<– Part 19 – December 6, 1914  | Part 20 – December 13, 1914 |  Part 21 – December 20, 1914 –>

The Battle of the Falklands

Following a humiliating defeat November 1 at Coronel, the British fleet has hunted down the German East Asia Squadron, and the forces met December 8 at the Battle of the Falkland Islands. As the Germans attempted a raid on the British base at Stanley, a much larger British squadron had arrived just one day earlier. Unable to escape, the German armoured cruisers engaged the British in an attempt to allow the light cruisers to escape – and were sunk. The light cruisers themselves were overtaken. Only one German light cruiser and one auxiliary vessel escaped. The Germans suffered nearly 1,900 killed, 200 captured, and 6 ships sunk, the British 10 killed, and 19 wounded. Admiral Graf Spee went down with his ship, SMS Scharnhorst. Only Seeadler and Cormoran remain as independent convoy raiders.

HMS Inflexible rescuing German sailors from SMS Gneisenau

On December 9, the Battle of Qurna ended with unconditional surrender by the Turks, who were surrounded the previous night. The Ottoman commander, Subhi Bey, and the Governor of Basra, has been captured. 1,000 Turks have been taken prisoners, to 281 British casualties (mostly wounded).

At Ypres, Hill 60 captured by the Germans on December 10, giving them a strategic highpoint, overlooking Ypres itself.

The Austro-Hungarians declared victory at Limanowa on December 13. With 2 Russian armies in retreat, the Russians have halted their advance deeper into Hungary. 30,000 Russians fell against 12,000 Austro-Hungarians.

Hill 60, at Ypres

However, not all is well with the Austro-Hungarians. The Serbian offensive at Kolubara continues, with the unprepared Austrians forced back from one hastily- and poorly-prepared defensive position to another. With forces at Belgrade nearly surrounded, and assaults at all points, the order was issued a short time ago, ordering a retreat from Belgrade, and the Austrians are expected to withdraw soon.