Otranto, smoke, and a possible night escape

Could Cradock have detached Otranto and used smoke to escape von Spee at night?

It was tactically sensible, but Cradock's concern for Otranto and the Royal Navy's honor culture made deliberate disengagement an unlikely choice.

Otranto had little combat value in a fleet action and could not materially improve Cradock's gunnery. He may nevertheless have kept her close because an isolated auxiliary cruiser was unlikely to survive if von Spee found her. Smoke could disrupt German spotting during the sunset interval and create an opportunity to disengage after dark. That maneuver might save ships and crews, yet an officer of the period could regard deliberate withdrawal as dishonorable and risk professional ruin even if it worked.