March 15, 1889, 125 years ago: A German naval force shells a village in Samoa, destroying some American property. Three American warships enter the Samoan harbor, and prepare to fire on the three German warships found there. Before guns are fired, the 1889 Apia cyclone blows in and sinks all the ships, American and German. A compulsory armistice is called because of the lack of warships. Whether either country was truly prepared for war is unclear. Benjamin Harrison, in his first few days in office, was a big believer in naval power, but hadnt had a chance to put that into action yet. Kaiser Wilhelm II, only 30, in his first year on the throne of the German Empire, not yet the monster of Europe, and not yet having fired the pragmatic Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, may not have known what he was doing. Its likely a solution would have been found.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 00:29:54 +0000
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