The moment Von Hipper’s scouting cruisers found themselves in contact with Commodore Goodenough’s squadron the German battle-cruisers turned and made straight for home at top speed. They had a fourteen-miles’ start--say, six miles beyond effective gun range--of the British squadron, and Admiral Beatty settled down at once to a stern chase at top speed. The chase began in earnest at 7:30, the Germans, fourteen miles ahead, steering S.E., the British ships on a course parallel to them, the German ships bearing about twenty degrees on the port bow. In an hour and twenty minutes the range had been closed from 28,000 yards to 20,000. Von Hipper was evidently regulating the speed of his squadron by that of the slowest ship, _Bluecher_. Admiral Beatty disposed of his fleet in a line of bearing, so that there should be a minimum of smoke interference, and the flagship opened fire with single shots to test the range. In ten minutes her first hit was made on the _Bluecher_ which was the last in the German line. _Tiger_ then opened on the _Bluecher_, and _Lion_ shifted to No. 3, of which the range was 18,000 yards. At a quarter past nine the enemy opened fire. Soon after nine, _Princess Royal_ came into action, took on _Bluecher_, while _Tiger_ took No. 3 and _Lion_ No. 1. When _New Zealand_ came within range, _Bluecher_ was passed on to her. This was at about 9:35. So early as a quarter to ten the _Bluecher_ showed signs of heavy punishment, and the first and third ships of the enemy were both on fire. _Lion_ was engaging the first ship, _Princess Royal_ the third, _New Zealand_ the _Bluecher_, while _Tiger_ alternated between the same target as the _Lion_ and No. 4. For some reason not explained the second ship in the German line does not appear to have been engaged at all. Just before this the Germans attempted a diversion by sending the destroyers to attack. _Meteor_ (Captain Mead), with a division of the British destroyers, was then sent ahead to drive off the enemy, and this apparently was done with success. Shortly afterwards the enemy destroyers got between the battle-cruisers and the British squadron and raised huge volumes of smoke, so as to foul the range. Under cover of this the enemy changed course to the northward. The battle-cruisers then formed a new line of bearing, N.N.W., and were ordered to proceed at their utmost speed. A second attempt of the enemy’s destroyers to attack the British squadron was foiled by the fire of _Lion_ and _Tiger_.