The enemy were in "line ahead", the _Blücher_ being the rearmost ship. Their light cruisers were away ahead and their destroyers on their port flank, apparently meditating a dash against the advancing British. Our flotillas, with their attendant cruisers, were at this time away on the port quarter of the battle-cruisers, where they had been placed so as not to obstruct the aim of the big guns by their smoke, but the "M" division of destroyers was now sent ahead in order to attend to the German flotilla. By this time the leading German ship--supposed to be the _Seydlitz_--was on fire, and so was the third ship in their line. The enemy's destroyers now began to stoke up, and threw out thick black clouds of smoke, under cover of which their big ships altered course to the northward. As soon as this manoeuvre was apparent, the British ships, which by now were tearing through the water at tremendous speed, turned to follow, whereupon their destroyers again evinced a disposition to attack. But upon the _Lion_ and _Tiger_ turning their guns upon them they thought better of it, and returned to their former position. Our light cruisers kept station on the port quarter of the enemy, ready to pounce upon any cripples. Just after a quarter to eleven the _Blücher_, which had been gradually falling astern, turned out of the line to port. She was on fire, had a heavy list, and was evidently very badly mauled. A few minutes later the periscopes of a number of submarines were noticed on the starboard bow of our battle-cruisers, which at once turned to port to avoid them. At the pace at which our ships were travelling these insidious foes would soon be left behind. Soon afterwards the flagship, having received damage which could not be at once repaired, was ordered to go off to the north-west, the admiral calling the destroyer _Attack_ alongside and going in her to the _Princess Royal_, on board of which he rehoisted his flag. On arrival he was informed that the _Blücher_ had been sunk, and that the remainder of the enemy's ships were making off to the eastward in a badly-damaged condition. The _Seydlitz_ and _Derflinger_, particularly, were said to have been desperately knocked about. But as the battle had now approached the area of the German mine-fields, it was wisely determined to break it off and return to English waters, the _Lion_, which had received a shot in her condensers, being taken in tow by the _Indomitable_. The only ships on our side that were hit were the _Lion_ and the _Tiger_, and the little _Meteor_, which led the destroyers interposed between the German destroyers and our main line; and the total casualties were only fourteen officers and men killed and twenty-nine wounded. The German losses must have been terrible.