The action finally developed into three separate encounters, besides the subsidiary one dealing with the threatened landing. (B)--ACTION WITH THE ARMOURED CRUISERS The fire of the battle-cruisers was directed on the _Scharnhorst_ and _Gneisenau_. The effect of this was quickly seen, when at 1.25 P.M., with the _Scharnhorst_ leading, they turned about 7 points to port in succession into line-ahead and opened fire at 1.30 P.M. Shortly afterwards speed was eased to 24 knots, and the battle-cruisers were ordered to turn together, bringing them into line-ahead, with the _Invincible_ leading. The range was about 13,500 yards at the final turn, and increased until, at 2 P.M., it had reached 16,450 yards. The enemy then (2.10 P.M.) turned away about 10 points to starboard and a second chase ensued, until, at 2.45 P.M., the battle-cruisers again opened fire; this caused the enemy, at 2.53 P.M., to turn into line-ahead to port and open fire at 2.55 P.M. The _Scharnhorst_ caught fire forward, but not seriously, and her fire slackened perceptibly; the _Gneisenau_ was badly hit by the _Inflexible_. At 3.30 P.M. the _Scharnhorst_ led round about 10 points to starboard; just previously her fire had slackened perceptibly, and one shell had shot away her third funnel; some guns were not firing, and it would appear that the turn was dictated by a desire to bring her starboard guns into action. The effect of the fire on the _Scharnhorst_ became more and more apparent in consequence of smoke from fires, and also escaping steam; at times a shell would cause a large hole to appear in her side, through which could be seen a dull red glow of flame. At 4.4 P.M. the _Scharnhorst_, whose flag remained flying to the last, suddenly listed heavily to port, and within a minute it became clear that she was a doomed ship; for the list increased very rapidly until she lay on her beam ends, and at 4.17 P.M. she disappeared. The _Gneisenau_ passed on the far side of her late flagship, and continued a determined but ineffectual effort to fight the two battle-cruisers. At 5.8 P.M. the forward funnel was knocked over and remained resting against the second funnel. She was evidently in serious straits, and her fire slackened very much. At 5.15 P.M. one of the _Gneisenau's_ shells struck the _Invincible_; this was her last effective effort. At 5.30 P.M. she turned towards the flagship with a heavy list to starboard, and appeared stopped, with steam pouring from her escape pipes and smoke from shell and fires rising everywhere. About this time I ordered the signal "Cease fire," but before it was hoisted the _Gneisenau_ opened fire again, and continued to fire from time to time with a single gun. At 5.40 P.M. the three ships closed in on the _Gneisenau_, and at this time the flag flying at her fore truck was apparently hauled down, but the flag at the peak continued flying.