German East Asia Squadron
At the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, the German East Asia Squadron, commanded by Vice Admiral Maximilian von Spee, departed from its base at Tsingtao (Qingdao). Spee intended to take his ships to South America, where British merchant shipping might be easily raided. While crossing the Pacific on 6 September, Spee detached the light cruiser and the auxiliary cruiser "Titania" to investigate the British installation at Fanning and to destroy the wireless station there.