wn more powerful fleet was at _E_ and _F_, _still between the
Germans and their base_, with an excess of speed of at least three
knots, and probably much more than this. He searched _to the north_,
and not finding them there, "was reluctantly compelled to the
conclusion that the High Sea Fleet had returned into port." He
accordingly returned to port himself.

THE GERMAN TACTICS

[Illustration: PLATE X. Movements of Jellicoe's Forces--3:30 P.M. to
9:30 P.M. May 31st. (as shown in Jellicoe's Official Report). Note:
The movements of the German Forces here shown correspond nearly, but
not exactly, with the information on which plates VI and VII are
based.]

If it is true that the British blundered in allowing the Germans to
escape from a trap from which escape should have been impossible,
it is equally true that the Germans blundered in allowing
themselves to be caught in such a trap. In the early part of the
battle the German tactics were all that they should have been. In
turning south, when Beatty's force was sighted, Von Hipper was right
from every point of view, for he was closing with Von Scheer while
drawing Beatty away from Jellicoe. He was equally sound a little later
when he turned north, for he did not turn until he had been joined by
Von Scheer. He was still sound when at six o'clock he turned east,
refusing to be capped, for there was as yet no threat of any important
increase in the force to which he was opposed. His mistake--or that of
his superior, Von Scheer--came when the British battleships were
sighted to the northeastward, heading down across his course. He knew,
or should have known, that he was now opposed by a force
overwhelmingly superior to his own and with considerably higher speed;
and yet he not only did not attempt to withdraw, but held his course
and allowed himself to be capped, thus deliberately accepting battle
with a greatly superior force and with conditions the most unfavorable
that could have been devised. That he suffered much at this point, as
he undoubtedly did, was the result of his own bad tactics. That he
suffered less than he deserved was the result of the equally bad
tactics on the part of his opponent.

[Illustration: PLATE XI. What Von Scheer should have done when British
battleship fleet was sighted. NOTE: Compare this with Plates VII and
VIII.]

As soon as the British battleships were seen approaching the German
fleet should have turned south and proceeded at full s