One of the few stokers who were saved said that they were expecting to be relieved, and to have gone back to port, in about another hour. "An officer passed down by us. He stopped and explained in a matter-of-fact way that the ship had been struck, was sinking fast, and it was now a question of saving as many lives as possible. He advised us to go on deck and lay hold of anything we could." One of the finest examples of self-sacrifice was given by Bugler S. C. Reed of the Royal Marines, a mere boy, who, when advised to use his drum to keep himself afloat, replied that he had thought of it, but had given it to one of the bluejacket boys for that purpose, as the lad had nothing to keep himself afloat in the heavy seas then prevailing, and _that he did not feel very nervous_. Surely the cool courage in the face of death, superlative bravery, and absolute self-devotion that have been displayed during the last few months by officers and men--yes, and boys too--of navy and army alike, have equalled, if not eclipsed, the finest deeds of our forefathers "in the brave days of old". At last, on 24th January, our eager navy had its chance of castigating the evasive enemy. The Battle-cruiser Squadron, consisting of the _Lion_, _Princess Royal_, _Tiger_, _New Zealand_, and _Indomitable_, under the command of Sir David Beatty, who flew his flag on the _Lion_, in company with Commodore Goodenough's Light Squadron, comprising the _Southampton_, _Nottingham_, _Birmingham_, and _Lowestoft_, was patrolling in the North Sea, preceded some way ahead by the _Undaunted_, _Arethusa_, and _Aurora_, with destroyer flotillas, when about half-past seven in the morning the flashing of guns was observed to the south-south-east. Presently came a message to the flagship from the _Aurora_ that she was in action with the enemy. Speed was increased, and the British squadrons rushed at full speed towards the scene of conflict. Other messages came in from the ships in advance reporting that the enemy's force, consisting of the _Blücher_, three battle-cruisers, and six light cruisers, had altered course to south-east, while a number of destroyers were heading to the north-west. The main body of the enemy very shortly came in sight, but they were at a great distance, and making off as fast as they knew how. After them ploughed the British leviathans and their satellites, but it was not till nine minutes after nine that the _Lion_ got in her first hit on the _Blücher_ at something like 10 miles distance!