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 the island fortress, showing their hulls above water and followed by the two detailed destroyers.

The mist thickened.  Still more slowly and cautiously went the British submersibles, and while they went above water, five of their sister craft traveled under the surface.  Here was the bait for the German ships under Helgoland’s guns.  Would they bite?

The Germans soon gave the answer.  First there crept out a German destroyer which took a good look at the situation and then gave wireless signals to some twenty more of her type, which soon came out to join her.  The twenty-one little and speedy German boats bravely came out and chased the two British destroyers and three submarines, while a German seaplane slowly circled upward to see if the surrounding regions harbored enemies.  Presumably the airman found what he sought for he soon flew back to report to Helgoland.  The peaceful aspect of the waters to the east of the island immediately changed, as a squadron of light cruisers weighed anchor and put out after the retiring Britishers.