unge.” (Hugh, p. 175) No evidence exists that proves that the Germans were discouraged by these losses, or that the incidents would not have occurred if there was new construction, which was going on so fast that in German yards sixty-one new craft had been completed by the end of 1915. The reason that the Germans cancelled its first unrestricted campaign was not military but diplomatic. On August 19, 1915 U-24 spotted and torpedoed the liner Arabic off Ireland, there was a number of deaths, including three Americans. The United States opposed this so much that the German Navy was ordered to change its campaign. (Halpern, p. 337) From August 30, 1915 U-boats were not allowed to attack any passenger liners of any nationality without prior warning and the ensuring of the safety of the passengers. (Hugh, p. 176) The Germans were too fearful of offending the Americans and it was too risky to attack any liners so they withdrew all their U-boats from western waters. For a while Germany concentrated itself on laying mines in the North Sea and a campaign in the Mediterranean where few American ships were located. (Halpern, p. 337)In 1917 von Trotha, the German Chief of Naval Staff made this statement: “Scheer and I both held the view that the first half-hearted attempts at submarine warfare were a profound mistake as they gave notice to the British Admiralty to prepare for future eventualities. We both felt this limited submarine war was a waste of both life and material, as it could not be expected to achieve anything in the nature of a blockade of England.We were however restrained by the Government on the representations of the Army from starting unrestricted submarine war. Nevertheless we pressed for authority to start it.” (Hugh, p. 301-302)As a result of this statement by von Trotha on February 1, 1917 Germany re-opened unrestricted U-boat warfare on the North Sea. (Hugh, p. 302) On February 3, 1917 President Wi...
