Complex sentence: It criticized Rozhestvenski for allowing his ships to fire upon the British ships, but noted that "as each (Russian) vessel swept the horizon in every direction with her own searchlights to avoid being taken by surprise, it was difficult to prevent confusion".
Split into simpler sentences: It criticized Rozhestvenski for allowing his ships to fire upon the British ships. But noted that "as each (Russian) vessel swept the horizon in every direction with her own searchlights to avoid being taken by surprise, it was difficult to prevent confusion".