German East Asia Squadron
At the outbreak of World War I, the German East Asia Squadron, consisting of the armored cruisers and and the light cruisers , , and , under the command of Vice-Admiral Maximilian von Spee, was cruising in the Pacific Ocean. Britain had already severed all German undersea cables passing through British controlled areas. Concerned about possible attacks against Allied merchant shipping in the region, Britain requested that Australia destroy the German wireless stations and coaling stations in the Pacific.