After the outbreak of war, the Azores quickly suffered a decline
in exports to their traditional markets, particularly Britain. The
British Navy was forced to reduce its presence in the waters
around the Azores in favor of other theaters of war, which
virtually paralyzed trade in the Azores from January 1915, after
the appearance of German submarines off the archipelago.
After Portugal entered the war, the imperial submarine U-155
bombarded Ponta Degada on July 4, 1917, causing the
population of the Azores to be directly affected by the war for
the first time. To re-establish safe conduct in the waters of the
Azores, the US created a military base in Ponta Delgada in
early 1918. At the same time, a High Commission of the
Republic was founded there.
Without military reinforcements from mainland Portugal, the
lives of the people of the Azores deteriorated significantly. On
the one hand, trade restrictions caused financial losses and, on
the other hand, many farmers had to abandon their fields due to
defensive measures. And as misfortune rarely comes alone, in
addition to famine and war, the plague also broke out, which
further disturbed public order, already shaken by internal
political turmoil.
The largest influenza epidemics of the 20th century affected
almost all the islands of the Azores, while the naval war still
caused shortages of food and medicine.
In this dire situation, local authorities were able to make the
most of the limited technological and economic resources
available, including working in concert with military
commanders.