Struck soon after four, it was not until ten minutes to six that the _Irresistible_ went down in deep water, most of her crew being saved, thanks, in a great measure, to the seamanship of Captain C. P. Metcalfe of the destroyer _Wear_, and Midshipman Hugh Dixon of one of _Queen Elizabeth's_ picket-boats, who laid themselves alongside under a very heavy fire. A quarter of an hour after the _Irresistible_ sank, the _Ocean_ was struck, but most of her crew were also rescued. The damage to the _Inflexible_ was sufficiently serious to make it very uncertain that she would reach port; her forward control position being {132} badly smashed up, her shell room and magazine injured by a mine; and many of her compartments rendered untenable by poisonous fumes. That she happily did so was chiefly due to the valour and discipline of all on board, and perhaps particularly to the steadfastness of her engineer officers and engine-room staff. Working in semi-darkness, in stifling heat, and in momentary peril of death by drowning, the strain imposed upon them, and from which they emerged so well, was of the severest order. So ended the great attempt of the unaided navy, never, as it turned out, to be repeated, although the first intention of all responsible, both at home and on the spot, was to renew it. Thus, Admiral de Robeck, wiring an account of it, stated that the squadron was ready again for immediate action, although it would be necessary to reconsider the plan of attack and to find a solution of the drifting-mine problem. Both Lord Fisher and Sir Arthur Wilson, on the morning of the 19th, as well as Mr. Churchill himself, shared this view; and Lord Fisher at once ordered two more battleships to reinforce Admiral de Robeck, the _Queen_ and the _Implacable_ being already on their way. With equal promptitude, the French Government had ordered the _Henri IV_ to replace the _Bouvet_. This was also the attitude of the War Council, who, on February 19th, wired to Admiral de Robeck, instructing him formally, if he thought fit, to continue the operations against the Dardanelles.