The squadron was gradually augmented as time went on, and in the months of September and October, 1914, consisted of the flagship _Good Hope_ (Captain Philip Francklin), _Canopus_ (Captain Heathcoat Grant), _Monmouth_ (Captain Frank Brandt), _Cornwall_ (Captain W. M. Ellerton), _Glasgow_ (Captain John Luce), _Bristol_ (Captain B. H. Fanshawe), and the armed merchant cruisers _Otranto_ (Captain H. McI. Edwards), _Macedonia_ (Captain B. S. Evans), and _Orama_ (Captain J. R. Segrave). No news was obtainable as to the whereabouts of the German squadron stationed in the Pacific, which consisted of the _Scharnhorst_, _Gneisenau_, _Emden_, _Nürnberg_, and _Leipzig_, except that it was known that the two latter had been operating on the east side of the Pacific, and that the _Emden_ was in the Bay of Bengal. The vaguest rumours, all contradicting one another, were continually being circulated, in which it is more than likely that German agents had a large share. Admiral Cradock proceeded south in the middle of September to watch the Straits of Magellan, and to patrol between there and the River Plate, as he doubtless hoped to prevent the _Karlsruhe_ and _Dresden_--which, when last heard of, were in South American waters--from attempting to effect a junction with their main squadron. With him were the _Monmouth_, _Glasgow_, and the armed Orient liner _Otranto_, in addition to his own ship the _Good Hope_, which, together with his colliers, had their first base in the Falkland Islands. On hearing of the appearance of the Germans off Papeete and of the bombardment of the French colony there on September 22nd, it was apparently considered expedient to proceed to the west coast of South America in order to intercept the enemy. Accordingly, early in October the _Monmouth_, _Glasgow_, and _Otranto_ went round to the Pacific, diligently searching out the many inlets and harbours _en route_, and arrived at Valparaiso on October 15th, but only stayed a part of one day in order to get stores and provisions. They then went back southwards to meet the _Good Hope_ and _Canopus_, vainly hoping to fall in with the _Leipzig_ or _Dresden_ on the way. The _Good Hope_ reached the Chilean coast on October 29th, and all ships filled up with coal; the _Canopus_ was due very shortly, and actually sighted our ships steaming off as she arrived. In order to carry out a thorough and effective examination of the innumerable inlets that abound amongst the channels of Tierra del Fuego, in addition to the bays and harbours on both coasts of South America, it became necessary to divide up this squadron into separate units. To expedite matters, colliers were sent to meet our ships, so that valuable time should not be lost in returning to the base at the Falkland Islands. The first fine day was seized to fill up with coal, care always being taken to keep outside the three-mile territorial limit.