The Pittsburgh Press (October 25, 1941)
Background of news –
Sinkings in 1941 and 1917
By editorial research reports
The President in his radio address of Sept. 11 informed the world that the U.S. Navy would shoot at sight on German war vessels found in waters which the United States was patrolling and protecting. That policy was adopted because German vessels and planes had been sinking American ships – in some cases after giving the crew time to take to lifeboats, in other cases on sight. Germany gave every indication after President Roosevelt’s message was delivered that the German tactics toward American vessels would continue unchanged.
That was six weeks ago. During those six weeks, four vessels owned by the United States, flying wither the United States flag or the Panamanian flag, have been sunk. These are as follows:
- Sept. 19 – Pink Star, southwest of Iceland;
- Oct. 7 – I C White, in the South Atlantic;
- Oct. 16 – Bold Venture, southwest of Iceland;
- Oct. 19 – Lehigh, off Africa.
In addition, the U.S. destroyer Kearny was damaged with the loss of lives, without being sunk, off Iceland on Oct. 17. The four American-owned merchant vessels sunk previously in 1941 were:
- May 21 – Robin Moor, in the South Atlantic;
- Aug. 17 – Sessa, southwest of Iceland;
- Sept. 5 – Steel Seafarer, in the Red Sea (by plane);
- Sept. 11 – Montana, southwest of Iceland.
In addition, the U.S. destroyer Greer was attacked, without being hit, southwest of Iceland on Sept. 4.
In the six weeks since President Roosevelt announced the policy of shooting at sight on German vessels in U.S.-protected waters, the United States and Germany have really been in a state of undeclared naval war, although diplomatic relations continue between the two countries. On Feb. 26, 1917, President Wilson asked Congress for authority to arm U.S. merchant ships against attack by German submarines. In the six weeks between that date and the actual declaration of war on April 6, the United States and Germany were really in a state of undeclared naval war, with diplomatic relations between the two countries at an end (President Wilson ordered merchant ships armed on March 12, without express authority from Congress).
In those six weeks of 1917, eight U.S. merchant vessels were sunk by Germany, twice as many as in the six weeks of 1941. The total loss of life on these eight vessels was 67, of which 28 were American. Only one of the eight was armed. This was the Aztec. It mounted two guns, manned by a Navy gun crew of 11. Although the Navy listed it as a torpedo victim, there was some question of whether it hadn’t hit a mine. Germany disclaimed all knowledge of the sinking of the Aztec.
During the 19 months of American participation in World War I, 125 American merchant vessels were sunk. Seven were victims of raiders, two of mines, and 116 of submarines. This was an average of 1½ lost every week, as compared with ⅔ a week in the six weeks of undeclared naval war in 1941 and 1½ a week in the six weeks of undeclared naval war in 1917.