America arms ships but won’t be drawn into war
Washington, 27 February 1917 - There are contradictory reports from America regarding the intentions of the United States in respect of the Great War.
Despite the lives lost as a result of the German submarine campaign, America’s entry into the war is reported not to be imminent in some newspapers.
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L: the area being patrolled as part of the German u-boat campaign. R: The scourge of merchant ships on the high seas – a German U-Boat (Images: Das Interessante Blatt, 8 & 22 Feb 1917. Courtesy of Austrian National Library)
These reports claim that US President Woodrow Wilson is not likely to ask Congress for a declaration of war against Germany, instead he intends to ask for the power to arm ships in order to protect them.
Other reports suggest that the broad view in America is that there is no enthusiasm for war, but there is a ‘stern resolution to enter upon it if necessary’.
Laconia
'Without Warning!' by JH Cassel, showing the suddenness of the sinking of the Cunard ship the Laconia (Image: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs, Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA)
The latest loss of life came when the Cunard ship Laconia, carrying passengers and mail from New York, was torpedoed. It was carrying 295 people, including 20 Americans. Initially, it was thought that all on board had been saved, but it became apparent that 12 people had been killed. There were two Americans among the dead.
The survivors were brought to Queenstown. One eyewitness reported that, on landing, they raised three cheers for the ship’s commander and crew for the kindness they showed on the sea and for the efficient way they had brought them safely to shore.
[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]
