The year is 1915 and WWI is underway. Tensions are growing as the United States tries to remain the neutral power between the Allied countries, France, Russia, and Italy, and the Central Powers, led by Germany and Austria-Hungary. The fateful voyage begins on a drizzly spring morning. The Lusitania boards its passengers and departs from Pier 54, in New York’s Lower West End with William Turner as its captain. The deck is suspiciously rigged with twelve 6-inch guns. These were added in 1913 because of the impending war. The ship said to be carrying platinum, bull

With growing tensions between America and Germany, the U.S. finally allied with Britain, shortly after the sinking of the Lusitania. The sinking of this massive cruise liner played a large role in the U.S. decision to go to war, mainly because many American lives were lost. This controversial incident remains one of the greatest tragedies of WWI and its time.

Woodrow Wilson, while upset by the incident, continued to stress American neutrality. In response to the attack, he denounced British and German blockades, and wrote a letter of protest to the Imperial German Government, in William Bryan’s name, requesting an apology for the U.S. and for Germany to pay reparation. He also subliminally threatens that if the Germans do not stop torpedoing, or sinking passenger ships without warning, America will no longer remain neutral, and side with Britain. Germany reacted with compliance. (Source 4). In an attempt to keep America neutral, the Germany apologized to the U.S. and agreed to stop sinking passenger ships without warning them first. They claimed liability and paid reparations in 1916. (Source 7)

Interestingly enough, the Lusitania was not designed as a passenger cruise ship. It and its sister ship, the Mauretania, had originally been commissioned and designed specifically as armed auxiliary cruisers. The British Admiralty funded Cunard with an annual operating subsidy. The Lusitania’s bulkhead design was exactly that of warships. Furthermore, the Lusitania was registered as an armed auxiliary cruiser around the same time it was equipped with the guns. (Source 6)

Shortly, after the trip began, the ship was docked for a reason unknown to the passengers. It was later learned that 200 tones of ammunition were extracted from the Queen Marga

Some topics in this essay:
Royal Navy, Captain Schwieger, William Turner, Queen Margaret, Americans British, Britain Germany, America Germany, England Unfortunately, DC April, Captain Turner, war zone, britain allies, imperial german, source 6, source 5, imperial german government, american lives, queen margaret, coast ireland, passenger ship, ships warning, sinking passenger ships, passenger ships warning,