The Naval History of the World War : The United States in the War, 1917-1918.

I T has been shown in the preceding volume of this work, by the statements of the Germans themselves, that, at the beginning of 1917, the German Government had finally decided to attempt to gain victory in the World War by means of unrestricted U-boat warfare. The steps have been traced by which this idea progressed, until at last the prestige of the Battie of Jutland gave to the German naval leaders the power to dominate the whole military and naval Situation in Germany. It has also been explained that the preservation of the German Battie Fleet in this naval action gave them the physical ability to carry out this U-boat campaign. Consequently, the German naval and military leaders were united in their adoption of this extreme measure, and the date of the beginning of the U-boat campaign had been set for February 1,1917. As in 1914, the German leaders were supremely confident of the result. But again, as in 1914, the German calculations had been founded upon German formulas alone, and had not taken into account other great forces that would be aroused against them.' It was a Strange stroke of fate for the Central Powers that this provocative means of warfare, which had been originally conceived in an unfavorable Situation, was ' "The blockade must succeed within a limited number of weeks, within which America cannotefifectivelyparticipate in the Operations."-Bethmann-Hollweg, 1917. 3 ' "According to the views of our ambassador (Von Hintze) -Zimmermann's well-known telegram rendered Wilson decisive assistance in the realization of his wish to take his stand against us." -Tirpitz, "My Memoirs." Emperor (January 9,1917): "I command that the unrestricted U-boat campaign shall begin on February 1 in füll force. You are to make all necessary preparations without delay, but in such a way that neither the enemy nor neutrals can obtain information of this Intention." But, as has been stated in the preceding volume of this work, at the time Germany yielded to the United States after the Sussex ultimatum as to the U-boats in April, 1916, Ambassador Gerard had warned the State Department that "the rulers of Germany would at some future date, forced by public opinion and by the von Tirpitz and Conservative parties, take up ruthless submarine warfare again, possibly in the autumn but at any rate about February or March, 1917." And, concerning the time just preceding this new U-boat campaign of 1917, Ambassador Gerard has also written that, before January 6, the American Embassy "had begun to get rumors of the resumption of ruthless submarine warfare, and within a few days I was cabling to the Department information, based not upon absolute facts but upon reports that had been collected through the able efforts of our very capable naval attachö, Commander Gherardi." The truth was, it was the Germans themselves who were surprised, as Ambassador Gerard has left no doubt that they were taken aback by the fact that the United States broke off relations so promptly. However, this did not in the least affect the overweening confidence of the Germans in the U-boat campaign.^ It was regarded as a foregone conclusion that unrestricted U-boat warfare would force Great Britain to ' "So the Chief of the Naval Staff, von Holtzendorff, thought himself in a Position to promise that England would be ready for peace after a six months' submarine campaign." -Admiral Tirpitz. ' "The VictoryatSea." "I was to remain ostensibly as head of the War College." 2 "It is expressing it mildly to say that I was surprised by this disciosure. I was fairly astounded, for I had uever imagined anything so terrible." -Admiral Sims, "The Victory at Sea." THIS AREA DECLARED SAFE FOR NEUTRALS IN GERMAN CAMPAIGN OF UNRESTRIOTED SUBMA-RINE WARFARE BF-GINNING FEBRUARY 1, 1917. ' '"Things were dark when I took that trip to America,' Mr. Balfour said to me afterwards. 'The submarines were constantly on my miud. I could think of nothing but the number of ships which were sinking. At that time it certainly looked as if we were going to lose the war.'" -Admiral Sims, " The Victory at Sea." « See Chapter I. «4 ' "Her Coming was like an avalanche. The world has never seen anything like it." -Lloyd George. ' "A record comparing very favorably either with that of the Emden or Karhruhe earlier in the war." -"Seaborne Trade." ' Admiral Scheer, "Germany's High Sea Fleet." ' By airplane raids: in 1917, killed 655, injured 1553; in 1918, killed 182, injured 430. ' Admiral Gleaves.' Ädmiral Sims'had forwarded to the Navy Department veiy exact Information from the British Admiralty as to the time when these raiding U-boats would arrive.quest for an American division to be sent at once, 130, 140. Johnson, Commander, 81. Jones, Admiral, 162. Jutland, Battie of, effect on Germany, \_ 3; effect on U-boat campaign, 18 ff. ACKNOWLEDGMENT CONTENTS LIST OF MAPS CHAPTER I THE SITUATION AT THE BEGINNING OF 1917 CHAPTER II THE ENTRANCE OF THE UNITED STATES CHAPTER III THE FIRST SHOCK OF THE U-BOAT CAMPAIGN CHAPTER IV THE OBJECT OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE WORLD WAR CHAPTER V THE ADOPTION OF THE CONVOY SYSTEM CHAPTER VI THE EPISODE OF THE GERMAN RAIDERS CHAPTER VII CONTROL OF SHIPPING CHAPTER VIII THE BLOCKADE CHAPTER IX THE CONVOYS IN OPERATION CHAPTER X THE SHIFTING CONDITIONS OF 1917 CHAPTER XI THE EFFORT OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE WORLD WAR CHAPTER XII THE PRODUCTION OF ARMED FORCES CHAPTER XIII NAVAL FORCES AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE UNITED STATES CHAPTER XIV THE NEW CALL UPON THE UNITED STATES NAVY CHAPTER XV THE DEVELOPMENT OF AMERICAN STRATEGY CHAPTER XVI THE FIRST TRANSPORTATION OF AMERICAN TROOPS OVERSEAS CHAPTER XVII AMERICAN PREPARATIONS OVERSEAS CHAPTER XVIII THE AMERICAN TRANSPORTS CHAPTER XIX OPERATING THE TRANSPORTS CHAPTER XX THE WANE OF 1917 CHAPTER XXI THE SITUATION AT THE BEGINNING OF 1918 CHAPTER XXII THE PROBLEM OF TRANSPORTATION CHAPTER XXIII THE FIRST GERMAN ASSAULT OF 1918 CHAPTER XXIV RUSHING AMERICAN TROOPS TO FRANCE CHAPTER XXV THE OPPOSING NAVAL FORCES IN 1918 CHAPTER XXVI THE ZEEBRUGGE AND OSTEND OPERATIONS CHAPTER XXVII THE GERMAN U-BOAT RAIDS OFF THE AMERICAN COAST CHAPTER XXVIII THE NORTHERN BARRAGE CHAPTER XXIX THE TURN OF THE TIDE CHAPTER XXX THE UNCHANGED GERMAN NAVAL STRATEGY CHAPTER XXXI THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE CENTRAL POWERS CHAPTER XXXII THE IMPELLING FORCE OF SEA POWER CHAPTER XXXIII THE COLLAPSE OF GERMANY APPENDICES INDEX With the publication of the third volume in July, 1926, Captain Thomas Frothingham brings to a close his authoritative history of the naval side of the World War. The earlier volumes have received high commendation from both naval authorities and competent critics.