 Upon the outbreak of World War I in Europe in early August 1914, "Arcadia" sought refuge from Allied forces in the United States, where she remained inactive through the period of American neutrality in the war.After the United States entered the war on the side of the Allies on 6 April 1917, the United States Customs Service seized her as enemy property and turned her over to the United States Shipping Board.Armed with two 3-inch (76.2-mm) guns manned by a United States Navy Armed Guard detachment, SS "Arcadia" operated under Shipping Board auspices for the remainder of World War I.