The _Cornwall_ and _Kent_ were still keeping fairly level, and had closed in to a distance of about half a mile from one another. The chase continued, each minute seeming an age, as the range-finders registered the slowly diminishing distance of the enemy. The crews watched the proceedings from the forecastles with the greatest interest; now and again a half-smothered cheer would break out when the _Glasgow's_ shots fell perilously near the mark. When the bugle sounded "Action," the men responded with a spontaneous cheer as they rushed off at the double to their appointed stations. Their spirit was fine. Captain J. Luce, of the _Glasgow_, was the senior naval officer of our three ships, and at 3.20 P.M. signalled the _Cornwall_ to ask, "Are you gaining on the enemy?" To which a reply was made, "Yes--range now 16,000 yards." A quarter of an hour later the _Glasgow_ ceased fire for a while. Captain W. M. Ellerton, of the _Cornwall_, now made a signal to the _Kent_: "I will take the centre target (_Leipzig_) if you will take the left-hand one (_Nürnberg_), as we appear to be gaining on both of them." The _Glasgow_ again opened fire on the _Leipzig_ at 3.45, but her shots falling short, she very soon afterwards ceased fire. At 4.6 the _Glasgow_ and _Leipzig_ again fired at one another, and shortly afterwards the former was hit twice; an unlucky shot, descending at a steep angle, killed one man and wounded four others. Captain Luce now found himself face to face with a difficult decision, which had to be made promptly. Was he to use his superior speed and endeavour to cut off the _Dresden_ or not? He decided to assist the _Cornwall_ and _Kent_ in order to make sure of the destruction of the _Leipzig_ and _Nürnberg_. At 4.25 P.M. the _Glasgow_ turned to starboard away from the action and took station on the port quarter of the _Cornwall_, who had by that time come into action with the _Leipzig_. During this period the _Cornwall_ and _Kent_ had been gaining fairly rapidly on the _Leipzig_ and slowly on the _Nürnberg_, though losing on the _Dresden_, who was easily the fastest of the three German light-cruisers. The latter kept edging away gradually to starboard, outdistancing her pursuers, and finally made good her escape without firing a single shot. At a quarter past four the _Cornwall_ and the _Kent_ opened fire on the _Leipzig_ almost simultaneously at a range of 10,900 yards. The effect of this was that the German altered course slightly to starboard and was followed by the _Cornwall_, while the _Kent_ went after the _Nürnberg_, as had been arranged.