Why Saint Georg's position was a tradeoff

Would positioning Saint Georg closer to the Otranto raid have exposed it to Italian flying boats?

Possibly, but a closer position would also have protected the raiding cruisers sooner and might have increased Allied losses.

Italian flying boats might have detected Saint Georg if it had been placed closer to the raiding force. A more distant position reduced that risk, but also delayed support for the Austro-Hungarian light cruisers. Earlier protection might have inflicted more damage on their Allied pursuers. Readiness, concealment, and reinforcement time were therefore parts of the same tactical choice.