Chief of the Interned Squadron."[22] The signal was repeated by semaphore and searchlights.[23] Scuttling began immediately: seacocks and flood valves were opened and internal water pipes smashed.[24] Portholes had already been loosened, watertight doors and condenser covers left open, and in some ships holes had been bored through bulkheads, all to facilitate the spread of water once scuttling began.[24] One German ship commander recorded that prior to 21 June, seacocks had been set on a hair turning and heavily lubricated, while large hammers had been placed besides valves.[25]