The U-Boat in Newport Harbor

In the fall of 1916, the United States was clinging to its neutrality as much of the rest of the world was embroiled in World War I. Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm hoped to keep America out of the war while also retaining the ability to purchase needed goods and materials from the U.S. Huge merchant submarines were sent to both carry trade and also intimidate while Germany carried on extensive warfare at sea against other belligerents. Learn about a surprise visit to the Newport Navy Base on October 7 that year by  one of these advanced warcraft and the surprising chain of events that followed eventually leading up to America's entry into the war in April 1917.