Naval Campaigns Club - Campaign Plan Black

While reports remain sketchy it is now confirmed that U-boats of the Imperial German Navy launched many unprovoked attacks against at least three different groups of US Navy warships operating in US Atlantic waters off Florida and in the Caribbean. In a direct violation of the 2nd Hague Convention of 18-Oct 1907 signed by the German Kaiser himself, German U-Boats in the first of the attacks openly fired a spread of torpedoes at the battleship USS Minnesota just 20 miles off of Marathon Key, Florida. as the men on the Minnesota waved to the vessel. Reaction though was quick and German losses are reported to be heavy. Unfortuantely one of the topedoes did hit the Minnesota and 162 were injured, 62 fatally. The dead and wounded were transported by skiff to shore and the task force continued upon its way.

"The only place the Kaiser will ever rule is the bottom of the North Sea," Chief Master at Arms Bob Boudreaux, said as he was brought ashore burned over 50% of his body. "And I'll be happy to carry his Schnapps' filled *** to his throne there whenever he is ready!" Boudreaux said he would be back fighting within the week. "A little burn won't keep me from my gun."

In a statement from the White House, President Wilson called the attack a "breech in the faith of mankind" as the act violated a Naval Convention the Kaiser himself had signed. "We shall pursue all provisions under Section XIII of the 2nd Hague Convention with the civilized nations of the World and in a letter hand delivered to the Kaiser after the attacks by the Swiss Ambassador on behalf of the United States and 52 other nations and governmental bodies advised his governement that ALL of its signatures on International documents are now called into question and connot be considered made in good faith."

"Men died today because we believe in the honor of our word," the Wilson said. "Their deaths are on my hands as I issued the order that we would not violate a neutrality convention we signed. But the gloves are now off and the foul stench of the German Empire will find that it has this time taken a step too far. This is not France or a country one-onehundredth their size. Just let them ask their 'friends' in Spain and Mexico to those who make that misstep!" Obvious references to the Spanish-American War of 1898. "And that was shortly after a tragic war in this country which saw almost one million die," Wilson noted of the Civil War in the 1860s. "We will now show the world what that mighty force can do against any other nation who dares bloody our soil."

No other casualty figures were available yet. though US Naval Department officials said on the USS Minnesota was the only US ship known hit and continaed the only known US casualties Elsewhere, often far, far away, thousands and thousands of men are showing up at recruiting offices along the northern US border to join the war effort and lines stretched for miles outside the recuriting offices in cities in Florida and Puerto Rico as well as outside US Embassies in over two dozen Caribbean nations as men look to join the US effort to fight Germany and the fraud who calls himself Kaiser
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OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES
PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON
THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington, D.C.

25-June 1919

The intransigence of a nation bent on expansionism and tyranny; the tragic and senseless loss of nearly 800 men at sea; and a pattern of actions consistent with a threat unseen by this nation in many years have led to the following decree:

Whereas the Imperial German government has put to sea a force of scores of warships and thousands, if not tens of thousands, of combat ready infantry troops,;

Whereas this force has tried to hide under a façade of maneuvers, the supplies pulled from the seas with the dreadful dead from the collision between a troop transport and Grenada freighter, have made clear the intention is not maneuvers but invasion;

Whereas documents recovered from the sight of the wreckage make clear the invasion will take place in the Caribbean or far southern United States and is meant as a long-term occupation;

Whereas the United States Navy and members of the International Red Cross have confirmed the location of the collision to be near 29N and 72W, within the Exclusion Zone set by Congress on 14-June, 1919; and

Whereas the Joint Declaration of War 1 w/Provisions passed and executed that day by both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate by unanimous acclimation;

THEREFORE it is immediately resolved that the United States of America finds itself on the brink of war with the government of Imperial Germany and her Central Alliance of Countries and in direct violation of the Joint Declaration signed be Congress;

