At 4 P.M., in accordance with my directions, the 3rd Battle Cruiser Squadron, under Rear-Admiral Hood, proceeded at full speed to reinforce Sir David Beatty. At 5 P.M. the squadron, comprising the _Invincible_ (Flag), _Inflexible_, and _Indomitable_, in single line ahead in that order, with the destroyers _Shark_, _Christopher_, _Ophelia_, and _Acasta_, disposed ahead as a submarine screen, had the light cruiser _Canterbury_ five miles ahead and the light cruiser _Chester_ bearing N. 70° W., and was steering S. by E. at 25 knots. The visibility was rapidly decreasing. According to the _Indomitable’s_ report, objects could be distinguished at a distance of 16,000 yards on some bearings, and on others at only 2,000 yards, and from then onwards, according to the same report, the visibility varied between 14,000 and 5,000 yards, although other reports place it higher at times. At 5.30 P.M. the sound of gunfire was plainly heard to the south-westward, and the _Chester_ turned in that direction to investigate, and, at 5.36 P.M., sighted a three-funnelled light cruiser on the starboard bow, with one or two destroyers in company. The _Chester_ challenged and, receiving no reply, altered course to west to close, judging from the appearance of the destroyer that the vessel was hostile. As the _Chester_ closed, course was altered to about north in order to avoid being open to torpedo attack by the destroyer on a bearing favourable to the latter. This turn brought the enemy well abaft the port beam of the _Chester_ and on an approximately parallel course. During the turn the _Chester_ sighted two or more light cruisers astern of the first ship, and the leading enemy light cruiser opened fire on the _Chester_, the latter replying immediately afterwards, at a range of about 6,000 yards. The visibility at this time, judging by the distance at which the enemy’s light cruisers were sighted from the _Chester_, could not have exceeded 8,000 yards. The enemy’s fourth salvo hit the _Chester_, put No. 1 gun port out of action, and killed and wounded a large proportion of the gun crews of Nos. 1, 2, and 3 port guns. The light cruisers sighted by the _Chester_ undoubtedly belonged to one of the enemy’s scouting groups stationed on the starboard bow of their battle cruisers. Captain Lawson of the _Chester_, in view of the superior force to which he was opposed, altered course to the N.E. and towards the 3rd Battle Cruiser Squadron, bringing the enemy’s light cruisers, all of which had opened a rapid and accurate fire, astern of him. The enemy vessels turned after the _Chester_, and during the unequal engagement, which lasted for 19 minutes, Captain Lawson successfully manœuvred his ship with a view to impeding the accuracy of the hostile fire, realising that she was in no condition to engage such superior forces successfully in her damaged state.