This Gillford did: “You said it was to be more than six cables’ length, Sir.”
“Did I? Well, leave it at six cables,” Tryon replied, and turning round he entered into conversation with Captain Bourke.
One cannot help wondering what would have happened if Jellicoe had been present, instead of confined below with fever. Presumably, he could have done no more than Gillford and Hawkins-Smith; the Victoria would have been lost just the same.
When the signal was read on the Camperdown Admiral Markham was puzzled and therefore he refrained from replying, thereby indicating that he did not understand his instructions.
The fleet steamed ahead in two columns line.
Tryon grew impatient and signalled to the Camperdown—“What are you waiting for?”
Markham had now no option but to obey. Perhaps he hoped that Admiral Tryon had some scheme for manœuvring his own ship.
The signal was obeyed. The leading ships of the two columns turned sixteen points inwards.
The men of the Fleet watched; amazed and horrified.
A minute passed. There was still time to change the signal. Two minutes passed, three. To those waiting and watching the minutes must have seemed an eternity.