(Sent 6.20 p.m., 3rd November.)
Defence to proceed with all possible dispatch to join Admiral Cradock on West Coast of America. Acknowledge.
This telegram was initialled by Admiral Sturdee, Lord Fisher and myself. We telegraphed at the same time to the Japanese Admiralty:—
Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Nürnberg, Leipzig, Dresden have been located near Valparaiso coaling and provisioning. This squadron is presumably concentrated for some serious operation. We are concentrating Glasgow, Good Hope, Canopus, Monmouth, and Defence on the S.W. coast of South America, hoping to bring them to battle.... We hope that the Japanese Admiralty may now find it possible to move some of their squadrons eastward in order to intercept the German squadron and prevent its return to Asiatic or Australian waters.... We indicate our views in order to obtain yours and to concert common action.
We also telegraphed to Admiral Cradock once more reiterating the instructions about the Canopus:—
(Sent 6.55 p.m., 3rd November.)
Defence has been ordered to join your flag with all dispatch. Glasgow should find or keep in touch with the enemy. You should keep touch with Glasgow concentrating the rest of your squadron including Canopus. It is important you should effect your junction with Defence at earliest possible moment subject to keeping touch with Glasgow and enemy. Enemy supposes you at Corcovados Bay. Acknowledge.
But we were already talking to the void.
When I opened my boxes at 7 o’clock on the morning of November 4, I read the following telegram:—
Maclean, Valparaiso, to Admiralty. (Sent November 3, 1914, 6.10 p.m.)