Small and neutral Portugal tries to resist the pressure applied by a cheerful Great Britain to join the Entente Allied cause. British warships encourage Portuguese acquiescence, as the shadow of German militarism threatens. After German submarines sank Portuguese vessels, Portugal seized German ships in its ports. Germany responded by declaring war on Portugal on March 10, 1916. One of a series of 1916 postcards on neutral nations by Em. Dupuis.
Je voudrais bien . . . mais je suis si petit.I would like to but I am so small.PortugalSigned:Em. Dupuis 1916Reverse:Visé Paris. No. 117Logo: Paris Color 152 Quai de JemmapesCarte Postale
"Mar. 8 [1916] Portugal seizes 38 German shipsMar. 9 Germany declares war on Portugal. . .Mar. 15 Austria at war with Portugal...In retaliation for the sinking of neutral Portuguese vessels, the Portuguese Government seized 38 vessels lying at anchor in her harbors, and refused Germany's demand for their release."
The dated items are entries from 'Important Events on Land and Sea' for the 'Third Year of the War 1916' from King's Complete History of the World War. The remainder of the quote is from 'Germany Launches New Submarine Campaign Against Allies.' Neutral Portugal was under increasing pressure from her ally, Great Britain, to join the Entente Allies. Portugal also held colonies in Africa — Angola and Mozambique — and had clashed with Germany, particularly along the borders of the latter.
King's Complete History of the World War by W.C. King, pp. 205, 261, copyright © 1922, by W.C. King, publisher: The History Associates, publication date: 1922
1916-03-09, 1916-03-08, 1916-03-15, 1916, March, Portugal
