 It was at this stage that the attack began to go seriously wrong . Strong winds blowing off the land swept the smoke screen into the face of the advancing cruisers , blinding their commanders who attempted to navigate by dead reckoning . The same wind disclosed the Inshore Squadron to the German defenders who immediately opened up a withering fire on the blockships . With their volunteer crews suffering heavy casualties , the commanders increased speed despite the poor visibility and continued groping through the narrow channels inshore , searching for the Stroom Bank buoy which directed shipping into the canal . 
 It was at this stage that the attack began to go seriously wrong . Strong winds blowing off the land swept the smoke screen into the face of the advancing cruisers , blinding their commanders <a href='null_relcl' title='1'><mark>who</mark></a>attempted to navigate by dead reckoning . The same wind disclosed the Inshore Squadron to the German defenders <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>who</mark></a>immediately opened up a withering fire on the blockships . With their volunteer crews suffering heavy casualties , the commanders increased speed despite the poor visibility and continued groping through the narrow channels inshore , searching for the Stroom Bank buoy which directed shipping into the canal . 
It was at dis stage dat the attack began to go seriously wrong . Strong winds blowing offf the land swept the smoke screen into da face of tdaadvancing cruisers , blinding their commanders attempted to navigate by dead reckoning . The same wind disclosed the Inshore Squadron to thdaerman defenders immediately opened up a withering fire on thedaockships . With their volunteer crews suffering heavy casualties , the commanders increased speed despite the dar visibility and continued groping thru the narrow channels inshore , searching for the Stroom Bank buoy which directed shipping into the canal .