At the same hour, 2 p. m., Vice Admiral Hipper, with the German scouting force, was heading north about 15 to 20 miles to the southeast of Beatty. Hipper commanded the First Battle Cruiser Squadron, consisting of the _Luetzow_ (flag), _Derflinger, Seydlitz, Moltke_, and _Van der Tann_, accompanied by a screening force of four or five light cruisers and about 15 destroyers. Fifty miles south of this advance force was the main body of the High Seas Fleet under Vice Admiral von Scheer. It consisted of three battle squadrons arranged apparently in one long column of 22 ships escorted by a screen of 62 destroyers, eight or ten light cruisers, and the one remaining armored cruiser in the German navy, the _Roon_. Thus the stage was set and the characters disposed for the great naval drama of that day. [Illustration: TYPE OF GERMAN BATTLE CRUISER: THE DERFFLINGER From Jane, _Fighting Ships, 1918_ Normal displacement, 26,600 to 28,000 tons. Length (waterline), 689 to 700 feet. Beam, 95 to 96 feet. Mean draught, 27-1/2 feet. Guns: Some (4.7 inch?) anti-aircraft 8--1.2 inch, 50 cal. (A5) 2 machine 14--5.9 inch, 50 cal. in M. & H. Torpedo tubes (21.7 inch): but only 2 or 4 submerged (broadside) 12--5.9 inch, 50 cal. in D. 1 submerged (bow) (1.2 or less--3.4 inch, 22 pdr. ?)] At 2.20 the light cruiser _Galatea_ (v. diagram), which lay farthest to the east of Beatty's force, reported two German light cruisers engaged in boarding a neutral steamer. Beatty thereupon changed course toward Horn Reef Lightship in order to cut them off from their base, his light cruisers of the first and third divisions spreading out as a screen to the eastward. It would be interesting to know why, at this point, he did not draw in his battleships and thus concentrate his force, for when he did establish contact with the Germans, Evan-Thomas's squadron was too far away for effective support. Ten minutes later Hipper got word of British light cruisers and destroyers sighted to the westward and, changing course to northwest, he headed for them at high speed. At 2.45 Beatty sent out a seaplane from the _Engadine_ to ascertain the enemy's position. This is the first instance in naval history of a fleet scouting by means of aircraft. The airplane came close enough to the enemy to draw the fire of four light cruisers, and returning reported their position. Meanwhile the _Galatea_ had reported heavy smoke "as from a fleet." At the first report from the _Galatea_, which had been intercepted on the flagship, _Iron Duke_, Jellicoe ordered full speed, and despatched ahead the Third Battle Cruiser Squadron, under Hood, to cut off the escape of the Germans to the Skagerrak, as Beatty was then heading to cut them off from their bases to the south. Admiral Scheer, also, on getting report of the English cruisers, quickened the speed of his main fleet.