Conspiracy theories RMS Lusitania

1 conspiracy theories

1.1 british government deliberately putting lusitania @ risk
1.2 undeclared war munitions
1.3 alleged bombardment/destruction of wreck

conspiracy theories

there number of conspiracy theories relating last days of lusitania.

british government deliberately putting lusitania @ risk

there has long been theory, expressed historian , former british naval intelligence officer patrick beesly , authors colin simpson , donald e. schmidt among others, lusitania deliberately placed in danger british authorities, entice u-boat attack , thereby drag war on side of britain. week before sinking of lusitania, winston churchill wrote walter runciman, president of board of trade, stating important attract neutral shipping our shores, in hope of embroiling united states germany.

beesly concludes: unless , until fresh information comes light, reluctantly driven conclusion there conspiracy deliberately put lusitania @ risk in hope abortive attack on bring united states war. such conspiracy not have been put effect without winston churchill s express permission , approval.

at post-sinking inquiry captain turner refused answer questions on grounds of war-time secrecy imperatives. british government continues keep secret documents relating final days of voyage, including of signals passed between admiralty , lusitania. records available missing critical pages, , lingering questions include following:

undeclared war munitions

lusitania officially carrying among cargo 750 tons of rifle/machine-gun ammunition, 1250 cases of shrapnel artillery shells explosive burster charges loaded no fuses or propellant charges, , artillery fuses shells stored separately. beesly has stated cargo included 46 tons of aluminium powder, used in manufacture of explosives , being shipped woolwich arsenal, while erik larson has stated cargo included 50 barrels , 94 cases of aluminium powder, 50 cases of bronze powder. author steven danver states lusitania secretly carrying large quantity of nitrocellulose (gun cotton), although not listed on cargo manifest either.

furthermore, there large consignment of fur, sent dupont de nemours, explosives manufacturer, , 90 tons of butter , lard destined royal navy weapons testing establishment in essex. although may, lard , butter not refrigerated; insured special government rate insurance never claimed. in september 2008, bullets of type known used british military recovered wreck diver eoin mcgarry. found in area of ship not known have been carrying cargo.

alleged bombardment/destruction of wreck

it has been alleged wreck bombed royal navy. dublin-based technical diver, des quigley, dived on wreck in 1990s, reported wreck swiss cheese , seabed around littered unexploded hedgehog mines .

in february 2009, discovery channel television series treasure quest aired episode titled lusitania revealed , in gregg bemis, retired venture capitalist owns rights wreck, , team of shipwreck experts explore wreck via remote control unmanned submersible. @ 1 point in documentary unexploded depth charge found in wreckage.

professor william kingston of trinity college, dublin claimed there s no doubt @ royal navy , british government have taken considerable steps on years try prevent whatever can found out lusitania .