cruisers retired from the engagement, in which they did not
participate further as far as can be established. Shortly
thereafter a German reconnoitring group, which was parrying the
destroyer attack, received an attack from the northeast. The
cruiser Wiesbaden was soon put out of action in this attack. The
German torpedo flotillas immediately attacked the heavy ships.

Appearing shadow-like from the haze bank to the northeast was made
out a long line of at least twenty-five battleships, which at first
sought a junction with the British battle cruisers and those of the
Queen Elizabeth type on a northwesterly to westerly course, and
then turned on an easterly to southeasterly course.

With the advent of the British main fleet, whose centre consisted
of three squadrons of eight battleships each, with a fast division
of three battle cruisers of the Invincible type on the
northern-end, and three of the newest vessels of the Royal
Sovereign class, armed with fifteen-inch guns, at the southern end,
there began about 8 o'clock in the evening the third section of the
engagement, embracing the combat between the main fleets.

Vice Admiral Seheer determined to attack the British main fleet,
which he now recognised was completely assembled and about doubly
superior. The German battleship squadron, headed by battle
cruisers, steered first toward the extensive haze bank to the
northeast, where the crippled cruiser Wiesbaden was still
receiving a heavy fire. Around the Wiesbaden stubborn individual
fights under quickly changing conditions now occurred.

The light enemy forces, supported by an armored cruiser squadron of