Secretary's notes [minutes] of a War Council meeting on 28 Jan 1915 on the general policy of the war, gunboats for the Danube, naval attack on Zeebrugge [Belgium] and the Dardanelles. Printed for the Committee of Imperial Defence, July 1916. Sent with CHAR 2/86/1.

Secretary's notes [minutes] of a meeting of a War Council on 28 Jan 1915 on France and Egypt, Nyassaland, East Africa, the "Konigsberg", the Press Bureau, the Zeebrugge [Belgium] Project, co-ordination of effort by the Allies, the Dardanelles, high explosives and the naval campaign. Printed for the Committee of Imperial Defence, July 1916. Sent with CHAR 2/86/1.

Letter from [WSC] to Vice-Admiral Paul Guepratte (5 Rue de Neptune, Brest, Finisterre [France]) agreeing with his praise of Vice-Admiral John de Robeck and praising the French naval squadron which fought in the Dardanelles campaign. Carbon typescript copy.

Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to Field Marshal Sir John French [Chief of Imperial General Staff, later 1st Lord Ypres], on a naval bombardment to support the advance of the Army on Ostende, Belgium, suggesting that the Navy attack Zeebrugge, the base of the German submarines, at the same time. Also includes Admiralty memorandum sketching out naval support for the army. [Hand-written drafts, initialled by WSC].

Telegram from Field Marshal Sir John French [Chief of Imperial General Staff, later 1st Lord Ypres] to Field Marshal 1st Lord Kitchener [Secretary of State for War], stating that the naval support of the Army's attack on Ostende [Belgium] had been "most useful". French recommends that the same co-operation be given the next day, with note by WSC, confirming that naval co-operation would be continued. [Initialled by WSC].

Telegram from Field Marshal Sir John French [Chief of Imperial General Staff, later 1st Lord Ypres] to Field Marshal 1st Lord Kitchener [Secretary of State for War], stating that the advance along the Belgian coast from Nieuport was not as fast as hoped, and asking for surprise bombardment by monitor and big gun ships. [Typescript copy].

Telegram from Rear-Admiral Horace Hood to the Duty Captain, Admiralty, on his operations to support the Army in Belgium. [Carbon].

Telegram from WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty to Field Marshal Sir John French [Commander-in-Chief, British Expeditionary Force, later 1st Lord Ypres], regretting that the Royal Navy could not provide artillery support on the Belgian coast. WSC explains that small ships were not powerful enough, and it was not justifiable to expose battleships to risk of attack by submarines, except to support a land attack of primary importance. [Hand-written draft, unsigned].

Letter from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to Field Marshal 1st Lord Kitchener [Secretary of State for War] on the treatment of naval units serving with the Army in France. WSC argues that they should continue to be subject to the Naval Discipline Act, not given the choice to "become a soldier or be sent home"; he lists the five units concerned: armoured trains, motor omnibuses, aircraft, armoured cars and 15-inch howitzers. [Two draft carbon copies].

Memorandum by WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] on the need to secure naval command of the Baltic, in view of the stalemate on the Western Front. [Hand-written draft, initialled by WSC].

Letter from Rear-Admiral Horace Hood to WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty], giving his views on the Ostend and Zeebrugge [Belgium] expeditions, particularly on the position at Nieuport, and also on Hood's wish to return to the Dover Patrol.

Letter from Rear-Admiral Horace Hood (Hotel Crusader, Nieuport [Belgium]) to WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty], on the naval and military situation in France and Belgium, including: the use of Hood's ships at Nieuport; the placing of German guns along the shore; Hood's mining of the coastal waters; the chances of a Belgian advance; relations between the French and Belgians.