World's War Events Volume II Part 4

[Sidenote: Hood's squadron takes station ahead.]

"I ordered them to take station ahead, which was carried out magnificently, Rear-Admiral Hood bringing his squadron into action ahead in a most inspiring manner, worthy of his great naval ancestors. At 6.25 p.m. I altered course to the ESE. in support of the Third Battle-cruiser Squadron, who were at this time only 8,000 yards from the enemy's leading s.h.i.+p. They were pouring a hot fire into her and caused her to turn to the westward of south. At the same time I made a report to you of the bearing and distance of the enemy battle-fleet.

[Sidenote: Low visibility hinders both fleets.]

"By 6.50 p.m. the battle-cruisers were clear of our leading battle squadron then bearing about NNW. 3 miles, and I ordered the Third Battle-cruiser Squadron to prolong the line astern and reduced to 18 knots. The visibility at this time was very indifferent, not more than 4 miles, and the enemy s.h.i.+ps were temporarily lost sight of. It is interesting to note that after 6 p.m., although the visibility became reduced, it was undoubtedly more favorable to us than to the enemy. At intervals their s.h.i.+ps showed up clearly, enabling us to punish them very severely and establish a definite superiority over them. From the report of other s.h.i.+ps and my own observation it was clear that the enemy suffered considerable damage, battle-cruisers and battles.h.i.+ps alike. The head of their line was crumpled up, leaving battles.h.i.+ps as targets for the majority of our battle-cruisers. Before leaving us the Fifth Battle Squadron was also engaging battles.h.i.+ps. The report of Rear-Admiral Evan-Thomas shows that excellent results were obtained, and it can be safely said that his magnificent squadron wrought great execution.

[Sidenote: Light cruisers attack heavy enemy s.h.i.+ps.]

"From the report of Rear-Admiral T. D. W. Napier, M.V.O., the Third Light-cruiser Squadron, which had maintained its station on our starboard bow well ahead of the enemy, at 6.25 p.m. attacked with the torpedo. _Falmouth_ and _Yarmouth_ both fired torpedoes at the leading enemy battle-cruiser, and it is believed that one torpedo hit, as a heavy underwater explosion was observed. The Third Light-cruiser Squadron then gallantly attacked the heavy s.h.i.+ps with gunfire, with impunity to themselves, thereby demonstrating that the fighting efficiency of the enemy had been seriously impaired. Rear-Admiral Napier deserves great credit for his determined and effective attack.

_Indomitable_ reports that about this time one of the _Derfflinger_ cla.s.s fell out of the enemy's line."

[Sidenote: s.h.i.+ps hard to distinguish in the mist.]

Meanwhile, at 5.45 p.m., the report of guns had become audible to me, and at 5.55 p.m. flashes were visible from ahead round to the starboard beam, although in the mist no s.h.i.+ps could be distinguished, and the position of the enemy's battle fleet could not be determined. The difference in estimated position by "reckoning" between _Iron Duke_ and _Lion_, which was inevitable under the circ.u.mstances, added to the uncertainty of the general situation.

Shortly after 5.55 p.m. some of the cruisers ahead, under Rear-Admirals Herbert L. Heath, M.V.O., and Sir Robert Arbuthnot, Bt., M.V.O., were seen to be in action, and reports received show that _Defence_, flags.h.i.+p, and _Warrior_, of the First Cruiser Squadron, engaged an enemy light-cruiser at this time. She was subsequently observed to sink.

At 6 p.m. _Canterbury_, which s.h.i.+p was in company with the Third Battle-cruiser Squadron, had engaged enemy light-cruisers which were firing heavily on the torpedo-boat destroyer _Shark_, _Acasta_, and _Christopher_; as a result of this engagement the _Shark_ was sunk.

At 6 p.m. vessels, afterwards seen to be our battle-cruisers, were sighted by _Marlborough_ bearing before the starboard beam of the battle fleet.

At the same time the Vice-Admiral Commanding, Battle-cruiser Fleet, reported to me the position of the enemy battle-cruisers, and at 6.14 p.m. reported the position of the enemy battle fleet.