Being a peace loving people and proud of the healthy growing industrialization of the United States of America, her protectorates , and all of her allies, friends and brothers of the greater Americas; it is the order of the President that US Naval Forces will not initiate hostilities but only respond to a hostile act by this invading fleet of warship or to directly protect the lives and property of the peoples of the Americas;

Finally, be it resolved that the United States Navy is immediately ordered to War Status and ordered to seek out and turn back, hopefully by peaceful means, this invading fleet. Should that not be possible and should the Imperial German Government or any of her Alliance initiate hostilities or provoke an attack by direct threat on innocent people and property of the Americas as they stretch from pole to pole;

The full military, industrial, and humanitarian forces of the United States and here American brothers will be brought to bear on the attacking forces and any nation giving them aid or assistance outside that endorsed by the 2nd Hague Convention signed 18-Oct 1907 and given power of force by all nations of the World 26-Jan 1910. A further discussion of the implications of the 2nd Hague Convention will be issued by this office later today.

The Ambassadors, Diplomatic Staff, families and any and all other members of the German Imperial Consulate and Central Alliance Countries, all European countries of German Occupation) Consulates have been “Hand Delivered” notice that they have five days to leave the United States through a liner bound for Europe alone or face immediate forced deportation. Any country found to be providing aid or assistance to these nations will be treated as a combatant within the provisions of the 2nd Hague Convention and also receive such deportation orders. All US State Department officials left these nations today for home. Their families were sent home earlier.

Signed and attested, this the 25th day of June 1919, by Woodrow Thomas Wilson, President of the United States of America on behalf of its Congress, Peoples and Principles. May God help us all and may God Bless the United States of America and her Allies.

WOODROW THOMAS WILSON
25-June 1919

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New York Times - Morning Edition Dateline: San Juan, PR, 22-Jun-1919	Tragedy / War at Sea ?
It was a scene that brought even the most seasoned fishermen to their guardrails for a moment of private disgust. Hundreds of young German troops floating in the early morning fog of the Atlantic Ocean as far as the eye could see. As of midday, vessels responding to calls for assistance reported they had picked up over 450 bodies all in full battle gear with live ammunition and printed cards in a number of Caribbean dialects saying “Surrender now or you will die!” But with the battle gear weighing down the young soldiers, no telling how many lay below the surface. The first sign of the tragedy came at 2218 EDT when the Grenada freighter M/V Starfish reported by wireless she had struck another vessel running with no lights or signals in heavy fog near 29N 72W or about 1200 miles east of San Augustine , Florida, and 400 miles North of Hispaniola. M/V Starfish Captain Arny Green said he hit the other vessels amidships and immediately turned away. But it was too late. He said there was a 20 foot gash in the side of the ship he hit and she quickly foundered. Four members of the M/V Starfish crew suffered injuries as well. “I thought it was likely another freighter like ours but with some sort of problems till I heard the screams and saw people crawling like ants out of every hole in the vessel, “ Green said. “My first thought was to turn back and rescue them but then there was a warship to evade and another and another. Warships with guns the size of redwood trees, coal carriers, and more of the transports. We dodged the silent, dark ships for almost an hour before we were clear and they were gone off to the south in the fog.” At 0034 EDT, the M/V Starfish sent out an SOS call and requested the assistance of all nearby vessels. Green said he reached the area of the crash at 0148 EDT and found nothing but hundreds of bodies and a large debris field. “I think the worst was that come dawn there were not a single one of the other German ships there.” Green said. It was like they just left them there to die and be eaten by fish and crabs. What kind of people do that? What kind of people do that..” The location of the incident brought a swift response from US Naval vessels and navy ships were on the scene within hours. Officials at Task Force America Headquarters in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba would only say that the bodies were of German infantry men and that material gathered from the recovered bodies indicted they were part of an invasion fleet. Once the location of the accident was confirmed by US warships it verified the German Fleet sighted off Bermuda last week has now indeed violated the “Line in the Sea” laid down by President Woodrow Wilson on 14-June when the US Congress passed a Provisional Declaration of War against Germany and here allies if their hostile forces entered the waters of the Americas, “For the purpose of this Declaration, the “America’s” shall be defined as all waters South of 30° North and West of 55° West” The incident happened hundreds of miles within this Exclusion Zone and the German forces were purported to have continue sailing southerly. Because of the late hour, the White House issued only a small statement for the families of those who had died and noted the President would meet with Cabinet and Congressional leaders at 1000 EDT on the 23rd to discuss future actions. With one stroke of his pen, Americans may find themselves at war for the first time in dozens of years. Back To Top
International Deutschland Tribune (English Ed.) Dateline: Paris, 21-Jun-1919	French / German News Clipping
The gutless American’s too fearful to fight in a war for the future of the free world, seem all too ready to build war fervor where no provocation exists for anything of the type. The new German Empire has the same rights as all other nations to conduct operations in international waters, just as the American’s do on a regular basis in the Atlantic. The International Maritime Convention is the only body capable of drawing borders or lines of demarcations upon the high seas. Outside that Convention, only the various countries of the world have the right, within Convention Guidelines, to set their own territorial waters. Yet the arrogant President Wilson and his puppet congress would throw out the IMC and its decades of tradition and set borders in the middle of the ocean for itself and countries who have no interest in its outrageous rhetoric nor even consider themselves allies of this bully of a nation. Let President Wilson and his lackeys hear loud and clear, the maritime forces of the German Empire will go anywhere, at any time, they wish and any force who thinks it can prohibit such actions will quickly learn the lessons taught the initially illogical England during its fruitless early resistance. As the Kaiser told the American government today: “The hindrance of any German vessel in International waters will be considered an act of war and provoke an immediate response which will leave your Atlantic coastline lined with thousands of dead bodies and destroyed cities. Your years of decadence will finally come back to pay off in the hell it hath wrought. So far, you have been wise to avoid a fight you could never ever win. You stand on the brink of that line again. My advice is go back and play democracy. The alternative is death and domination.” ********************************************* More as Communications and State come across new information. Back To Top**

