The enemy were still maintaining their distance, and I decided, at 12:20
P.M., to attack with the two battle cruisers and the Glasgow.
At 12:47 P.M. the signal to "Open fire and engage the enemy" was made.
The Inflexible opened fire at 12:55 P.M. from her fore turret at the
right-hand ship of the enemy, a light cruiser; a few minutes later the
Invincible opened fire at the same ship.
The deliberate fire from a range of 16,500 to 15,000 yards at the
right-hand light cruiser, which was dropping astern, became too
threatening, and when a shell fell close alongside her at 1:20 P.M. she
(the Leipzig) turned away, with the Nuernberg and Dresden, to the
southwest.
These light cruisers were at once followed by the Kent, Glasgow, and
Cornwall, in accordance with my instructions.
The action finally developed into three separate encounters, besides the
subsidiary one dealing with the threatened landing.
(B.)--ACTION WITH THE ARMORED CRUISERS.
The fire of the battle cruisers was directed on the Scharnhorst and
Gneisenau. The effect of this was quickly seen when, at 1:25 P.M., with
the Scharnhorst leading, they turned about seven points to port in
succession into line ahead and opened fire at 1:30 P.
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