At this period, when the battle fleet was meeting the battle-cruisers and the Fifth Battle Squadron, great care was necessary to ensure that our own s.h.i.+ps were not mistaken for enemy vessels.

[Sidenote: Battle Fleet in line of battle.]

I formed the battle fleet in line of battle on receipt of Sir David Beatty's report, and during deployment the fleets became engaged. Sir David Beatty had meanwhile formed the battle-cruisers ahead of the battle-fleet.

[Sidenote: Commanders of the divisions of the Battle Fleet.] The divisions of the battle fleet were led by:

The Commander-in-Chief.

Vice-Admiral Sir Cecil Burney, K.C.B., K.C.M.G.

Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Jerram, K.C.B.

Vice-Admiral Sir Doveton St.u.r.dee, Bt., K.C.B., C.V.O., C.M.G.

Rear-Admiral Alexander L. Duff, C.B.

Rear-Admiral Arthur C. Leveson, C.B.

Rear-Admiral Ernest F. A. Gaunt, C.M.G.

At 6.16 p.m. _Defence_ and _Warrior_ were observed pa.s.sing down between the British and German Battle Fleets under a very heavy fire. _Defence_ disappeared, and _Warrior_ pa.s.sed to rear disabled.

[Sidenote: Arbuthnot's s.h.i.+ps disabled.]

It is probable that Sir Robert Arbuthnot, during his engagement with the enemy's light-cruisers and in his desire to complete their destruction, was not aware of the approach of the enemy's heavy s.h.i.+ps, owing to the mist, until he found himself in close proximity to the main fleet, and before he could withdraw his s.h.i.+ps they were caught under a heavy fire and disabled. It is not known when _Black Prince_ of the same squadron, was sunk, but a wireless signal was received from her between 8 and 9 p.m.

The First Battle Squadron became engaged during deployment, the Vice-Admiral opening fire at 6.17 p.m. on a battles.h.i.+p of the _Kaiser_ cla.s.s. The other Battle Squadrons, which had previously been firing at an enemy light cruiser, opened fire at 6.30 p.m. on battles.h.i.+ps of the _Koenig_ cla.s.s.

[Sidenote: Accident to the _Warspite_.]

At 6.6 p.m. the Rear-Admiral Commanding Fifth Battle Squadron, then in company with the battle-cruisers, had sighted the starboard wing-division of the battle-fleet on the port bow of _Barham_, and the first intention of Rear-Admiral Evan-Thomas was to form ahead of the remainder of the battle-fleet, but on realizing the direction of deployment he was compelled to form astern, a man[oe]uvre which was well executed by the squadron under a heavy fire from the enemy battle-fleet.

An accident to _Warspite's_ steering gear caused her helm to become jammed temporarily and took the s.h.i.+p in the direction of the enemy's line, during which time she was. .h.i.t several times. Clever handling enabled Captain Edward M. Phillpotts to extricate his s.h.i.+p from a somewhat awkward situation.

Owing princ.i.p.ally to the mist, but partly to the smoke, it was possible to see only a few s.h.i.+ps at a time in the enemy's battle line. Towards the van only some four or five s.h.i.+ps were ever visible at once. More could be seen from the rear squadron, but never more than eight to twelve.

[Sidenote: Action at shorter ranges.]

The action between the battle-fleets lasted intermittently from 6.17 p.m. to 8.20 p.m. at ranges between 9,000 and 12,000 yards, during which time the British Fleet made alterations of course from SE. by E. by W.

in the endeavour to close. The enemy constantly turned away and opened the range under cover of destroyer attacks and smoke screens as the effect of the British fire was felt, and the alterations of course had the effect of bringing the British Fleet (which commenced the action in a position of advantage on the bow of the enemy) to a quarterly bearing from the enemy battle line, but at the same time placed us between the enemy and his bases.

[Sidenote: Wreck of the _Invincible_.]

At 6.55 p.m. _Iron Duke_ pa.s.sed the wreck of _Invincible_, with Badger standing by.

During the somewhat brief periods that the s.h.i.+ps of the High Sea Fleet were visible through the mist, the heavy and effective fire kept up by the battles.h.i.+ps and battle-cruisers of the Grand Fleet caused me much satisfaction, and the enemy vessels were seen to be constantly hit, some being observed to haul out of the line and at least one to sink. The enemy's return fire at this period was not effective, and the damage caused to our s.h.i.+ps was insignificant.

