/T	Have all Submarines ready for sea at short notice.	1237
2.37 recd.	Comdr. (T)	S.O.B.C.F.	L/T	5 Light Cruisers, 15 Destroyers, ready for service.	1230
4.35	C.-in-C.	General	Sem.	If the fleet goes to sea under present condi- tions, Royal Oak will take station in 3rd sub-division, order of which will be Iron Duke, Royal Oak, Superb, Canada. Active will go with Cruisers and take position J. The Cruisers are to leave in one group and take route A. 3rd B.C.S. Canterbury and Chester will be ordered out independently ahead of Cruisers and will follow route B. The D.T. signal not applying to this squad- ron, the 4 T.B.Ds. for this squadron meeting them off Hoxa obstruction.	1615
5.35	Owl	C.-in-C. A.C.O. &S. Captain D4.	W/T	Urgent. Trawler Dunpedril reports Sub- marine. 3.45 p.m.,Lat. 58°35' N., Long. 2°35' W.	1700
5.40	S.O. 2nd B.S.	General	Flags	Preparatory signal for leaving Cromarty.	--

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Date, Time of Despatch.	From	To	Sys. tem.	Message.	Time of Origin
30 MAY	- cont.
5.40 p.m	C.-in.C.	General	Flags	Preparatory signal for leaving Scapa, nega- tive Royal Sovereign and Menelaus.	1735
5.43	C.-in-C.	Royal Oak	Sem.	Return to Fleet Anchorage and anchor in A6.	1735
5.43	C.-in-C.	S.O. 4th B.S.	Sem.	Please send Menelaus over to North shore and delay experiments for the present.	1740
5.43	S.O.B.C.F	B.C.F.5th B.S. 1st, 9th, 13th	Flags	Raise steam for 22 knots and report when ready to proceed.	--
5.54	C.-in-C.	Marksman	W/T	Return at once with your Destroyers	1535
5.49 (recd.)	C.-in-C.	S.O. B.C.F.	L/T	Urgent. Raise steam	1740
5.55	Admiralty	C.-in-C.	L/T	3rd B.S., 3rd C.S., 5th L.C.S. and Harwich Destroyers will not be sent out until more is known.	--
5.55	C.-in-C.	Commodore F. and Dundee.	Tel.	Trident will pass through patrols from East after midnight to-night.	1700
6.0	C.-in-C.	S.O. 4th L.C.S. Caro- line, Con- stance.	Sem.	Caroline and Constance are to return to Y line by sunset.	1800
6.1	S.O. 3rd L.C.S	3rd L.C.S.	Sem.	Steam should be raised as soon as possible and report now when you expect to be ready for 15 knots and 22 knots. Falmouth will be ready at 7.45 and 8 p.m.	1800
6.4	Commodore F.	Captain D12	Sem.	Recall patrols	1800
6.4	Commodore F.	Onslaught	W/T	Return to harbour	1800
6.5	S.O.2nd B.S.	General	Flags	Raise steam for 18 knots and report when ready to proceed.	--
6.7	S.O. B.C.F.	General	Flags	Commanders of squadrons to report the time at which their squadrons will be ready to proceed. Reply : 5th B.S. ready to proceed at 9.40 p.m., 1st B.C.S. ready to proceed 8.45 p.m., 2nd B.C.S. will be ready to proceed at 9 p.m., 1st L.C.S. ready to proceed at 8.23 p.m., 2nd L.C.S. ready to proceed 9 p.m., 3rd L.C.S. ready to proceed 8 p.m., 9th Flotilla 8.30 p.m., 1st Flotilla 9 p.m., Engadine 9.45 p.m.	--
6.7	C.-in-C.	S.O. 2nd C.S. and Com- modore F.	Sem. and Tel.	My 1615, Additional four Destroyers are to be detailed for 2nd C.S.	1754
6.10	Commodore F.	C.-in-C.	Tel.	Achates defect completed	1805
6.11	C.-in-C.	S.O.M.S.	W/T	Keep Sloops out to-night, Tuesday, Fleet may come out	1750
6.12	S.O.3rd L.C.S	3rd L.C.S.	Sem.	L.C.'s.diagram No.1. Falmouth, Yarmouth C Birkenhead,Gloucester D If Engadine joins she will leave harbour astern of Gloucester.	1812

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