New York Times - Special Edition Dateline: San Juan, PR, 17-Jun-1919	Special Edition
The acting commander of U.S. Naval Forces in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Captain Ruiz Lopez of the Cruiser USS Des Moines has confirmed that the United States submarine USS S-20 spotted a large portion of the German Empire’s High Sea Fleet sailing today in the West-central Atlantic Ocean. According to the report apparently radioed from the USS S-20 and confirmed today at the Task Force America Headquarters in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, headquarters of all naval operations in this situation; the German fleet was located near 35° N 50° W or about 2,500 west of the easternmost portion of the European mainland. It is farther west of the Azores than they are west of Europe. Unfortunately, the S-20 was in need of refueling and all US Naval forces have been explicitly ordered to not engage and if at all possible not be spotted by the German fleet as long as it is outside the exclusion zone set by President Woodrow Wilson and the U.S. Congress. So while the fleet is once again sailing unwatched in the Atlantic Ocean, the question becomes where is it headed and how long till war comes to our shores? The first seems more obvious at least for now. Between ship reports by fishermen, sightings by U.S. merchant vessels and the new submarine sighting; obviously the High Sea Fleet is not headed for near the Azores Islands for “maneuvers.” If that were true, they would have missed terribly and we know the Kaiser is not known for mistakes. Ask what used to be Europe. The location of the fleet puts it almost exactly 1500 miles Northeast of San Juan and only a bit less than 1900 miles East-Northeast of Miami, FL. It is far closer to the United States and its southern allies than it is to its own homeland. A point hard to ignore by anyone. When issuing the Provisional Declaration of War to the President the other day, Congress agreed that a “Line in the Sea’” actually a pair of them, would trigger the authorization for the President to declare war as he saw fit; or should Congress itself so act. Those lines said that if the Central Fleet crossed the 65th Meridian (65° W) above 30° N Latitude; or the 55th Meridian (55° W) below 30° N Latitude, it would be considered an “Act of War.” Naval sources speaking on the condition of anonymity said the German Fleet was less than 450 miles North of the closer of the lines; or within a days sail of the trigger point. However, the same source indicated the fleet were either fueling, conducting security sweeps of just making minimal heading in a large circular pattern. Whatever the High Sea Fleet may be up to it is not yet apparently ready to cross the lines set by President Wilson. The USS S-20 is headed to Guantanamo Bay for a complete debriefing by Task Force America officers and while the Navy refused to discuss the current disposition of any naval fleets or ships, it would seem obvious additional submarines are on the way to reacquire and shadow the German Fleet. Throughout the United States, especially on the East Coast and southern Coastal States, an air of war is already beginning to take hold. American’s had long known that if the English were not able to handle the German matter, it would be but a matter of time before the United States would have to become involved. But to have the Germans brashly feint at least an attack on the United States itself my have hurt the Kaiser’s efforts more than he ever knows. Thousands of able bodied men were lined up outside recruiting offices today, often in lines stretching for blocks, to join the cause. In the Bronx, outside an office there, Harvey Norton sat in the heat in a wheelchair as the line inched forward toward the recruiting office door. When asked how long he had been waiting, Norton said for nine hours. “I know they won’t take me with my legs paralyzed and all, but there must be something I can (deleted) do to help,” he said, “I’ll fill my boat up with gas and drive it onto one of those ships before I allow those ‘herdenviech krauts’ to come to America. This aren’t no piss ant island _ nothing against the Brits. If they want a good (deleted) kicking, they have come to the right place!” Back To Top
US Printing Office Dateline: Washington DC, 14-Jun-1919	Emergency Session of U. S. Congress
