![]() From February 4 onward, all enemy shipping encountered within the area was subject to attack and no guarantees were to be made for the safety of the passengers and crews. The United States' first wartime loss on the seas occurred in January 1915, a few days before Germany declared the existence of a war zone around the British Isles. They objected to the fact that the Americans made only feeble protests against the British blockade of Germany and actively traded arms in English ports. The German government resented the rather cozy relationship between the United States and Britain. British policies caused inconveniences for Americans, but not the loss of lives. American shipping interests that suffered losses at British hands generally believed that financial settlements would be made at the end of the war. Relations were frequently strained, but did not develop to the extent that war was contemplated. These British rules were the subject of numerous diplomatic exchanges between the two nations. A further irritant was introduced when the British unilaterally broadened the meaning of contraband to include food and other normal trade items destined for the continent. Some American ships were taken into British ports and detained for months mail was seized and closely scrutinized by British intelligence. They also began the practice of stopping neutral ships (including those of the United States) on the high seas in order to examine cargoes. The British had acted with dispatch when the war began, declaring a blockade of German ports and laying mines in the North Sea their control extended to all areas except the Baltic Sea. However, the country's need to remain viable on the seas would quickly provoke problems with both of the major belligerents.įrom the perspective of the United States, the first crisis on the seas was not German submarine warfare, but the British blockade policy. He issued a proclamation of neutrality on August 4 and made nine other such declarations over the next few months. President Wilson was firmly committed to keeping the United States out of the war. ![]() Blockades (sealing off enemy ports by other warring parties) had to be active and effective in order to be recognized internationally this rule was accepted as a means to prevent a belligerent from declaring a “paper blockade,” the practice of declaring a blockade without the means to actually stop ships from entering the specified ports.Neutral nations could conduct trade with belligerent nations in non-contraband items (contraband meaning goods used in waging war).The merchant ships of enemy nations were legitimate targets, but provisions were to be made for the lives of the passengers and crews.However, some principles were widely accepted: International rules of conduct on the high seas during wartime were open to considerable interpretation. A nation denied the ability to trade would lose its ability to feed and defend itself, and descend into economic chaos. The aim of naval actions in World War I was to destroy the enemy’s ability to wage war by means of disrupting its commerce. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |