"We knew that the German submarine campaign was succeeding.

Their submarines were destroying our shipping and we had no means of preventing it.

I could not help thinking that we were facing the defeat of Great Britain." Page's papers show that as early as February 25th he understood in a general way the disheartening proportions of the German success.

"It is a momentous crisis," he wrote at that time.

"The submarines are destroying shipping at an appalling rate." Yet it was not until Admiral Sims arrived in London, on April 9th, that the Ambassador learned all the details.