February 6
1917 German sub sinks U.S. passenger ship California
Just three days after U.S. President Woodrow Wilson's speech of February 3,
1917-in which he broke diplomatic relations with Germany and warned that war
would follow if American interests at sea were again assaulted-a German
submarine torpedoes and sinks the Anchor Line passenger steamer California
off the Irish coast.
The explosion of the torpedo was so violent and devastating that the
470-foot, 9,000-ton steamer sank just nine minutes after the attack. Despite
desperate S.O.S. calls sent by the crew to ensure the arrival of rescue
ships, 38 people drowned after the initial explosion, for a total of 43
dead.
This type of blatant German defiance of Wilson's warning about the
consequences of unrestricted submarine warfare drove Wilson and the United
States to take the final steps towards war. On April 2, Wilson went before
Congress to deliver his war message; the formal declaration of U.S. entrance
into the First World War came four days later.
Everette
Deo adiuvante