Further remarks from the Shannon, at a later stage, were: “At 8 P.M. Battle Fleet altered course to starboard to close the enemy, and by 8.15 was lost to sight, bearing about north by east.”
“At 8.15 P.M. Battle Fleet, out of sight from Shannon, was heard to be in action.”
“At 8.30 P.M. the visibility of grey ships was about 9,000 yards.” “At 8.45 P.M. King George V. again sighted, bearing north-north-east. Visibility had again improved, and her range was estimated at about 10,000 yards. Conformed to her course S. 75 W. to close enemy.”
At 7.20 P.M. the ships engaged by our battle cruisers turned away and were lost to sight. They were located for a moment at 8.20 P.M. with the aid of the 1st and 3rd Light Cruiser Squadrons, and, although they disappeared again at once, they were once more located and effectively engaged between 8.22 and 8.28 P.M. at about 10,000 yards range. They turned away once more and were finally lost to sight by the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron (the last ships to keep in touch) at 8.38 P.M., steaming to the westward.
This was the last opportunity which the battle cruisers had of putting the finishing touch upon a fine afternoon’s work. They had, under the very able and gallant leadership of Sir David Beatty, assisted by the splendid squadron so well commanded by Admiral Evan-Thomas, gone far to crush out of existence the opposing Battle Cruiser Squadron.
It will be seen from the above account that our battle cruisers experienced great difficulty in locating and holding the enemy after 7.20 P.M., even when far ahead of the Battle Fleet, with its small craft, and therefore in a position of freedom from the smoke of our own vessels and the enemy’s line. After this time, 7.20 P.M., the battle cruisers were only engaged for some six minutes. The enemy turned away on each occasion when he was located and showed no disposition to fight.
The visibility by this time had become very bad; the light was failing, and it became necessary to decide on the disposition for the night.
CHAPTER XIV
THE BATTLE OF JUTLAND—(Continued)
III.—The Night Action
The situation, which had never been at all clear to me owing to the fact that I had not seen more than a few ships at a time, appeared to be as follows: