 On 14 September, the South Seas Squadron under the command of Vice-Admiral Yamaya Tanin left Yokosuka in order to pursue the fleeing German East Asiatic Squadron.The squadron consisted of a battlecruiser ( "flagship"), two cruisers, two destroyers and three transports.However, by this time, Vice-Admiral von Spee had left the Marshall Islands and was heading for Tahiti to attack the French port facilities there as he made for Cape Horn.