US Printing Office Transcript ---- President Woodrow Wilson Addresses Emergency Session of U. S. Congress June 14, 1919 Vice President Marshall, Senator Cummins, Senator Lodge, Speaker Gillett and honorable members of the 66th Congress of the United States, I appear before you today on a matter of utmost urgency. This country opted to let Europe handle its own affairs during the bloody fighting of recent years and asked only that those affairs be kept across the ocean and away from the United States and the Americas. We have long known the Kaiser might have plans for the Americas but we have made very clear our views on this matter. On May 19 of this year in a proclamation to all nations, I once again put forth the policy of this nation and her friends to the south. Indulge me a moment as I quote: WHEREAS in 1914 because of the outbreak of war in Europe a proclamation was issued declaring a limited national emergency and directing measures "for the purpose of strengthening our national defense within the limits of peacetime authorizations", WHEREAS a succession of events makes plain that the objectives of the victorious German Empire in such war are not confined to those avowed at its commencement, but include expansionism across the Atlantic Ocean and the potential destruction of the peaceful democratic order of the peoples of the Americas, along with the domination of peoples and economies of this region through the destruction of all resistance on land and sea and in the air, AND WHEREAS indifference on the part of the United States to the increasing menace would be perilous, and common prudence requires that for the security of this nation and of this hemisphere we should pass from peacetime authorizations of military strength to such a basis as will enable us to cope instantly and decisively with any attempt at hostile encroachment into this hemisphere, or the establishment of any base for aggression against it, as well as to repel the threat of predatory incursion by foreign agents into our territory and society, as well as the territories of our southern brethren. I think it was a simple statement of facts and it was followed by a simple promise; I again quote: NOW, THEREFORE, I, THOMAS WOODROW WILSON, President of the United States of America, do proclaim that an unlimited national emergency confronts this country, which requires that its military, naval, air and civilian defenses be put on the basis of readiness to repel any and all acts or threats of aggression directed toward any part of the Americas. It was my sincere hope that the powers that be would take us at our word and work toward a world where the nations on both sides of the Atlantic and the Pacific too for that matter could cooperate to each others mutual growth and prosperity. But I learned late Monday from Secretary of State Colby that this is not the case and the German Empire appears ready to strike at the Americas, if not at the very United States itself. We have learned that the German Empire’s High Sea Fleet, with three full divisions of battleships and nearly 50 other warships and dozens of U-Boats have left Europe and are at this moment in the Central Atlantic sailing southwest towards the southern United States or Caribbean Sea. The Germans claim it is just “maneuvers.” And even if it were just a naval fleet looking to control our waters or the waters of our other America brothers, that would be bad enough. But Secretary of War Baker has also concerned that at least 10,000 men and their support equipment of the German Army are aboard a fleet of troop transports traveling with this offensive naval array. Soldiers mean only one thing: Invasion! The time has come for the Americas to stand up and say we will not wallow in the hatred and inhumanity which has gripped Europe. We are a peaceful nation but if provoked we will fight unlike no other nation to protect our peace and freedoms. I hope it does not come to that but events are moving fast and time may be short. To that end I have issued the following orders: 1 The Armed Forces of this nation have been brought to full alert and been told to prepare for war. The Dept. of War Plan Black has been put in motion and will bring US military, commercial, and industrial components into a wartime footing within 30 days, with he military components in place within 15 days. 2 Secretary Colby has begun discussions with all of our friends in the Caribbean and Americas to ensure they are prepared for what may come and to fight for what is their destiny as much as ours. Any nation or government unwilling to assist in this fight, be it by joining with the Central Powers or providing aid under the guide of neutrality will be considered the enemy of the United States and her allies. 