This was at about half-past five, both sides being {54} fully aware now of the strength and disposition of the other; both suffering severely from the strong head wind and high seas that were continually burying them, and both with their eyes upon the setting sun now dropping rapidly toward the horizon. How vital that sun was each had instantly perceived. For the moment, protected by the glare of it, it advantaged Sir Christopher Cradock, von Spee's squadron being brightly illuminated. But the distance was far too great for the British guns, and, in less than an hour, the conditions would be reversed. In less than an hour, himself in half darkness, von Spee would have the British silhouetted against the after-glow; and, in consequence, there had begun a race, which could have but one ending, for the inside or landward position. Already nearer to the land than Admiral Cradock, and perceiving Cradock's manoeuvre to try and reverse this, von Spee had crammed full speed on, and was racing to forestall him, in the teeth of the wind, at 20 knots an hour. To do so was essential, and to secure this position he outraced the _Leipzig_ and _Dresden_, his superior speed enabling him to draw parallel with Cradock, while ten miles of sea still parted the squadrons. Here, while keeping pace with the slower British vessels, he was able to slacken down and await the _Leipzig_ and _Dresden_; and when, at ten minutes past six, these had joined him, he began to draw nearer to the doomed British squadron. This, as all had foreseen, was now a series of dark targets, tossing clearly outlined against the sunset, with the rising moon in the east to render a chance of escape {55} even less possible; and, at a distance of a little over five miles, von Spee ordered the first shot. The battle was now joined, and with every circumstance conspiring against the indomitable Cradock and his men. Handicapped by the seas as both sides were, the British, farther out, suffered more severely; while, to the expert gunners of the _Scharnhorst_ and _Gneisenau_, discounting this one factor, they formed an ideal objective. Within five minutes the _Good Hope_ was hit, and, though she replied at once, her fire was ineffective; while, during the next quarter of an hour, the _Scharnhorst's_ gunners were finding her time after time. Meanwhile the _Otranto_ had been ordered out of action; the _Gneisenau_. was pouring shell into the _Monmouth_; and the _Leipzig_ and _Dresden_ were engaging the _Glasgow_, who was gallantly spending to the best of her ability.