[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 12, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E502-E503]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMEMORATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SMS CORMORAN'S SINKING IN 
                           APRA HARBOR, GUAM

                                  _____
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 12, 2017

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 100th 
anniversary of the scuttling of the World War I German ship, the SMS 
Cormoran, in Guam's Apra Harbor, which occurred on April 7, 1917.
  The SMS Cormoran was scuttled by its crew on April 7, 1917, the day 
the United States entered World War I. Twenty six years later, on 
August 27, 1943 the Japanese freighter Tokai Maru was torpedoed and 
came to rest also in Apra Harbor's waters. This Apra Harbor site is 
symbolic of Guam's rich history and unique role in United States and 
world history, as this is the only site in the world housing two 
shipwrecks from the two World Wars.
  Originally a Russian merchant fleet vessel, SMS Cormoran was captured 
by Germans in the years leading up to World War I, and was transformed 
into an auxiliary cruiser which Germany docked in the Chinese province 
of Tsingtao, a small German colony at the time.

[[Page E503]]

In December of 1914, the SMS Cormoran was chased by Japanese warships 
on a routine trip, and running low on fuel, docked at Apra Harbor on 
Guam. At the time, Guam was a U.S. territory, and the United States was 
a neutral nation. The SMS Cormoran's captain, Captain Adalbert 
Zuckschwerdt requested fuel and provisions from Guam's naval Governor 
William Maxwell, who promptly denied the request due to the United 
States' neutrality. Instead he gave Captain Zuckschwerdt two options--
to leave Guam immediately or remain interned. Captain Zuckschwerdt 
chose to remain on island. On April 7, 1917 the United States entered 
World War I, and naval Governor Roy Smith ordered Captain Zuckschwerdt 
to surrender his personnel and the SMS Cormoran. While Captain 
Zuckschwerdt surrendered his personnel, he ordered the crew to scuttle 
the vessel. American soldiers noticed the activity and fired a warning 
shot, which signified America's first engagement with Germany the very 
same day we declared our entry into World War I. Six German soldiers 
died in the scuttling of SMS Cormoran and they were buried with full 
military honors at the U.S. Naval Cemetery.
  In 1975, the wreck of the SMS Cormoran was placed on the National 
Register of Historic Places. I commend the work of the Guam Visitors 
Bureau and all other stakeholders for organizing an event to 
commemorate 100th anniversary of the SMS Cormoran's sinking, which 
prompted the first American action upon its entry into World War I. 
This ceremony highlights Guam's unique history in world events and 
provides an opportunity to showcase the distinctive historical sites 
that are only available on our island.

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