Before the River Plate battle, Graf Spee might have crossed directly to the western South Atlantic, attacked shipping near the River Plate, and then turned north. Another option was to head north while British forces searched farther south and east. Either route still carried a risk of encountering a Royal Navy force. Langsdorff instead continued sinking ships along a route that revealed his movements and intentions. He fulfilled his commerce-raiding orders while making his next moves easier for the Royal Navy to anticipate. The comparison is to a boxer who tells his opponent where the next punch is going.
Chapter · 7:09-8:29
How Graf Spee's raiding route revealed her intentions
Graf Spee's attacks on merchant ships helped the Royal Navy predict Langsdorff's route toward the River Plate, despite other possible escape routes.