SMS Geier was a German sloop which put into the then-neutral United States port at Honolulu, Hawaii

Honolulu, Hawaii

Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...

, at the onset of World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, but was seized by a crew from the USS St. Louis

USS St. Louis (C-20)

The fourth USS St. Louis, Cruiser No. 20 ', was the lead ship of her class of protected cruisers in the United States Navy. St. Louis was launched on 6 May 1905 by Neafie & Levy Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; sponsored by Miss Gladys Bryant Smith; and commissioned on 18 August 1906, Captain...

 upon the United States' entering the war, and after a protracted international legal dispute, re-commissioned in the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

as the and eventually sunk following a collision off the coast of North Carolina.