Folio 55: Telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean,Malta and Commander-in-Chief China, Amoy and Hong Kong 2nd August 1914 communicate with French S.N.O.[Senior Naval Officer] for combined action should war break out. Situation very critical. Be prepared for surprise attacks. Folio 56: Telegram from Sir C.Greene to Admiralty 2nd August 1914 Russian Ambassador enquiring as to probably attitude of Imperial Government and views of Japanese politicians in the event of Russia being involved in war. The general view is that Japan will support her ally in defence of her interests in Far East. Folio 57: blank. Folio 58: Telegram from Naval Agent,Shanghai to Admiralty 3rd August 1914 HMS Yarmouth left Shanghai last night. Folio 59: Telegram from Singapore to Admiralty 3rd August 1914 German collier Tannenfels six thousand tons Australian coal left yesterday without clearance papers destination unknown. Two German colliers left Newcastle, New South Wales, others preparing to leave. Telegram from Shimonoseki to Admiralty 3rd August 1914 July 30th German merchant vessel Ellen Rickmars passed outwards. German merchant vessel Ferdinand Laesz [Laeisz] returned. From Kobe to Admiralty 3rd August 1914 German merchant vessel Mark arrived. From Shimonoseki to Admiralty 3rd August 1914 German merchant vessel Ferdinand Laeisz [Laesz] left for Tsingtau. Folio 60: Telegram from Singapore to Admiralty 3rd August 1914 German Geier [gunboat] at Rhio, south of Singapore definite. Folio 61: Telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief China 3rd August 1914 you are authorised to take up and arm four ships as armed cruisers. Folio 62: Telegram from Sir Edward Grey to Sir C.Greene (Tokyo) August 3rd 1914 warn Japanese Government that if Hong Kong or Wei-hai wei are attacked we rely on their support. Folio 63: Telegram from Mr Brown Chunking 3rd August 1914 German ship Otter [river gunboat] arrived Chunking 1 30 this afternoon and left down river at 2pm. Note on this telegram:-Vaterland [German river gunboat] at Hankau reported crew left for Tsingtau. Folio 64: Telegram from British Embassy Manchester Massachusetts to Admiralty 3rd August 1914 mail steamer Persia reported German man of war on July 30th pm in 26.27 N. 169.17 W. Note on telegram:-probably Nurnberg [German light cruiser]. Folio 65: Telegram from Commonwealth Naval Board to Admiralty 3rd August 1914 Wireless signals intercepted by North Australia strongly indicate Scharnhorst [German cruiser], Gneisenau [German cruiser]and other Germans near New Guinea. Folio 66: Telegram from Sir C.Greene, Tokyo to Foreign Office 3rd August 1914 Japan will assist if Germans attack British interests in Far East. Folio 67: blank. Folio 71: Telegram from Commander-in-Chief Hong Kong to Admiralty 4th August 1914 Dupleix [French cruiser] arrives at Hong Kong tomorrow. Should I supply her with government Welsh coal as there is only inferior Japanese coal in the market. If France is at war I might be infringing neutrality. Reply:-Give her Welsh coal. Folio 72: Telegram to Commander-in-Chief, HMS Minotaur, Hong Kong 4th August 1914 British ultimatum to Germany expires midnight G.M.T. August 4th. Folio 73: Telegram from Commodore, Hong Kong to Admiralty 4th August 1914 four following vessels engaged as armed merchant cruisers: [Canadian Pacific Railway steamers] Empress of Asia complete August 13th. Empress of Japan due August 13th. Empress of Russia due August 21st. P&O steamer Himalaya due August 13th. Folio 75: Telegram from Commander-in-Chief Hong Kong to Admiralty 4th August 1914 concentration at Hong Kong complete August 5th. HMS Minotaur, HMS Yarmouth, HMS Hampshire, HMS Newcastle, HMS Cadmus and 6 destroyers ready for active service August 6th night. HMS Triumph ready August 9th. HMS Clio ready August 11th. Dupleix [French cruiser] arrives Hong Kong tomorrow. May I leave Hong Kong if strategy requires it? Folio 76: Telegram from Admiralty to all Senior Naval Officers at home and abroad 4th August 1914 enter into closest cooperation with French on your station. Folio 77: Telegram from Consul Pratt to Sir Edward Grey 4th August 1914 situation in Tsingtau. Martial law proclaimed 1st August, all oil stocks seized. Attempt to seize treasure of Russo-Chinese Bank but it had already been transferred to Deutsch-Asiatische Bank. British subjects must be prepared to leave. 2nd August, army aeroplane fell, seriously injuring pilot leaving one effective aeroplane and pilot. Four German merchant vessels detained. Folio 79: Telegram to China 4th August 1914 war telegram will be issued at midnight. Ciphers G&M have been compromised. Folio 80: Telegram to HMS Britannia, Hong Kong 4th August 1914 advise all British shipping with which you may be in touch to abandon regular tracks complete voyages without bunkering if possible, reduce brilliancy of lights. Folio 81: Telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief Hong Kong 4th August 1914 use your discretion about leaving Hong Kong. Folio 83: Telegram from Admiralty to all ships 4th August 1914 commence hostilities at once against Germany. Folio 84: Telegram from Sir C.Greene Tokyo to Foreign Office 4th August 1914 Japanese ready if called upon in attack on Wei-hai wei or Hong Kong. Second Battle fleet (4 large cruisers) ready at Sasebo while cruisers have been stationed at Nagasaki, Fusan and Chemulpho. Folio 85: Telegram from Yokohama to Admiralty 4th August 1914 yacht Mekong flying British flag arrived; carries 4 one pounders [guns]and automatic 7mm gun also wireless telegraphy. Folio 87: Telegram from Ambassador Tokyo to Admiralty 5th August 1914 formal offer received from Duc de Montpensier endorsed by registered owner of yacht Mekong, Mr V M Jackson of Royal Southampton Yacht Club to place yacht at disposal of HM government. Range of wireless telegraphy 1500 miles. Folio 88: Telegram from Hong Kong to Admiralty 5th August 1914 orders to commence hostilities with Germany received. Assume this includes Austria. Note on telegram:-tell him we are at peace with Austria. Folio 89: Telegram from Sir George Buchanan, St Petersburg to Admiralty 4th August 1914 Russian Ambassador at Tokyo hears we are not going to ask for Japanese assistance. He thinks this is a mistake as Japanese could damage German trade. Folio 91: Telegram from Admiralty to Ambassador, Tokyo 5th August 1914 inform Commander-in-Chief China that he is authorised to accept yacht Mekong if she is of service to him. Folio 92: Telegram from Consul General Bangkok to Admiralty 5th August 1914 following German vessels in Bangkok River.Petchaburi Deli Kohsich Samson and at the ? Trantenfels. From Yokohama to Admiralty German merchant vessel Yorck left 4th August destination believed to be Tsingtau. Is reported to have loaded 5,000 tons of coal and large cargo provisions. From Shimonoseki to Admiralty German merchant vessel Prinz Wardemar arrived. From Hong Kong to Admiralty Dupleix [French cruiser] arrived. Folio 93: Telegram from Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief East Indies, Colombo and Singapore 5th August 1914 HMS Swiftsure not required to proceed to Singapore. Folio 96: Telegram from Commander-in-Chief China to Admiralty 6th August 1914 HMS Minotaur, HMS Hampshire, HMS Yarmouth, HMS Newcastle, Dupleix [French cruiser] HMS Welland, HMS Usk(?), HMS Kennet, HMS Colne, HMS Jed sailed this morning.