The Canopus from behind the hills fired on the German ships in an endeavor to protect the wireless station.  Beyond the range of her guns hovered the lighter German cruisers Dresden, Leipzig, and Nuernberg to await the outcoming of the Glasgow.  Both the Gneisenau and Scharnhorst concentrated their fire on the Canopus, and when the Glasgow, accompanied by the Carnarvon, Cornwall, and Kent, made her appearance it did not change the battle formation of the Germans, for the Canopus was still the only large vessel they were aware of.  Now the Leipzig came nearer in order to take up the fight with the lighter British ships.  By nine in the morning the German ships were drawn out in single file, running parallel with the shore in a northeasterly direction.  At the head of the line was the Gneisenau, followed by the Dresden, Scharnhorst, Nuernberg, and Leipzig, in that order.  They thought that this would entice what they believed to be the whole of the British force present into coming out for a running fight, and in which the old Canopus would be left behind to be finished after the lighter vessels were done for.  But all this time the Invincible and Inflexible were silent with their guns, though there was bustle enough aboard them while their coaling was being hurried.

By ten o’clock these two larger ships were ready with steam up and decks cleared, and they came out from behind the hills.  Von Spee saw that discretion was the better part of valor and gave orders for his ships to make off at full speed.  For a time the two squadrons kept parallel to each other at a distance of twelve miles, with the British squadron—­the Invincible and Inflexible leading—­north of the German ships.  The Baden and Santa Isabel, two transports that had been part of the German squadron, were unable to keep up with the others and headed south, pursued by the Bristol and Macedonia.  The two British battle cruisers were faster than any other ships in either squadron, and while pulling up on the German ships were in danger of pulling away from their own ships.  To avoid the latter, Admiral Sturdee kept down their speed and was content with taking a little longer to get within gun range of Von Spee’s ships.  By two o’clock the distance between them was about 16,000 yards; the Invincible and Inflexible had now left the rest of the British squadron far behind and took issue with the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau respectively.  The remaining British ships, with the exception of the Carnarvon, gave attention to the three lighter German cruisers and the Eitel Friedrich, which had broken from the first formation and were now pointing southeast.

Von Spee ordered the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau to turn broadside to the enemy.  Shells were falling upon the German ships with fair accuracy, but their return fire could do little damage to the British ships, because the range was a little too great for the German 8.2-inch guns.  Those of the Inflexible and Invincible were of the 12-inch type.