The book has been divided into two parts. Part I deals with the Situation, the Object, the General Plan for the attainment of the Object, the Preparatory Work involved, and the various occurrences up to the eve of the Attack. Part II describes the events which occurred during the operation itself, and includes some consideration of both the material and moral results of the enterprise and the lessons to be drawn therefrom. For the illustrations the author is much indebted to the Admiralty, Air Ministry, Imperial War Museum, and Press, to whom he makes this grateful acknowledgment. {xix} With regard to the personal side of the story, it may be as well to point out that many of the officers and men concerned were mentioned in the official despatch; that fact lessens one of the difficulties attached to the author's task. A compromise between the purely impersonal attitude and the very natural desire to render full justice to each individual, regardless of the reader's patience, has been aimed at. The author trusts that the reader will be tolerant of omission and repetition, and will forgive the rather obvious shortcomings of a literary nature which, alas, appear all too frequently in the book. ALFRED F. B. CARPENTER 8_th March_, 1921 {xxi} CONTENTS PART I Introduction by Admiral Earl Beatty Appreciation by Marshal Foch Appreciation by Rear-Admiral Sims, U.S.N. Appreciation by Count Visart Author's Preface I. The Strategical Situation. The German Bases in Flanders. The Conception of the Plan II. The Local Situation. The Local Defences III. The Outlying Obstacles. Considerations of Salvage IV. Past Experience. Smoke Screens. The Chances of Success V. Planning The Operation. Matters Affecting the Plan. Attacks on the Mole VI. The Vessels Involved: Their Duties. The Rescue Work VII. Matters affecting the Passage. The Supporting Forces. The German Sea-Forces. The Preparatory Work VIII. The Personnel. Secrecy. Training. Some Personalities IX. The Waiting Period. The Volunteering Spirit X. Meteorological and Tidal Conditions. Visibility XI. The Orders and Instructions. The Time Factor {xxii} XII. The First Attempt. The Return to Harbour XIII. The Second Attempt and Return. Preparing for the Third Attempt. Rewriting the Orders. German Optimism PART II Foreword I. The Start. The Oversea Passage II. The Approach III. The Commencement of the Attack IV. The Fight on the Mole. H.M.S. Iris V. The Attack on the Railway Viaduct VI. The Smoke Screening. Subsidiary Attacks VII. The Work of the Blockships VIII. The Retirement IX. The Material Results X. The Moral Effect XI. Some Remarks on the Enterprise Appendix. A List of Vessels and Craft in the Operations Index {xxiii} ILLUSTRATIONS Storming the Mole . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ Drawn by Charles De Lacy from details supplied by the author