 While in port , Spee received the order from the Admiralty Staff to attempt to break through to Germany . The ships remained in the port for only 24 hours , in accordance with the neutrality restrictions , and arrived at Mas a Fuera on 6 November , where they took on more coal from captured British and French steamers . Dresden and Leipzig took their turn in Valparaiso , after which the re @-@ formed squadron continued south and rounded Cape Horn into the South Atlantic . In the meantime , the Royal Navy sent a pair of battlecruisers — Invincible and Inflexible — commanded by Vice Admiral Doveton Sturdee to hunt down Spee 's squadron and avenge Cradock 's defeat . 
