Will America enter the war?

Washington, 2 June 1915 - In the aftermath of the sinking of the Lusitania with the loss of more than 100 American lives, the likelihood of America entering the war has grown considerably.

There is public outrage in America at the sinking of the liner, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,100 people.

President Woodrow Wilson is determined to hold Germany to account for its violation of America's rights on the high seas. A formal note to the German government is being set out. It will ask whether Germany intends to disregard the fundamental principles of international law and the rights of humanity.

If a satisfactory answer is not received to the question, the United States is expected to sever diplomatic relations with her. Politicians, press and public have already dismissed the German explanation for the sinking of the Lusitania as an evasion of the greater issues of law and humanity.

Shift in public opinion

Before the actions of German submarines, the entry of the United States into the war was considered to be extremely unlikely.

The recent shift in public sentiment suggests that support for American neutrality has declined significantly and that war is now a realistic proposition.

At the current time, the standing U.S. Army is small and relatively poorly equipped - there remains, however, the capacity to mobilise men and munitions relatively quickly.

[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.]