3 I am calling upon all the loyal citizens engaged in production for defense to give precedence to the needs of the nation to the end that a system of government that makes private enterprise possible may survive. I call upon all our loyal workmen as well as employers to merge their lesser differences in the larger effort to insure the survival of the only kind of government which recognizes the rights of labor or of capital. 4 I call upon loyal state and local leaders and officials to cooperate with the civilian defense agencies of the United States to assure our internal security against foreign directed subversion and to put every community in order for maximum productive effort and minimum of waste and unnecessary frictions. I call upon all loyal citizens to place the nation's needs first in mind and in action to the end that we may mobilize and have ready for instant defensive use all of the physical powers, all of the moral strength and all of the material resources of this nation. 5 Secretary of the Navy Daniels has been given the authority to implement US Naval Plan Black immediately upon the observation of a hostile act against the United States or its southern brothers. To this end, he has created Naval Force America, the largest offensive naval power ever assembled by this nation and the most powerful in history to repel any attempt by Germany or the Central Powers to enter the Americas. 6 Secretary Daniels named Admiral Rich Mercer, one of this country’s finest naval officers in history to lead Naval Force America and due so under the rank of Fleet Admiral. Those of you well versed in naval history know this title has only been held by a handful of men and only in time or war. It grants Adm. Mercer the ability to make battlefield appointments immediately and not wait for the concurrence of the Naval Department, War Department or Congress as normally required. Such appointments may begin immediately in light of the immediate threat. Finally, I have placed before you and your leadership a Provisional Declaration of War. It says that should the current offensive naval force or its troop transport components, or any portion of those forces, cross into the America’s, the President shall be authorized by congress to sign the official Declaration of War. For the purpose of this Declaration, the “America’s” shall be defined as all waters South of 30° North and West of 55° West, as well as North of 30° North and West of 65° West. Yes these are International Waters, but with a force of nearly 100 warships and transports with thousands if not tens of thousands of men headed for this country and its allies, we must be a cautious as possible and give our Naval Forces a fighting chance. No hostilities in violation of International Naval Conventions will be committed by the forces of the United States unless they are attacked or enemy forces enter our territorial waters. I ask for your immediate consideration of this Act and thank you for your time, patience and quick reaction in this time of grave world affairs. Speaker Gillett, I yield the floor to you as ranking member present. House Speaker Rep. Frederick Gillett (R): Gentlemen pursuant to the provisions of the emergency session and concurrent with the approval of the leaderships of both parties in both houses, I hereby call the question on Joint Declaration of War 1 w/Provisions. Senator Lodge. Senate Majority Chairman Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge (R): Gentlemen I concur with the Speaker and the question is called by acclimation. All in favor answer by saying Aye; all opposed Nay. Mr. Clerk House Clerk: The question is on Joint Declaration of War 1 w/Provisions. What say yea? House Speaker Rep. Frederick Gillett (R): In the opinion of the Chair the Ayes have it. Are there any objections? None heard, the matter is passed and laid upon the table. With the proper signatures affixed, this session is closed. Mr. President, this is one Act of Congress I hope you never have to sign. But know that if you do this Congress, this nation and the free world will back your actions. Back To Top

