The Ostend flotilla was composed of the cruisers _Sirius_ and _Brilliant_ (Commodore Godsal), loaded with concrete, which were to be sunk at the entrance to the port. Destroyers, scouts and motor-boats were to reconnoitre the way and pick up the crews of the blockading ships. Lastly, smoke-boats provided a protecting screen of smoke, which hid the flotilla's movements from the enemy. When twelve miles from Ostend this flotilla parted company with that bound for Zeebrugge. The smoke screen hiding the _Sirius_ and _Brilliant_ was swept away by a sudden veering of the wind. The enemy's gunfire had extinguished the lights which were to guide the two cruisers, and the latter thus ran past the Stroom Bank buoy which should have marked the entrance to Ostend but which the Germans had displaced. They were therefore sunk to the east of the stockade. [Illustration: +The Vindictive+ _undergoing repairs after her return from Zeebrugge, previous to leaving for Ostend where she was destined to finish her career._] This operation having proved unsuccessful, it was decided to make a further attempt, which was again entrusted to Commodore Lynes. This time the blockading ship was the _Vindictive_ (Captain Godsal), and the Air Service took part in the enterprise. On the night of May 9, the weather being favorable, the _Vindictive_ steamed towards a limelight placed by a motor-boat on the site of the Stroom Bank buoy. [Illustration: +Napoleon Fort, and the road leading to the Hindenburg Battery+ _(on the left.)_] Two motor-scouts torpedoed both ends of the wooden piers, at which signal the whole of the British artillery opened fire, and was immediately answered by the German guns. A thick fog soon swallowed up everything. The _Vindictive_ had to be led by scouts and, notwithstanding the death of her commander, and the numerous shells which hit the ship, Lieutenant Crutchley was able to carry out the manœuvre, swing the cruiser across the channel, and blow her up. The crew were picked up by a scout, and the flotilla put back to Dover. [Illustration: +The Hindenburg Battery, north-east of Ostend.+] [Illustration: +Observation-Post of Coast Batteries.+ _Upper photo: General View of the Post._ _Near the skyline: one of the two British cruisers sunk during the first attempt to bottle up Ostend Harbour._ _Middle photo: Exterior View of the Observation-Post._ _Lower photo: Interior View of the Observation-Post._] [Illustration: _+By-road+ (see arrow) +leading to the Jacobinessen Battery+._] The Germans were eventually able to displace the _Vindictive_ and partly free the passage. _Return via Chaussée du Phare to Place de l'Ecluse, turn to the left into Boulevard du Congo, which crosses the new eastern quarter of Ostend (see plan, p. 60.)_