_1. The "Vindictive" alongside the mole, on which the Marines disembarked._ _2. The "Daffodil" holding the "Vindictive"._ _3. The "Iris" alongside the mole._ _4. The "Thetis" sunk in front of the Channel._ _5. The "Intrepid" and "Iphigenia" sunk in the Channel._ _6. Submarine blown up alongside the open-work pier._ _7. 6in. guns at entrance to mole (photo, p. 75._) _8. Church and cemetery in which several of the British killed during the operations were buried (photo, p. 80.)_] Vice-Admiral Keyes was on board the _Warwick_. All the men were picked volunteers of tried courage and energy. The attack, several times postponed owing to the unfavourable weather, was carried out on April 22, 1918. The flotilla put to sea during the day. When about twelve miles off Zeebrugge, the boats parted company, each taking up its assigned position. The _Vindictive_, _Iris_ and _Daffodil_ advanced behind a smoke screen to within a few cable-lengths of the mole, when a change of wind dispersed the smoke, leaving them fully exposed to view. Enemy sirens immediately gave the alarm. Searchlights, rockets and star-shells lit up the scene, and the air was immediately filled with the roar of artillery and the crackling of machine-guns. Amid bursting shells, and swept by machine-gun fire, the _Vindictive_ succeeded in anchoring alongside the mole, but her deep draught and the surf prevented her remaining in position, until held by the _Daffodil_. Most of the eighteen gangways were smashed by the cruiser's rolling. The _Iris_ was also in difficulties, her grappling irons being too small to catch hold. Two officers, Capt. Bradford and Lieut. Hawkins, climbed up the side of the mole and endeavoured to fasten the grappling irons. Both were killed. A landing was nevertheless effected, and in spite of heavy losses and the death of Colonel Elliot and Captain H. C. Halahan, the sailors and marines advanced along the mole, under very heavy fire, and for an hour destroyed the enemy's organisations, magazines, sheds, machine-gun posts, etc. [Illustration: +Zeebrugge. One of the German destroyers sunk by the British.+ _(See photo, p. 75.)_] [Illustration: +Zeebrugge. The "Intrepid" and "Iphigenia", sunk in the Channel.+ _Beyond, in the harbour:_ +the "Thetis"+ _(See sketch, p. 77.)_] Meanwhile, the blockading cruisers had entered the port and were steering for the channel, despite the violence of the bombardment. The _Thetis_ was leading, but her propeller becoming entangled in a net, she was unable to advance further, and her crew blew her up on a sandbank in front of the channel. The _Intrepid_, followed by the _Iphigenia_, reached the channel, placed themselves across it and were then blown up. The crews were picked up by the motor-boats. [Illustration: +The funnels of the "Vindictive", on her return from Zeebrugge.+ _After being summarily repaired, the "Vindictive" accomplished her last exploit, by bottling up Ostend Harbour on May 11, 1918. (See page 68.)_]