The destroyer attacks were combined with a retiring movement on the part of the enemy’s Battle Fleet, the movement being covered with the aid of a heavy smoke screen. Although this retirement was not visible from the Iron Duke owing to the smoke and mist, and was, therefore, not known to me until after the action, it was clearly seen from the rear of our line, as is indicated by the following citations:
The Captain of the Valiant stated in his report: “At 7.23 P.M. enemy’s Battle Fleet now altered course together away from us and broke off the action, sending out a low cloud of smoke which effectually covered their retreat and obscured them from further view.”
The Captain of the Malaya reported, referring to this period: “This was the last of the enemy seen in daylight, owing to their Battle Fleet having turned away.”
Sir Cecil Burney stated in regard to this period: “As the destroyer attack developed, the enemy’s Battle Fleet in sight were observed to turn at least eight points until their sterns were towards our line. They ceased fire, declined further action, and disappeared into the mist.”
The Captain of the St. Vincent said: “The target was held closely until 7.26 P.M. (32 minutes in all), when the enemy had turned eight or ten points away, disappearing into the mist and with a smoke screen made by destroyers to cover them as well.”
Rear-Admiral Evan-Thomas remarked: “After joining the Battle Fleet the 5th Battle Squadron conformed to the movements of the Commander-in-Chief, engaging the rear ships of the enemy’s battle line, until they turned away and went out of sight, all ships apparently covering themselves with artificial smoke.”
The Captain of the Revenge recorded: “A flotilla of destroyers passed through the line and made a most efficient smoke screen. At this period the enemy’s fleet turned eight points to starboard and rapidly drew out of sight.”
In the German account of the action at this stage, it is stated, in more than one passage, that the British Fleet during this action between the Battle Fleets was to the northward of the High Seas Fleet. This is correct of the earlier stages. The account refers to the attacks on our line by the German destroyer flotillas, and states finally that in the last attack the destroyers did not sight the heavy ships, but only light cruisers and destroyers to the north-eastward. The accuracy of this statement is doubtful, since the destroyers were clearly in sight from our heavy ships. But the account then proceeds to state that “the German Commander-in-Chief turns his battle line to a southerly and south-westerly course on which the enemy was last seen, but he is no longer to be found.”
This is illuminating. It is first stated that our ships bore north and north-east from the enemy and then that the enemy turned to south and south-west, that is, directly away from the British Fleet. Thus the fact that the German Fleet turned directly away is confirmed by Germans.
No report of this movement of the German Fleet reached me, and at first it was thought that his temporary disappearance was due to the thickening mist, especially as firing could be heard from the battleships in rear, but at 7.41 P.M., the enemy Battle Fleet being no longer in sight from the Iron Duke, course was altered “by divisions” three points more to starboard (namely, to south-west) to close the enemy, and single line ahead was again formed on the Iron Duke on that course.