Germany, on the other hand, not only destroyed American goods but American lives. One of the two largest passenger ships ever built, the _Lusitania_, was sunk by a German submarine on May 7, 1915. Over one hundred Americans went down. Again there was a great cry that Germany should be punished. But President Wilson made every possible effort for peace. He gave Germany a chance to prove that she did not mean to continue such lawlessness. Finally Germany promised to take Americans off the ships to be sunk. In spite of her pledge Germany failed to change her methods. New notes protesting and more ships sunk was the order of things for almost two years. [Sidenote: =A peace-loving nation=] President Wilson was severely criticized for this "warfare of notes." But many people were not yet convinced that this was different from other European wars. Otherwise Congress, which like the President is the servant of the people, might have declared war sooner. The country was peace-loving, and far away from roaring guns and ruined towns of Europe. In a way it is to the credit of the American people that they were slow to believe in the world-wide plots of the Kaiser, and the reported cruelty of his soldiers. [Sidenote: =United support of war essential=] =236. The Need of a United Nation.= President Wilson sought to be a true public servant, by listening to the opinions of people throughout the land. He did not try to lead the nation into war while the feelings of the people were still divided. A divided people could have done little in this gigantic war. His training made him able to understand the temper of the American people well. He was a student of history, and the author of well-known books on the American government. [Sidenote: =Wilson's boyhood=] President Wilson's boyhood was much like that of any other boy. In his classes he was neither brilliant nor slow. He took part in all regular school sports, and at Davidson College once saved the day for his team in baseball. Later at Princeton and Johns Hopkins, two of the most famous eastern universities, he studied history and economics. At the age of twenty-three he began a book called _Congressional Government_, which shows his command of words and thorough knowledge of his subject. [Sidenote: =Governor of New Jersey=]