 The British cruiser HMS Glasgow , which was patrolling in the area , received both messages from Admiral Scheer 's victims . Glasgow launched reconnaissance aircraft that spotted Admiral Scheer on 22 February . Vice Admiral Ralph <unk> , the commander of the East Indies Station , deployed the carrier Hermes and cruisers Capetown , Emerald , Hawkins , Shropshire , and the Australian HMAS Canberra to join the hunt . Krancke turned to the south @-@ east to evade his pursuers , reaching the South Atlantic by 3 March . The British , meanwhile , had abandoned the hunt on 25 February when it became clear that Admiral Scheer had withdrawn from the area . 
