Chalmers cites the German account to praise Beatty's outflanking movement for placing Scheer in a tactically untenable position. Scheer recalled being surprised by a line of heavy ships stretching across his path, evidence that the British maneuver achieved a powerful tactical result. That result does not settle who deserved credit. The heavy ships Scheer encountered were the Grand Fleet, and deploying them across the German advance was Jellicoe's decision. The biography also depicts Beatty steaming north without accurate knowledge of the Grand Fleet's position, weakening the claim that Scheer's surprise was Beatty's tactical achievement.
Notable Point · 18:08-19:20
Scheer's surprise tests who earned the tactical crossing
Scheer's admission that the High Seas Fleet was surprised by a deployed British battle line becomes a test of whether Beatty or Jellicoe deserves the tactical credit.