Local fishermen returning to port ahead of Force VIII conditions moving in from the southeast have told many a story of fleet after fleet of ships of the German Empire heading out through the Channel and into the Atlantic. Even the great oceanic steamer the SS Oceanic IV sighted the great fleet as it made its way through the Channel.

Captain Sir Harnry Fernsworth of the SS Oceanic IV, a former Commander of His Majesties Royal Navy in the Great War said he had not seen such a show of force since the War. “It made me skin crawl to see such massive military might just sailing away unwatched and unfettered as if they owned the World!,” Fernsworth said.

“To see the SMS Koenig, SMS Grosser Kurfurst, and SMS Markgraf sailing with their Scouts and Torpedo Boats was enough to drive me from the bridge,” he added in a heavy voice. “We could have taken them if those damn Yanks had gotten off their bums. I’m sure they will get a taste before all this is over”

Numerous fishing trawlers and a second oceanic steamer also reported seeing large numbers of warships from large battleships, to torpedo boats, U-boats and a large troopship convoy or convoys?. Thomas Wright, captain of a trawler out of Gosport, said he counted 25 transports in one convoy, all filled with “German lads hangin ore the side” apparently sick from the Force VI seas in the area. “Not very classy for a sailor in such a wee blow,” he joked. “But they are Germans!.”

Sir Thomas Hambilton, owner of the oceanic steamer SS Greenland’s Lady,” after docking in Brighton told Port Officials he spotted a convoy of at least 40 transports through glasses over 165 kilometers to the southeast of the area Wright was fishing. His sighting time was within an hour of the time Wright logged his sighting. Sir Thomas also reported the transport decks filled with sailors who appeared a bit “unsure of their sea-legs.”

Konteradmiral Hans Rose, Special Attaché to the German Ambassador to England, told the Daily Mail and other reporters outside the Embassy the ships are merely part of “planned naval maneuvers” in the Central Atlantic, “which I believe are still International Waters.” When questioned about the reports of troop transport convoys, Rose said the observers had likely “misidentified colliers and other support craft in the inclement weather,” before he brushed past reporters.

Royal Navy Admiralty officials had little to say on the reports this morning noting England is abiding by its coastal patrol limits and has no major naval forces at sea at this time. They added that the Royal Navy Channel Observing Post mandated by the treaty on Alderney Island has not observed any unusual traffic in the Channel over the past several days, but added the weather had been ornery and the recent fire at the airship facility still had all RN airships on the island either grounded or unusable.

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New York Times	Canal Zone Closed to Germany and Allies
New York Times	War ! War ! War !
New York Times	Correction - Correction - Correction
New York Times	Canada, Bahamas, Bermuda, & Mexico Neutral: But
Armed Forces News	Provisional Declaration of War
New York Times	Tragedy / War at Sea ?
International Deutschland Tribune (English Edition)	French / German News Clipping
New York Times	Special Edition
US Printing Office	Emergency Session of U. S. Congress
London Daily Mail	Sub Sights German Fleet


	United States Navy
New York Times News Service C. Boudreaux - NYT