dec 23, 1917 - Britain Torpedoes an American Ship

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The year ended on a tragic and ominous note. An American freighter carrying clothes, food, and toys donated by German-American families for German children for Christmas was torpedoed by a British freighter which mistook it for a German ship. Caught between public outrage (Stoked by German spies) and American financial ties, President Wilson told the British to agree to let future ships through after inspection or that sanctions would be imposed. This finally cemented U.S. neutrality in the war.

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