This was one of the most striking events of the war, and perhaps indeed of all the events recorded in British naval history. For it not only covered a very wide area and required the sudden concentration of a great number of dispersed ships, but it was marked by continuous and successive co-operation on the part of all forces concerned. For the pursuit began with cruisers and when the enemy was lost, he was found by aircraft and later was picked up again by a cruiser which in its turn directed the aircraft who struck the fatal blow. And just as the cruiser lost her, destroyers took up the trail and shadowed her through the night. Moreover on no occasion has the value of aircraft been so clearly demonstrated, for it was aircraft that found her when lost and aircraft that made the decisive attack. Nor perhaps has any event presented a picture of more vivid contrasts, for each adversary was tossed in turn between high hope and deep disappointment, between the extreme poles of shining fortune and black mischance. For at first all went well with the new battleship and she achieved a great success. Then came a twin-bolt from the evening sky which brought, her to a sudden stop. Following hard behind came the avenging battleships and the great flagship and the admiral and all his plans were sunk.