Bravo, the Admiral! Still; if there are to be even a few days' delay I must land somewhere as mules and horses are dying. And, practically, Alexandria is the only port possible.
Wemyss has just sent me over the following letter. It confirms officially the loss of the three battleships:--
"The enclosed is a copy of a Signal I have received from de Robeck. I sincerely hope that the word disastrous is too hard. It depends upon what results we have achieved I think. I gather from intercepted signals that the _Ocean_ also is sunk, but of this I am not quite certain. I am off in _Dublin_ immediately she comes in and expect I may be back to-night. This of course depends a good deal upon what de Robeck wants. Captain Boyle brings this and will be at your disposal. He is the Senior Naval Officer here in my absence.
"Believe me, Sir, "Yours sincerely, (_Sd._) "R. Wemyss."
"_From_ V.A.E.M.S. "_To_ S.N.O. Mudros. "_Date, 18th March, 1915._
"Negative demonstration at Gaba Tepe, 19th. Will you come to Tenedos and see me to-morrow. We have had disastrous day owing either to floating mines or torpedoes from shore tubes fired at long range. H.M.S. _Irresistible_ and _Bouvet_ sunk. H.M.S. _Ocean_ still afloat, but probably lost. H.M.S. _Inflexible_ damaged by mine. _Gaulois_ badly damaged by gunfire. Other ships all right, and we had much the best of the Ports."
_20th March, 1915._ _H.M.S. "Franconia." Mudros Harbour._ Stormy weather, and even here, inside Mudros harbour, touch with the shore is cut off.
After I was asleep last night, an answer came in from K., straight, strong and to the point. He says, "You know my view that the Dardanelles passage must be forced, and that if large military operations on the Gallipoli Peninsula by your troops are necessary to clear the way, those operations must be undertaken after careful consideration of the local defences and must be carried through."
_21st March, 1915._ _H.M.S. "Franconia."_ A talk with Admiral Wemyss and General d'Amade. Wemyss is clear that the Navy must not admit a check and must get to work again as quickly as they can. Wemyss is Senior Naval Officer at the Dardanelles and is much liked by everyone. He has put his seniority in his pocket and is under his junior--fighting first, rank afterwards!