Beatty's communications and Jellicoe's chain of command

Beatty respected Jellicoe but often commanded a fleet as though it were his own ship with other formations attached. His handling of the Fifth Battle Squadron and failure to think beyond his immediate force limited the information sent upward during the run to the north. Jellicoe, by contrast, was reluctant to bypass the formal chain of command and did not establish an alternate reporter inside Beatty's force. Cruiser commanders nevertheless transmitted the contacts and positions that Jellicoe's staff needed, showing both individual initiative and confidence that the commander-in-chief would use their reports effectively.