[Sidenote: Course of the Battle Fleet.]

Regarding the battle-cruisers, Sir David Beatty reports:--

"At 7.6 p.m. I received a signal from you that the course of the Fleet was south. Subsequently signals were received up to 8.46 p.m. showing that the course of the Battle Fleet was to the southwestward.

[Sidenote: Visibility improves.]

[Sidenote: Enemy destroyers make smoke screen.]

"Between 7 and 7.12 p.m. we hauled round gradually to SW. by S. to regain touch with the enemy, and at 7.14 p.m. again sighted them at a range of about 15,000 yards. The s.h.i.+ps sighted at this time were two battle-cruisers and two battles.h.i.+ps, apparently of the _Koenig_ cla.s.s.

No doubt more continued the line to the northward, but that was all that could be seen. The visibility having improved considerably as the sun descended below the clouds, we re-engaged at 7.17 p.m. and increased speed to 22 knots. At 7.32 p.m. my course was SW., speed 18 knots, the leading enemy battles.h.i.+p bearing NW. by W. Again, after a very short time, the enemy showed signs of punishment, one s.h.i.+p being on fire, while another appeared to drop right astern. The destroyers at the head of the enemy's line emitted volumes of grey smoke, covering their capital s.h.i.+ps as with a pall, under cover of which they turned away, and at 7.45 p.m. we lost sight of them.

[Sidenote: Enemy steams to westward.]

"At 7.58 p.m. I ordered the First and Third Light-cruiser Squadrons to sweep to the westward and locate the head of the enemy's line, and at 8.20 p.m. we altered course to west in support. We soon located two battle-cruisers and battles.h.i.+ps, and were heavily engaged at a short range of about 10,000 yards. The leading s.h.i.+p was. .h.i.t repeatedly by _Lion_, and turned away eight points, emitting very high flames and with a heavy list to port. _Princess Royal_ set fire to a three-funnelled battles.h.i.+p. _New Zealand_ and _Indomitable_ report that the third s.h.i.+p, which they both engaged, hauled out of the line, heeling over and on fire. The mist which now came down enveloped them, and _Falmouth_ reported they were last seen at 8.38 p.m. steaming to the westward.

[Sidenote: Shock felt.]

"At 8.40 p.m. all our battle-cruisers felt a heavy shock as if struck by a mine or torpedo, or possibly sunken wreckage. As however, examination of the bottoms reveals no sign of such an occurrence, it is a.s.sumed that it indicated the blowing up of a great vessel.

"I continued on a south-westerly course with my light cruisers spread until 9.24 p.m. Nothing further being sighted, I a.s.sumed that the enemy were to the north-westward, and that we had established ourselves well between him and his base. _Minotaur_ (Captain Arthur C. S. H. D'Aeth) was at this time bearing north 5 miles, and I asked her the position of the leading battle squadron of the Battle Fleet. Her reply was that it was in sight, but was last seen bearing NNE. I kept you informed of my position, course, and speed, also of the bearing of the enemy.

[Sidenote: Expectation of locating enemy at daybreak.]

"In view of the gathering darkness, and the fact that our strategical position was such as to make it appear certain that we should locate the enemy at daylight under most favorable circ.u.mstances, I did not consider it desirable or proper to close the enemy Battle Fleet during the dark hours. I therefore concluded that I should be carrying out your wishes by turning to the course of the Fleet, reporting to you that I had done so."

[Sidenote: German torpedo attacks ineffective.]

As was antic.i.p.ated, the German Fleet appeared to rely very much on torpedo attacks, which were favored by the low visibility and by the fact that we had arrived in the position of a "following" or "chasing"

fleet. A large number of torpedoes were apparently fired, but only one took effect (on _Marlborough_), and even in this case the s.h.i.+p was able to remain in the line and to continue the action. The enemy's efforts to keep out of effective gun range were aided by the weather conditions, which were ideal for the purpose. Two separate destroyer attacks were made by the enemy.

[Sidenote: _Marlborough_ hit by a torpedo.]