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With the outbreak of the War, Fork-bearded von Tirpitz got into difficulties. It was his fate to know a great deal about machines, and very little about human nature. In 1915 he let the Lusitania be sunk, was acclaimed in Germany, "The Eternal." But the Kaiser, always picturing himself as the Christian Warrior, refused to sanction unrestricted submarine warfare, refused to risk the full German fleet in a pitched battle with Britain. Other German parliamentarians, not unnaturally, blamed von Tirpitz's big-navy program for Britain's entrance in the War. In 1916 Forkbeard broke off a 20-year friendship with his sovereign, retired. Recalled to service in 1917 he was at last given his chance to start ruthless submarine warfare, almost achieved success.
Until two years ago he served as a nationalist deputy in the Reichstag, saying little, a confirmed but silent Monarchist. Since then he has lived in comparative seclusion near Munich. Softened by Bavarian good living he recently developed a great admiration for his former enemies, Britain and the U.S. He publicly advocated a British-German U.S. alliance.
* Corresponding to the modern cruiser, frigates were men o' war, variously rigged, smaller, lighter than Ships of the Line.