18 – The US goes to war

The USA declared war on April 4, 1917.

President Woodrow Wilson

President Wilson was prepared to go to war to defeat Germany, but wanted to avoid the United States’ involvement in the long-standing European tensions between the great powers.

In December 1917 the U.S. Navy sent five battleships under Admiral Rodman USN to replace the British ships lost at Jutland. The United States Battleship Division Nine – USS Florida, USS Wyoming, USS New York, USS Delaware and USS Texas – became the 6th Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet.

Admiral Rodman

“American battleships in the Firth of Forth” by Alma Claude Burlton Cull

USS Arkansas replaced USS Delaware in July 1918.

“The American Battle Squadron in the Firth Of Forth 1918” by Sir John Lavery
USS New York, Texas, Florida, Wyoming, Delaware

The exploits of USS Texas are recorded in North Sea Days

Or you can read an extract covering the Surrender of the German Fleet

Admiral Sims

Admiral Sims was in charge of all US Navy ships in European Waters. Apart from the battleships, they comprised 2 destroyer tenders (Melville and Dixie), 47 destroyers, 1 submarine tender, 7 submarines, 1 Q ship (Santee), 30 sub-chasers, 1 minelayer and 3 tugs. All based out of Queenstown, Ireland to protect convoys in the Western approaches.

This was the exchange between Admiral Rodman and Commodore Tweedie when they first met.

Wilson’s Fourteen Points for World Peace

On January 8, 1918, President Wilson made a speech to Congress to sketch out his vision for an end to the war, and the basis for a lasting peace in Europe. This vision was set out in Fourteen Points. HERE is the full text of President Wilson’s speech.

This speech was intended for domestic consumption to support the war effort, but was also aimed at the allies and Germany, to remind them of the need to find world peace after the World War.

A contemporary cartoon depicting the Kaiser contemplating Wilson’s 14 points as the only path to peace