Opinion favors the Allies
234. The American Government Neutral. When Germany first attacked Belgium, some people believed that the United States should break off relations with her at once. Our government declared itself neutral. President Wilson asked the people to be friendly in their dealings with all the nations at war. But Germany's headlong haste in declaring war, and her methods of waging it made most Americans anxious for the success of the Allies.
Germany protests
The European countries were too busy fighting to raise all the food or forge all the guns their armies needed. They were producing these things on a very great scale, but had to buy vast quantities besides. The United States was the country best able to supply them. The great steel factories of the country worked night and day making shells, tanks, and war material of all kinds. Since England controlled the seas, everything we made went to the Allies. Germany protested strongly against our supplying her enemies with the means to fight her. But America, not being at war, had a right to trade with all countries. To give up this right would have been to take sides with Germany. American merchants were willing to manufacture goods for Germany, but she could not send ships to get them.
THE LUSITANIA
235. Disputes with England and Germany. Our government had a just cause of complaint against England. Her acts were not always strictly lawful. She stopped our ships on the high seas and searched them, destroying mail which she thought was intended for Germany. When the United States objected, she promised to make good all losses.
The Lusitania
Germany, on the other hand, not only destroyed American goods but American lives. One of the two largest passenger ships ever built, the Lusitania, was sunk by a German submarine on May 7, 1915. Over one hundred Americans went down. Again there was a great cry that Germany should be punished. But President Wilson made every possible effort for peace. He gave Germany a chance to prove that she did not mean to continue such lawlessness. Finally Germany promised to take Americans off the ships to be sunk. In spite of her pledge Germany failed to change her methods. New notes protesting and more ships sunk was the order of things for almost two years.