The destroyer attacks were combined with a retiring movement on the part of the enemy’s Battle Fleet, the movement being covered with the aid of a heavy smoke screen. Although this retirement was not visible from the _Iron Duke_ owing to the smoke and mist, and was, therefore, not known to me until after the action, it was clearly seen from the rear of our line, as is indicated by the following citations: The Captain of the _Valiant_ stated in his report: “At 7.23 P.M. enemy’s Battle Fleet now altered course together away from us and broke off the action, sending out a low cloud of smoke which effectually covered their retreat and obscured them from further view.” The Captain of the _Malaya_ reported, referring to this period: “This was the last of the enemy seen in daylight, owing to their Battle Fleet having turned away.” Sir Cecil Burney stated in regard to this period: “As the destroyer attack developed, the enemy’s Battle Fleet in sight were observed to turn at least eight points until their sterns were towards our line. They ceased fire, declined further action, and disappeared into the mist.” The Captain of the _St. Vincent_ said: “The target was held closely until 7.26 P.M. (32 minutes in all), when the enemy had turned eight or ten points away, disappearing into the mist and with a smoke screen made by destroyers to cover them as well.” Rear-Admiral Evan-Thomas remarked: “After joining the Battle Fleet the 5th Battle Squadron conformed to the movements of the Commander-in-Chief, engaging the rear ships of the enemy’s battle line, until they turned away and went out of sight, all ships apparently covering themselves with artificial smoke.” The Captain of the _Revenge_ recorded: “A flotilla of destroyers passed through the line and made a most efficient smoke screen. At this period the enemy’s fleet turned eight points to starboard and rapidly drew out of sight.” In the German account of the action at this stage, it is stated, in more than one passage, that the British Fleet during this action between the Battle Fleets was to the northward of the High Seas Fleet. This is correct of the earlier stages. The account refers to the attacks on our line by the German destroyer flotillas, and states finally that in the last attack the destroyers did not sight the heavy ships, but only light cruisers and destroyers to the north-eastward. The accuracy of this statement is doubtful, since the destroyers were clearly in sight from our heavy ships. But the account then proceeds to state that “the German Commander-in-Chief turns his battle line to a southerly and south-westerly course _on which the enemy was last seen_, but he is no longer to be found.”