On this day, the German cruiser Deutschland intercepted and captured the American cargo ship SS City of Flint, despite the Flint belonging to the neutral United States.
The captain of the Deutschland seized the City of Flint, claiming it was carrying contraband. The ship was transporting a cargo of tractors, grain and fruit to Britain. The Deutschland placed a ‘prize crew’ aboard the cargo ship with the objective of sailing the ship to the Norwegian port of Tromsø for drinking water. To avoid being captured by British warships, the Germans hung the Danish flag off the stern of the ship and renamed it the Alf.
