rge cables which cut the mines from the
sea-bottom moorings: On being loosened they came to the surface and were
destroyed by shots from the trawlers' decks.

On the 28th of August came the battle off the Bight of Helgoland. The
island of Helgoland had been a British possession from 1807 till 1890,
when it was transferred to Germany by treaty. It was seen immediately by
the Germans that it formed an excellent natural naval base, lying as it
does, thirty-five miles northwest of Cuxhaven and forty-three miles
north of Wilhelmshaven. They at once began to augment the natural
protection it afforded with their own devices. Two Zeppelin sheds were
erected, concrete forts were built and 12-inch guns were installed. The
scene of the battle which took place here was the Bight of Helgoland,
which formed a channel eighteen miles wide some seven miles north of the
island and near which lay the line of travel for ships leaving the ports
of the Elbe.

British submarines which had been doing reconnaissance work on the
German coast since August 24 reported to the British commander, Admiral
Jellicoe, that a large force of German light cruisers and smaller craft
were lying under the protection of the Helgoland guns, and he
immediately arranged plans for leading this force away from that
protection in order to give it battle. Briefly the plans made provided
that three submarines were to proceed on the surface of the water to
within sight of the German ships and when chased by the latter were to
head westward. The light cruisers _Arethusa_ and _Fearless_ were
detailed to run in behind any light German craft which were to follow
the British submarines, endeavoring to cut them off from the German
coast, and these two vessels were backed by a squadron of light cruisers
held in readiness should the first two need assistance. Squadrons of
cruisers and battle cruisers were detailed to stay in the rear, still
further to the northwest, to engage any German ships of their own class
which might get that far.

It was at midnight on August 26 that Commodore Keyes moved toward
Helgoland with eight submarines accompanied by two destroyers. During
the next day--August 27--this force did nothing more than keep watch for
German submarines and scouting craft, and then took up its allotted
position for the main action. The morning of the 28th broke misty and
calm. Under half steam three of the British submarines, the _E-6_,
_E-7_, and _E-8_ steamed toward