 During the early 1900s, the Bland Group continued to expand its fleet, focusing on commercial trade between North Africa, Spain, and the United Kingdom.During the First World War, the company's fleet came under attack as a result of Germany's decision to initiate unrestricted submarine warfare; two of its vessels, the "Gibel Yedid I" and the "Gibel Hamam I" were sunk, while a third, the "Gibel Derif", successfully evaded a submarine attack.During the interwar period, the Bland Group continued to expand by sea, coal becoming a staple cargo.