1915 RMS Lusitania

captain daniel dow, lusitania s penultimate captain



captain william thomas turner 1915.



the official warning issued imperial german embassy travelling on lusitania

by 1915 new threat began materialise: submarines. @ first used germans attack naval vessels, achieved spectacular success. u-boats began attack merchant vessels @ times, although in accordance old cruiser rules. desperate gain advantage on atlantic, german government decided step submarine campaign, result of british declaring north sea war zone in november 1914. on 4 february 1915, germany declared seas around british isles war zone: 18 february allied ships in area sunk without warning. not wholly unrestricted submarine warfare efforts taken avoid sinking neutral ships.

lusitania scheduled arrive in liverpool on 6 march 1915. admiralty issued specific instructions on how avoid submarines. admiral henry oliver ordered hms louis , hms laverock escort lusitania, , took further precaution of sending q-ship hms lyons patrol liverpool bay. destroyer commander attempted discover whereabouts of lusitania telephoning cunard, refused give out information , referred him admiralty. @ sea, ships contacted lusitania radio did not have codes used communicate merchant ships. captain dow of lusitania refused give own position except in code, , since was, in case, distance positions gave, continued liverpool unescorted.

in response new submarine threat, alterations made ship s protocols. ordered not fly flags in war zone, contravention of cruiser rules. messages sent ship s commander him decide how best protect ship against new threat, , seems funnels painted dark grey make less visible enemy submarines. clearly, there no hope of disguising identity, profile known, , no attempt made paint out ship s name @ prow.

captain dow, apparently suffering stress operating ship in war zone, , after significant false flag controversy, left ship; cunard later explained tired , ill . replaced captain william thomas turner, had commanded lusitania, mauretania, , aquitania in years before war.

on 17 april 1915, lusitania left liverpool on 201st transatlantic voyage, arriving in new york on 24 april. group of german-americans, hoping avoid controversy if lusitania attacked u-boat, discussed concerns representative of german embassy. embassy decided warn passengers before next crossing not sail aboard lusitania. imperial german embassy placed warning advertisement in 50 american newspapers, including in new york:

notice!

travellers intending embark on atlantic voyage reminded state of war exists between germany , allies , great britain , allies; zone of war includes waters adjacent british isles; that, in accordance formal notice given imperial german government, vessels flying flag of great britain, or of allies, liable destruction in waters , travellers sailing in war zone on ships of great britain or allies @ own risk.

imperial german embassy

washington, d.c., 22 april 1915.

this warning printed adjacent advertisement lusitania s return voyage. warning led agitation in press , worried of ship s passengers , crew. lusitania departed pier 54 in new york, on 1 may 1915 @ 12:20 p.m. few hours after vessel s departure, saturday evening edition of washington times published 2 articles on front page, both referring warnings.

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