een of four destroyers,
led the way; she was followed, at intervals of one and a half cables, or
300 yards, by the _Engadine_ and _Riviera_. A mile behind, with a
similar screen of four destroyers, came the _Undaunted_, followed by the
_Empress_. Two destroyers and ten submarines, under the command of
Commodore Keyes, co-operated with this force, to fend off the attacks of
hostile ships and to pick up the aviators on their return. The purpose
of the raid was to destroy the airship sheds at Cuxhaven, but the
Admiralty were eager to get such information as might be obtainable
without detriment to this purpose, and the seaplanes were instructed to
report, if possible, on the numbers and classes of ships inside the
basin at Wilhelmshaven, or anchored in the Schillig Roads (that is, the
estuary of Wilhelmshaven), or in the mouth of the Elbe. The little fleet
made straight for the Bight and reached a position some twelve miles
north of Heligoland by 6.0 a.m. on Christmas morning. No time was lost
in getting the machines out; seven of the nine got away soon after 7.0
a.m., the other two could not get off the water, and were hoisted in
again. Then the supporting force cruised for some hours off Heligoland
to await the return of the machines. At a very early hour in the morning
it had become evident from the agitated condition of the German wireless
that the presence of the squadron had been discovered, but they were not
attacked by enemy ships of war. A ship was seen approaching from between
Heligoland and the mainland, but she turned back before she could be
identified. At 7.35 a.m. a Zeppelin was seen about ten miles distant,
coming from the direction of Heligoland, and at 7.55 a hostile seaplane
from the same direction. The seaplane attacked the squadron and dropped
four bombs, which were not bad shots, but failed to hit. The squadron
replied with anti-aircraft guns, maxims, and rifles. When the Zeppelin
was within 11,000 yards, fire was opened on her with 6-inch guns and
shrapnel shell at extreme elevation. The _Undaunted_ burst several
shells fairly close to her; she retreated to Heligoland and was not seen
again. Soon after ten o'clock three of the British raiding seaplanes,
having returned from the raid, were sighted and recovered, but the
cruisers continued to await the return of the remaining four. A second
Zeppelin and several hostile seaplanes now approached from the
southward; all dropped bombs without success. The Br