The Belgian authorities begged me to fire more rapidly. Deliberate firing will not produce more results as it is unmarked. I understand that 48 hours of clinging to Nieuport may achieve decisive results. If I am to order the firing to be deliberate, I shall not be able to do what the Belgian army requires.
October 28, 4.34 p.m.
Rear-Admiral Hood to Admiralty.
Have continued bombardment against increasing opposition. Captain of Falcon and five men killed and several wounded. Wildfire hit on the water line and sent in for repairs. Brilliant one killed and several wounded. Rinaldo eight wounded.... Submarine sighted—all destroyers now chasing [her]. Venerable has just grounded on sand-bank out of gunfire. Tide rising, fine weather. She will be off in half an hour.
October 29, 1 a.m.
First Lord to Rear-Admiral Hood.
Save ammunition where possible, but don’t lose any chance of hitting the enemy. Give your ships the following message: ‘The inshore flotilla and squadron have played an appreciable part in the great battle now proceeding. You have shown the Germans that there is one flank they cannot turn.’
You have full discretion to go ahead.
Meanwhile the British Army was heavily engaged. Sir John French wrote to me October 21:—
I began this letter two days ago. I had to stop in the middle of a sentence and hadn’t a single minute to go on with it. We have been hard pressed the last two days. The enemy has received considerable reinforcements and a big battle has been raging all along our front from a point 10 miles North of Ypres to La Bassée, which is W.S.W. of Lille. We have given way now and then in places and recovered the ground again—and on the whole have lost nothing (except unfortunately, men and officers!) although the enemy has attacked with the utmost vigour.