Germany Declares War! (on Edward Jackson)
Three months before the United States entered World War I (April, 1917), she continued, reluctantly, to have a trade status with Germany and allowed their ships to enter U.S. ports. When the German submarine Deutschland arrived in New London, Conn. on a cold, dark January night in 1917, the people in this quiet town had lots to talk about - and the news soon reached Eddie Jackson. The submarine Deutschalnd was tied to a remote pier and hidden from view by the German steamer Wilhead, expressly to keep the warship out of the sight of prying eyes. Eddie soon found that German security was also at its highest level.
Eddie's actual photo is shown below and in newspaper story at right.
Undaunted by all efforts to keep the submarine from the eye of Eddie's camera, Eddie 'borrowed' a canoe and paddled around the Wilhead (shown in the foreground) to take his photograph. His actions, detected by the crew of the Wilhead, spurred a personal attack as large, heavy wooden planks were thrown at him from the deck of the steamship above (any of which would have killed him on contact). Note the ripples in the water near the Wilhead anchor line, evidence that the attack was underway.
German steamship Wilhead at anchor in New London, Conn. effectively blocking submarine Deutschland from prying eyes and Eddie Jackson's camera.
