one o'clock in the morning
The night and following day were given over to leisure hours . Jack and Ted wrote letters home and to school telling of their promotions and some of their latest exploits . At nine o'clock of the following evening the submarine fleet received the word to be off . The attack was planned to be started at one o'clock in the morning under the cover of darkness . Keeping in close touch , the submarines spread out over the sea like a huge fan . Behind them at a distance of five miles moved the supporting column of dreadnoughts , battle cruisers , destroyers , scouts and mine sweepers -- units in the great fleet bent upon the task of smashing the German stronghold . The _ Monitor _ led off in the battle array .