The latter part of the year 1914 saw no important action by the United States excepting a proclamation by the president of the neutrality of the Panama canal zone.
The events of 1915 and succeeding years became of great importance to the United States and it is with a record of those having the greatest bearing on our country that this account principally will deal.
On January 20 Secretary of State Bryan found it necessary to explain and defend our policy of neutrality.

January 28 the American merchantman William P.Frye was sunk by the German cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich.

On February 10 the United States dispatched a note to the German government holding it to a "strict accountability if any merchant vessel of the United States is destroyed or any American citizens lose their lives." Germany replied February 16 stating that her "war zone" act was an act of self-defense against illegal methods employed by Great Britain in preventing commerce between Germany and neutral countries.

Two days later the German official blockade of Great Britain commenced and the German submarines began their campaign of piracy and pillage.
The United States on February 20 sent an identic note to Germany and Great Britain suggesting an agreement between them respecting the conduct of naval warfare.

The British steamship Falaba was sunk by a submarine March 28, with a loss of 111 lives, one of which was an American.