On March 24th the Harwich force sailed to carry out aerial operations off the Danish coast, involving an attack on the enemy’s zeppelin shed at Tondern, and the Battle Cruiser Fleet left early that day to cover the operation. In the course of the operations the destroyers of the Harwich force were stationed in positions to pick up returning sea-planes, some of them being despatched to the southward of the Horn Reef for this purpose. Some German outpost trawlers were encountered here by the destroyers; they were engaged and destroyed. But during the engagement the destroyer _Medusa_ was rammed by the destroyer _Laverock_, being very seriously damaged. The _Medusa_ was taken in tow, but, the weather becoming very bad, the towing hawser parted, and all attempts to get her in tow again after dark failed. Our vessels were in close proximity to the enemy bases, and it was evident that the enemy would be aware of the incident by means of his directional wireless system, since a good deal of wireless signalling on the part of our ships had been necessary. It was expected, therefore, that he would send out a considerable force of destroyers during the dark hours to attack our vessels. In these circumstances, and in view of the weather conditions, Commodore Tyrwhitt rightly judged it expedient to abandon and sink the _Medusa_, and gave orders to this effect. The ship’s company of the _Medusa_ was taken off in a most seamanlike manner by Lieutenant-Commander Bullen of the _Lassoo_. Owing to the bad weather and the darkness it was difficult for Commander Tyrwhitt to ascertain the exact conditions, but during the night of the 25th, having sent his destroyers ahead, he steered with his light cruisers in order to pass to the northward of the enemy’s North Sea mine-field. At about 10 P.M. two enemy destroyers were sighted on the port bow of the _Cleopatra_ (flying Commodore Tyrwhitt’s broad pennant) at a distance of about 800 yards. Their presence was betrayed by the flame from their funnels; they were evidently part of the force which, as anticipated, had been sent out by the enemy. The _Cleopatra_ at once opened fire and headed for the destroyers, and when it was seen that they were crossing from port to starboard, Captain Loder Symonds of the _Cleopatra_ ported his helm and rammed the second destroyer very neatly amidships, cutting her practically in half. There was a tremendous crash, followed by what seemed to be two explosions, one possibly a boiler explosion, and the second due to either a mine or depth-charge, causing considerable damage to the stem piece of the _Cleopatra_. The injury was subsequently found to be far too great to have been caused by the impact alone. The sudden alterations of course by the _Cleopatra_, combined with the gunfire and explosions, had thrown the squadron into some confusion, and, although fighting and navigation lights were all switched on very smartly, the _Cleopatra_,