 In addition to a valuable cargo of £117,000, the "Ortega" was carrying 300 French reservists as well as confidential mail from the Admiralty.When the "Ortega" was some 50 miles from the entrance to the Straits of Magellan through which she intended to pass, she sighted a German cruiser, "Dresden", approaching on an opposite course.The Ortega was only capable of a maximum speed of 14 knots whereas the cruiser could achieve a speed of 20 knots.