During December all the armies in the field were visited by the rulers of their respective countries. The Czar spent some time with his troops near the firing lines in Poland; King George of England visited the British forces in Belgium and Northern France and conferred the Victoria Cross ("For Valor") on a number of officers and men; and President Poincaré made several trips to the front, conferring decorations upon General Joffre, commander-in-chief, and other French officers, for distinguished service. The gallant and devoted soldier-king, Albert of Belgium, remained steadfastly at the front with his troops, sharing all their privations and dangers during the fierce fighting in Flanders. Kaiser Wilhelm was also at the front, both east and west, but was forced to return to Berlin early in the month by an attack of illness. On his recovery after two weeks he again visited the western field headquarters in Belgium, but in the first week of January, 1915, he was again compelled by his ailment to make a hurried return to Berlin for medical treatment and rest. British and German naval losses in the world war to January 1, 1915, are shown in the following, compiled from admiralty reports, and, where these are missing, from other authoritative sources. The figures are approximately correct. BRITISH LOSSES Date Name and Type How Sunk Tonnage Lives Lost Aug. 7--Amphion, protected cruiser Mined 3,440 136 Sept. 4--Speedy, torpedo gunboat Mined 810 ... Sept. 5--Pathfinder, protected cruiser Mined 2,940 250 Sept. 7--Warrior, protected cruiser Stranded 13,500 ... Sept. 9--Oceanic, auxiliary cruiser Wrecked 17,000 ... Sept. 18--Fishguard II, training ship Foundered ...... 21 Sept. 19--AE-1, submarine Lost 800 25 Sept. 20--Pegasus, protected cruiser Shelled 2,200 25 Sept. 22--Aboukir, protected cruiser Torpedoed 12,000 510 Sept. 22--Cressy, protected cruiser Torpedoed 12,000 561 Sept. 22--Hogue, protected cruiser Torpedoed 12,000 362 Oct. 16--Hawke, protected cruiser Torpedoed 7,350 350 Oct. 18--E-3, submarine Shelled 800 25 Oct. 27--Audacious, dreadnought Torpedoed 25,000 2 Oct. 31--Hermes, protected cruiser Torpedoed 5,600 ... Nov. 1--Monmouth, armored cruiser Shelled 3,800 540 Nov. 1--Good Hope, armored cruiser Shelled 14,100 875 Nov. 5--D-5, submarine Mined 550 21 Nov. 11--Niger, torpedo gunboat Torpedoed 819 ... Nov. 20--Bulwark, battleship Explosion 15,000 800 Jan. 1--Formidable, battleship Torpedoed 17,000 579 Number of vessels lost, 21. -------------- Totals 172,700 5,082 GERMAN LOSSES