During the afternoon, between Skagerrak and Horn Reef, a heavy engagement developed, which was successful to us, and which continued during the whole night.... _The High Sea Fleet returned today (Thursday) into our port._ _German Admiralty Report. Berlin, June 1, 1916._ On the afternoon of Wednesday, the 31st of May, a naval engagement took place off the coast of Jutland. The British ships on which the brunt of the fighting fell were the battle cruiser fleet and some cruisers and light cruisers, supported by four fast battleships. Among these the losses were heavy. The German battle fleet, aided by low visibility, avoided a prolonged action with our main forces. As soon as these appeared on the scene _the enemy returned to port_, though not before receiving severe damage from our battleships. _British Admiralty Report. London, June 2, 1916._ [Illustration] _THE BATTLE OF JUTLAND_ _William Falstaff_: "_I know not what you call all, but if I fought not with the whole British fleet, then I am a bunch of radish._" * * * * * Our High Sea Fleet on May 31 encountered _the main part of the English fleet_. On our side the small cruiser _Wiesbaden_, by hostile gunfire during the day engagement, and his Majesty's ship _Pommern_, during the night, as the result of a torpedo, were sunk. The fate of his Majesty's ship _Frauenlob_, which is missing, and of some torpedo boats, which have not returned yet, is unknown. _German Admiralty Report. June 1, 1916._ * * * * * In order to prevent fabulous reports, it is again stated that in the battle off Skagerrak on May 31 the German high sea forces were in battle with _the entire modern English fleet_. We were obliged to blow up the small cruiser _Elbing_, which, on the night of May 31-June 1, owing to a collision with other German war vessels, was heavily damaged. _German Admiralty Report. June 3, 1916._ We state that the total loss of the German high sea forces during the battle of May 31-June 1 and the following time are: One battle cruiser, one ship of the line of older construction, four small cruisers, and five torpedo boats. Of these losses, the _Pommern_, launched in 1905; the _Wiesbaden_, _Elbing_, _Frauenlob_, and five torpedo boats already have been reported in official statements. For military reasons, we refrained until now from making public the losses of the vessels _Lützow_ and _Rostock_. _German Admiralty Report. June 8, 1916._ [Illustration] "_AT LAST, TIRPITZ, I MAY TENDER MY IMPERIAL THANKS PUBLICLY._" * * * * *