 In late August 1914, with war declared the Japanese had wasted no time in deploying their powerful naval assets in support of allied efforts against German commerce raiders in the Asia-Pacific.The battlecruiser was immediately dispatched to patrol the sealanes and three days later on August 26, at the request of the British government, the together with the light cruiser were ordered to Singapore in order to provide support in the search for German commerce raiders, particularly the light cruiser .Whilst the "Chikuma" stayed in the area patrolling unsuccessfully as far south as Ceylon, on September 18, the "Ibuki" was soon dispatched back eastwards to begin the task of escorting allied troop convoys carrying ANZAC contingents from Australia and New Zealand to the Middle East, from German raiders.