 On 19 August 1918 she was transferred to the Navy from the United States Shipping Board and commissioned the same day as USS "Cacique" (ID # 2213) under the command of Lieutenant Commander C.H.Winnett, USNRF.Assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service, "Cacique" sailed from Norfolk, Virginia on 30 August 1918 to take part in supplying the United States Army in France.