 Upon recommissioning in mid @-@ 1914 , she was briefly assigned to the 6th Cruiser Squadron in August before being assigned to the 4th Cruiser Squadron to reinforce Cradock 's forces . He transferred his flag to her because she was faster than his previous flagship . Cradock 's command was transferred to the coast of South America later that month at his own suggestion to better hunt for the German ships preying upon British merchant ships . His ships were generally unsuccessful in this and he moved his squadron further south in late September to search for the East Asia Squadron , under the command of Vice Admiral Graf Maximilian von Spee , in the vicinity of Cape Horn and the Strait of Magellan in accordance to his orders from the Admiralty . 
