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Page 21
The Admiral paid a fine tribute to the German naval men: "The enemy," he
said, "fought with the gallantry that was expected of him. We
particularly admired the conduct of those on board a disabled German
light cruiser which passed down the British line shortly after the
deployment under a heavy fire, which was returned by the only gun left
in action. The conduct of the officers and men war entirely beyond
praise. On all sides it is reported that the glorious traditions of the
past were most worthily upheld; whether in the heavy ships, cruisers,
light cruisers, or destroyers, the same admirable spirit prevailed. The
officers and men were cool and determined, with a cheeriness that would
have carried them through anything. The heroism of the wounded was the
'admiration' of all. I cannot adequately express the pride with which
the spirit of the fleet filled me."
At daylight on the 1st of June the British battle fleet, being
southward of Horn Reef, turned northward in search of the enemy vessels.
The visibility early on the first of June was three to four miles less
than on May 31st, and the torpedo-boat destroyers, being out of visual
touch, did not rejoin the fleet until 9 A.M. The British fleet remained
in the proximity of the battlefield and near the line of approach to the
German ports until 11 A.M., in spite of the disadvantage of long
distances from fleet bases and the danger incurred in waters adjacent
to the enemy's coasts from submarines and torpedo craft.
The enemy, however, made no sign, and the admiral was reluctantly
compelled to the conclusion that the High Sea Fleet had returned into
port. Subsequent events proved this assumption to have been correct. The
British position must have been known to the enemy, as at 4 A.M. the
fleet engaged a Zeppelin about five minutes, during which time she had
ample opportunity to note and subsequently report the position and
course of the British fleet.
The Germans at first claimed a victory for their fleet. The test, of
course, was the outcome of the battle. The fact that the German fleet
retreated and nevermore ventured forth from beneath the protecting guns
and mine fields around Helgoland, demonstrates beyond dispute that the
British were entitled to the triumph. The German official report makes
the best presentation of the German case. It follows in full:
The High Sea Fleet, consisting of three battleship squadrons, five
battle cruisers, and a large number of small cruisers, with several
destroyer flotillas, was cruising in the Skagerrak on May 31 for
the purpose, as on earlier occasions, of offering battle to the
British fleet. The vanguard of the small cruisers at 4.30 o'clock
in the afternoon (German time) suddenly encountered ninety miles
west of Hanstholm, (a cape on the northwest coast of Jutland), a
group of eight of the newest cruisers of the Calliope class and
fifteen or twenty of the most modern destroyers.
While the German light forces and the first cruiser squadron under
Vice Admiral Hipper were following the British, who were retiring
north-westward, the German battle cruisers sighted to the westward
Vice Admiral Beatty's battle squadron of six ships, including four
of the Lion type and two of the Indefatigable type. Beatty's
squadron developed a battle line on a southeasterly course and Vice
Admiral Hipper formed his line ahead on the same general course and
approached for a running fight. He opened fire at 5.49 o'clock in
the afternoon with heavy artillery at a range of 13,000 meters
against the superior enemy. The weather was clear and light, and
the sea was light with a northwest wind.
After about a quarter of an hour a violent explosion occurred on
the last cruiser of the Indefatigable type. It was caused by a
heavy shell, and destroyed the vessel.
About 6.20 o'clock in the afternoon five warships of the Queen
Elizabeth type came from the west and joined the British battle
cruiser line, powerfully reinforcing with their fifteen-inch guns
the five British battle cruisers remaining after 6.20 o'clock. To
equalize this superiority Vice Admiral Hipper ordered the
destroyers to attack the enemy. The British destroyers and small
cruisers interposed, and a bitter engagement at close range
ensued, in the course of which a light cruiser participated.
The Germans lost two torpedo boats, the crews of which were rescued
by sister ships under a heavy fire. Two British destroyers were
sunk by artillery, and two others--the Nestor and Nomad--remained
on the scene in a crippled condition. These later were destroyed by
the main fleet after German torpedo boats had rescued all the
survivors.
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