Cornwall and Dorsetshire were steaming west, away from the Japanese carrier force. Continuing on that heading before turning south could have taken them outside aircraft range. Somerville instead recalled them urgently because he wanted their strength concentrated with his own force. A standard impulse to assemble ships can become dangerous when the enemy's mobile strike radius controls the route of approach.
Notable Point · 49:33-50:20
The recall that turned Cornwall and Dorsetshire toward danger
Continuing west and then turning south offered a route beyond carrier strike range, whereas the urgent recall brought both cruisers back toward Kido Butai.