The Texas spirit of '17: a pictorial and biographical record of the gallant and courageous men from Ellis County who served in the Great War Page: 12 of 177
197 p., [4] leaves of plates : ill. (some col.) ; 28 cm.View a full description of this book.
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The Causes which led to American Participation in the
World War, the Activities of American Troops
in France, and the Accomplishments of
Americans in America.
On February 3, 1917, two and one-half years after th2 beginning of the World War,
Woodrow Wilson announced to Congress that the diplomatic relations with the German nation
had been severed. On April 2, of the same year, the President asked Congress to declare
that a state of war existed between the United States and Germany. By April 6, the Administration
resolution had passed both Houses. Thus ended a long period of American neutrality.
This period witnessed the beginning of the evolution of the United States from an
isolated and self-centered country into a World Power.
From the time of the sinking of the Lusitania in May, 1915, down to the German proclamation
of "Barred Zones" of February 1, 1917, it was with Germany that American diplomacy
and American public opinion were chiefly engaged. War was averted because we did
not want it, were not ready for it, and because we felt we could best serve humanity by remaining
neutral. During this period then occurred the discussions relative to the Lusitania,
the Arabic, the Ancona, the question of arming merchantmen for defense, the Sussex, and
the rights of Americans on the high seas, in which German promises were made and broken
with characteristic frequency. During the summer of 1916, there appeared at Baltimore the
German ocean going mercantile submarine, the Deutschland. In October a German submarine
appeared at Newport News and within eight hours after her departure she sank within sight
of the American coast six ships. This incident made a vast sensation and was a deliberate
move by Germany to paralyze American self respect by a strong dose of frightfulness.
Further prominent incidents that affected the German-American situation from a diplomatic
standpoint were the submarine attempts on the Rowanmore, the Marina, the Chemung
and the Russian, in which American lives and property were endangered. Six Americans were
lost on the Marina and 17 on the Russian.
Great indignation was caused by the German note of February, 1917, in which notice
was given that after a short respite to neutral vessels the Germans would torpedo everything
in sight in the waters around the British Isles, France and the Mediterranean-"barred zones."
In an appendix to this note further insult was given the Americans by stating that this government
might send one ship a week to England provided it was painted a certain way,
("striped like a convict" as one American commentator expressed e or ess it) and followed a prescribed
route. Following this, on February 3, 1917, President Wilson announced to Congress
that diplomatic relations had been broken off with Germany, that Count Bernstorff, the German
Ambassador, had been handed his passports, and that the American Ambassador at Berlin had
been withdrawn.
During this interim there had occurred the passage of the peace note, the note relative
to a Peace League, and other efforts on the part of President Wilson to secure a peace
for the European countries and avoid war, a condition into which it seemed we were inevitably,
slowly being forced against our will. These were treated with more or less indifference
on the part of the European countries involved. There had occurred too, the organization
of the Reserve Officers Training Camps, of which the one at Plattsburg, N. Y., was the first
created, and was organized by Major General Leonard Wood, then Chief of Staff of the United
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Army and Navy History Company. The Texas spirit of '17: a pictorial and biographical record of the gallant and courageous men from Ellis County who served in the Great War, book, 1919; Dallas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth20203/m1/12/: accessed May 3, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Tarrant County College NE, Heritage Room.