While the enemy's attention was thus drawn to the head
of the Mole, which is well over a mile long, the three block-ships, piloted by motor-boats and launches, entered the harbour and steered straight for the entrance to the Bruges ship-canal. Two reached their goal and were blown up, probably sealing the entrance ;. the third ran aground. At the same time two old submarines laden with explosives made for the long stretch of pile-work connecting the stone Mole with the shore. One submarine attained its objective, and was blown up, making a gap twenty yards wide in the piling, and isolating the harassed garrison on the Mole. Our light craft attacked the enemy craft inside the harbour. A motor-boat torpedoed an enemy destroyer which tried to escape to sea. One British destroyer was sunk off the Mole by gunfire, and two launches and two motor-boats are missing. The storming parties, in achieving the seemingly im- possible, suffered heavy losses, but not in vain.
