Role of Cape Henlopen and Delaware Bay in WWI is topic Oct. 19

Capt. William Manthorpe will return to the Rehoboth Beach Museum to present a talk on World War I on the Delaware Coast at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 19.

This year marks the century anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War I. WW I began in 1914 and, while the nation tried to stay neutral, Cape Henlopen and Delaware Bay were already being drawn into the war. This presentation will describe the activities of the warring nations off the cape in the years before the U.S. entry into the war in April 1917. It will highlight the strategic importance of Delaware Bay as the U.S. entered the war. The rapid establishment of a naval base at Lewes and the facilities on the cape will be described. That base was the home to a variety of "pickup" naval forces, which will be illustrated. The German submarine operations off the cape and their successes during WW I will be introduced as a forerunner to the more well-remembered operations of WW II.

Manthorpe is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, the Naval War College and George Washington University. He served 24 years as a naval intelligence officer, retiring as a captain. He served another 16 years as a senior executive in the Navy Department. After retiring, he taught at Johns Hopkins University, the National War College and the Joint Military Intelligence College. Since retiring full time to Rehoboth, he has been researching, writing and speaking on Delaware's naval heritage.

This presentation is drawn from his book "A Century of Service: The U.S. Navy on Cape Henlopen 1898-1996." His next book, "History of American Naval Ships Named Delaware: Those Who Built and Sailed in Them, Their Life and Times" will be published by the Delaware Heritage Press within the year.

Reservations are required. The program is free for members. A $5 donation is suggested for nonmembers. The museum is at 511 Rehoboth Ave. There is free parking and the museum is handicap accessible. To reserve a space, call 302-227-7310.