At the same hour that our vessels were passing Beachy Head, the Coastguard at Sandwich Battery were suddenly alarmed by electric signals being flashed from a number of warships that were slowly passing the Gull Stream revolving light towards the Downs. The sensation these lights caused among the Coastguard and Artillery was immediately dispelled when it was discovered that the warships were not hostile, but friendly; that the Kaiser had sent a German Squadron, in two divisions, to assist us, and that these vessels were on their way to unite with our own Fleet. The first division, it was ascertained, consisted of the _Baden_, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral Koester; the _Sachen_, commanded by Prince Henry of Prussia; the _Würtemberg_, and the _Bayern_--all of 7400 tons, and each carrying 18 guns and nearly 400 men; while the despatch boat _Pfeil_, the new dynamite cruiser _Trier_, and a number of torpedo boats, accompanied them. The second division, under Rear-Admiral von Diederichs on board the _König Wilhelm_, consisted of the _Brandenburg_, _Kürfurst Friedrich Wilhelm_, and _Woerth_, each of 10,300 tons, and carrying 32 guns; the _Deutschland_ and the _Friedrich der Grosse_, with the despatch vessel _Wacht_, and several torpedo gunboats and other craft.
Before dawn, the British and German Fleets united near South Sand Head light, off the South Foreland, and it was decided to commence the attack without delay. Turning west again, the British ships, accompanied by those of the Emperor William, proceeded slowly down Channel in search of the enemy, which they were informed by signal had been sighted by the Coastguard at East Wear, near Folkestone, earlier in the night. Just as day broke, however, when the defenders were opposite Dymchurch, about eight miles from land, the enemy were discovered in force. Apparently the French and Russian Fleets had combined, and were preparing for a final descent upon Dover, or an assault upon the Thames defences; and it could be seen that, with both forces so strong, the fight would inevitably be one to the death.