 After the United States declared war on Germany in April 1917, the United States Army, needing transports to get its men and materiel to France, had a select committee of shipping executives pore over registries of American shipping.The committee selected "El Occidente" and thirteen other American-flagged ships that were sufficiently fast, could carry enough fuel in their bunkers for transatlantic crossings, and, most importantly, were in port or not far at sea.After "El Occidente" discharged her last load of passengers and cargo, she was officially handed over to the Army on 30 May.