During the war, Pollock was appointed as captain on , a German cruise liner which was seized by the United States government for use as a military transport ship. She was rechristened "George Washington" in September 1917 and Pollock was given her command on October 1, 1917. That December, she set out with her first load of troops. During the war, Pollock successfully transported 60,000 American soldiers to France in 18 round trips. In 1918, "George Washington" was tasked to deliver President Woodrow Wilson to the Paris Peace Conference, though Pollock would not make the trip. He was reassigned on September 29, 1918.