Walkure by unknown Frenchman. Image courtesy American Forestry Magazine via Wikipedia.
- The Bombardment of Papeete occurs in French Polynesia. German armoured cruisers SMS Scharnhorst and Gneisenau enter the port of Papeete on the island of Tahiti and sink the French gunboat Zélée and freighter Walkure before bombarding the town’s fortifications.
- The German submarine U-9 sinks three British cruisers, the Aboukir, the Hogue and the Cressy, in the North Sea in just over one hour. 1,400 sailors are killed; the British are alerted to the deadly effectiveness of the submarine, which had been generally unrecognized up to that time.
- The German light cruiser Emden bombards Madras in British India. The action lasts just half an hour, by which time the Germans destroy British oil reserves. 26 British sailors are injured; at least five are killed during the action or die later of injuries. There are no German casualties or losses.
- First British air raid on Germany. Britain bombs German airship sheds at Cologne and Düsseldorf
- The first use of wireless telegraphy from aeroplane to artillery is conducted by the British Royal Flying Corps
