in october 1915, landslides closed the panama canal and all american-hawaiian ships, including "minnesotan", returned to the straits of magellan route again. "minnesotan"s exact movements from this time through early 1917 are unclear. she may have been in the half of the american-hawaiian fleet that was chartered for transatlantic service. she may also have been in the group of american-hawaiian ships chartered for service to south america, delivering coal, gasoline, and steel in exchange for coffee, nitrates, cocoa, rubber, and manganese ore.