The Boy Allies at Jutland Part 26

Jack looked in Frank's direction long enough to wave his hand; then turned back to his work.

Came a loud British cheer. "What's happened?" demanded Jack of the man next him, shouting at the top of his voice to make himself heard above the din of battle.

The man shook his head.

"Don't know," he shouted back, "unless the main fleet has been sighted."

"We might have sunk one of the enemy," said another.

As a matter of fact, both men were right.

Two German torpedo boats had gone to the bottom almost simultaneously under well directed British shots; and, far back across the sea, a flotilla of battleships had been sighted.

Apparently the Germans had not yet sighted the British reinforcements, for they continued to press their foes hard.

Four British torpedo boats had been sent to the bottom of the sea. They were the _Tipperary_, the _Turbulent_, the _Nestore_ and the _Shark_.

The others gave slowly before the enemy; and a moment later two of those sank--the _Sparrow Hawk_ and the _Ardent_.

There now remained facing the entire German fleet the _Lion_, the _Queen Mary_, the _Indefatigable_, the _Marlborough_ and two torpedo boats, the _Fortune_ and the _Alcaster_.

But the German losses had been great. The _Westphalen_ had been sunk.

So had the _Pommern_ and the _Freiderich_. The _Frauenlob_ had gone to the bottom and the _Wiesbaden_, the new flagship, was badly crippled.

As another German torpedo boat sank, the Germans slackened their pace.

The British had a breathing spell.

But the battle was not over yet. The second German squadron had now approached almost close enough to take a hand in the battle. Apparently this Was what the German admiral was waiting for before resuming operations.

It was plainly evident now that the Germans had sighted the approaching British fleet, but at that distance they were unable to make out its strength. The German admiral decided to continue the battle if he could do so with any hope of success.

So, with the second squadron in range, he gave the command to advance again.

The _Queen Mary_ and the _Indefatigable_ bore the brunt of this next attack and for half an hour it seemed that it was impossible for the two ships to live through the rain of sh.e.l.ls that fell all about them.

But live they did and they gave as good or better than they received.

The German battleship _Hindenburg_, pierced by half a dozen sh.e.l.ls at almost the same time, staggered back and fell out of line. But the British had no mercy on her. Sh.e.l.l after sh.e.l.l they poured upon her; and at last she sank.

The _Wiesbaden_, the German flagship, pressed hotly to the attack.

Although struck in a dozen places and her port side batteries out of commission, she continued to play on the _Queen Mary_ and the _Indefatigable_ with her forward turret guns.

As a matter of fact, it was fortunate for the _Queen Mary_ and the _Indefatigable_ that they had begun to retire; for their forward turret guns had been silenced and the only pieces that they could now bring into play were in the turrets aft.

A sh.e.l.l from the German battleship _Lutzow_ exploded on the bridge of the _Marlborough_. The bridge was carried completely away and the commander of the ship was killed, as were half a score of other officers. A second sh.e.l.l struck the _Marlborough_ and carried away her steering apparatus. Absolutely uncontrollable now, the _Marlborough_ drifted toward the _Lion_, with which she almost collided before the _Lion_ could get out of the way.

There was nothing that could be done for her until after the battle, at any rate, and the others left her to her fate. Drifting as she was, the _Marlborough_ continued her fire; and of a sudden she put a shot aboard the _Lutzow_ in a vital spot.

The _Lutzow_ blew up with a terrible roar. The crew of the _Marlborough_ cheered and waved their hands to their companions on the other British ships.

Apparently this was more than the German admiral had bargained for.

With his whole second squadron intact and the British apparently helpless, he had thought to crush these few ships before aid should reach them; and then, if the approaching British were not too formidable, to offer them battle also.

Now there were only three British ships in line--the _Lion_, the _Queen Mary_ and the _Indefatigable_--and these were really not fit nor able to continue the fight.

But the men fought on doggedly. None of the others had thought of surrender and no such idea entered the head of a single man aboard any of the British ships. Help was at hand and then the Germans would get the thrashing of their lives, the men told themselves. They would keep the Germans busy until this help arrived.

Hardly a man aboard the _Queen Mary_ that had not been wounded. Sweat poured from their faces, hands and body as they continued to fight their guns; and as they fought they shouted and yelled encouragement to one another.

"Boom!"

There was a different tone to this deep voice and every man on board the hard pressed British ships knew what it meant.

The first ship of the main British fleet had come within range and had opened with her biggest gun.

Other new voices took up the challenge and within a few moments the roar of battle was at its height once more.

Still a considerable distance away, the dimensions of the approaching British fleet now became apparent to the German admiral. He had thought, at first, that perhaps the newcomers would number a few ships, attracted by the sounds of battle, but as he looked at the formidable array now bearing down on him he knew that his plans, whatever they were, had been frustrated.

"And we had it all planned so carefully," he said between clenched teeth.

He strode up and down angrily, beating the palm of one hand with a knotted fist.

"How could they have learned of it?" he cried. "How could they?"

He was very angry. An officer approached him.

"Shall we draw off, sir?" he asked, and pointed to the fresh British ships bearing down on them.

"No!" thundered the admiral. "Why don't you sink those three ships ahead of you there? Sink them, I tell you!"

The officer saluted and moved away.

For some moments the German admiral continued to talk to himself in great anger; then he suddenly cooled down. With a finger he summoned the officer who had accosted him a moment before. The officer approached and saluted.

"I forgot myself a moment ago," said the admiral. "You may give the signal to retire!"

A moment later the big German ships began to come about; and from the decks of the _Queen Mary_, the _Lion_ and the _Indefatigable_ there came loud British cheers.

The _Marlborough_, still helpless, poured sh.e.l.l after sh.e.l.l upon the enemy.

Some distance away still, the British fleet was approaching in an endeavor to intercept the retreat of the enemy. Captain Raleigh of the _Queen Mary_ took in the situation at a glance.

"They'll never do it!" he exclaimed.

He determined upon a bold step. He gave command to bring the _Queen Mary_ about. Then, disabled as his ship was, he started in pursuit of the enemy.

There was a cheer from the _Indefatigable_, and presently the head of that vessel also came about She started after the _Queen Mary_!