German Submarine Blockade Runners-- Part 1: To America

From Wikipedia:  The U-Boat Campaign World War I.

AMERICAN WATERS

In 1916, Germany completed two submarine merchant vessels to be used as blockade runners.  The aim was to carry high value goods to and from neutral nations like the United States who would trade with Germany.  The first of these submarines, the Deutschland sailed in the summer of 1916 and made a favorable impression in the United States.

She made an equally successful voyage in the autumn of that year.

--Cooter