Sinking of the Lusitania

AT the start of the Great War in 1914, the United States pursued a policy of non involvement.
They looked on it as a European matter and this attitude was reinforced by a strong German-American and Irish-American lobby. Even after the liner the Lusitania was torpedoed with 128 American casualties, President Wilson  maintained a neutral stance but warned that the United States would not tolerate further similar submarine attacks. He was narrowly re-elected in 1916 on the ticket that he would keep America out of the war. He only declared war after seven American merchant ships were sunk and Germany offered to finance a Mexican attack on the US to recapture Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
Both Britain and Germany tried to control the sea lanes to guarantee their own supplies and restrict access to their enemy’s home ports. By early 1915 submarines became a major factor in the naval war and were particularly used by Germany. In February, Germany decided to step up its campaign and declared the seas around Britain and Ireland a war zone where allied ships would be sunk without warning. All ships sailing to British ports were given specific instructions and these included traveling at full speed and using a zigzag course. Britain also dispatched warships to help protect unarmed shipping.
On May 1, the Lusitania sailed from New York bound for Liverpool. She carried 1,959 passengers and crew, 159 of whom were American. Even though she was unarmed she listed 4,200 cases of ammunition among her cargo and Germany would later claim that that made her a legitimate target. On the morning the Lusitania sailed, New York papers carried advertisements from the German Embassy warning that any ship sailing into the European war zone was a potential target. Some papers even carried the advertisements beside the Cunard Line sailing schedule.  
On May 6, the ship received warnings of U Boat activity off Ireland and carried out some safety drills. On the morning of May 7, the ship was within sight of the Irish coast and by 1pm was off the Old Head of Kinsale. Surprisingly, there were no support warships. Because of fog, the ship was not traveling at full speed and was also on a predictable course. It had also been sighted by U Boat U20. At 2.09, U20 fired one torpedo, hitting the Lusitania, which sank within 18 minutes.
Immediately, the propaganda started from both sides, both concentrating on making the other country the culprit. The main damage was caused by a second powerful explosion and to this day there is no proof as to its cause. Maybe it was the ammunition, which was unlikely. Maybe it was the coal dust in the bunkers, some say it might have been the boilers or just maybe it was some unlisted secret cargo. Unfortunately, we will never know.
As with all such incidents there are many theories including one that the British Navy dropped depth charges on the wreck to ensure that it could never be explored. Whatever the reason, 1,198 souls were lost with only 761 saved.
The Lusitania was struck by a torpedo and sank less than 20 miles off the Old Head of Kinsale on May 7, 1915 – 97 years ago this week.