The remaining vessels formed the west coast squadron, which was reinforced by "Canopus" on 18 October. Reprieved from scrapping by the outbreak of war and badly in need of overhaul, "Canopus" was claimed to have a top speed of only , about two-thirds her design speed and just over half that of the remainder of the squadron. (After the fleet sailed, it was found that the ship could make and that the senior engineer was mentally ill.) The Admiralty agreed that with "Canopus" the fleet would be too slow to force an engagement with the German cruisers and that without "Canopus" the west coast squadron stood no chance. Cradock sailed from the Falklands on 20 October, still under the impression that "Defence" would soon arrive and with Admiralty orders to attack German merchant ships and to seek out the East Asiatic Squadron. As the British squadron rounded Cape Horn, wireless transmissions from "Leipzig" increased in power and it seemed that the British would catch the ship while isolated, but Spee had made rendezvous with "Leipzig" on 14 October and had enforced wireless silence on the other ships.