At 16:20, "Glasgow" and "Otranto" saw smoke to the north and then three ships at a range of . The British reversed direction, so that both fleets were moving south, and a chase began which lasted 90 minutes. Cradock was faced with a choice; he could either take his three cruisers capable of , abandon "Otranto" and run from the Germans, or stay and fight with "Otranto", which could only manage . The German ships slowed at a range of to reorganise themselves for best positions, and to await best visibility, when the British to their west would be outlined against the setting sun.