24 OCTOBER 1914, Page 2

The main point that emerges from Sir David Beatty's despatch

is that the battle was most carefully planned, and that the plan broke down at no point. The wonder is that, though the fight took place in a mist, which was often very thick, our vessels never injured each other. Our destroyers and cruisers were constantly among mines, yet they avoided these and dodged the enemy's submarines as boys dodge snowballs. The despatch from the Commodore of our submarine flotilla is thrilling reading. It describes, among other things, the reconnaissance carried out "three hours after the outbreak of war." The despatches eh so important that we must reserve their consideration for a future dlte.