Von Spee's light-cruiser commerce-raiding dilemma

Should Admiral von Spee have sent all of his light cruisers out as commerce raiders rather than keeping most with his armoured cruisers?

Probably not. More detached raiders would trouble Britain, but von Spee's main squadron needed the light cruisers for reconnaissance, security, and support.

The exchange concerns Maximilian von Spee's East Asia Squadron, not the later pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee. Detaching every light cruiser would have forced Britain to hunt more raiders across its trade routes. Von Spee's armoured cruisers, however, needed scouts and supporting ships to find routes, maintain security, and keep the squadron functioning. The historical choice was probably the best available option in a situation with no clean answer.