Topics in Chronicling America - Sinking of the Lusitania

Despite published newspaper articles warning against travel on Allied ships, the RMS Lusitania departed from New York on May 1, 1915, bound for Liverpool. As the ship sailed near Ireland on May 7, it was torpedoed by a German U-boat and sank, killing over 1,100 people on board. A later British investigation into the incident ruled that the Lusitania was attacked with the intent to kill civilians, as the ship did not carry explosives. Read more about it!

Jump to: Sample Articles

Important Dates:

• February 4, 1915: Germany declares the water surrounding the British Isles a war zone and warns that all Allied ships will be attacked.
• April 22, 1915: The German Embassy publishes a warning in some newspapers to tell passengers that travel on Allied ships is “at their own risk.” The Lusitania, a is mentioned specifically in some of the discussion about the warning in the week leading up to its departure.
• May 7, 1915: The Lusitania is torpedoed and sinks, killing over 1300 passengers including more than 130 Americans.
• June 15, 1915: The Board of Trade begins its investigation into the sinking. The claim by German forces that the ship had been armed is ruled untrue at the end of the trial in mid-July.

Suggested Search Strategies:

• [Try the following terms in combination, proximity, or as phrases using Search Pages in Chronicling America.] Lusitania, Berlin Decree, German Embassy warning.
• To narrow the results, include specific dates (such as February 4, 1915) or date ranges (May 1-31, 1915).

Sample Articles from Chronicling America:

• "New "Berlin Decree" Declares Waters Around British Isles War Zone On and After Feb. 18," New York Tribune (New York, NY), February 5, 1915, Page 1, Image 1, col. 7.
• "America Faces Gravest Peril of War as Result of Germany's Blockade," The Washington Times (Washington, DC), February 5, 1915, Home Edition, Page 1, Image 1, col. 6.
• "Germany Warns Against Travel in Allies' Ships," New York Tribune (New York, NY), May 1, 1915, Page 3, Image 3, col. 1.
• "Bernstorff Warns U.S. Citizens Not to Travel on Ships of the Allies," The Washington Times (Washington, DC), May 1, 1915, Home Edition, Page 1, Image 1, col. 6.
• "Sink Lusitania," The Tacoma Times (Tacoma, WA), May 7, 1915, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "Liner Lusitania Sunk by German Submarine," The Washington Times (Washington, DC), May 7, 1915, 2d Extra, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "1,300 Die as Lusitania Goes to Bottom," New York Tribune (New York, NY), May 8, 1915, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "Germany Glad Ship Sunk; 1200 Die," El Paso Herald (El Paso, TX), May 8, 1915, Home Edition, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "Lusitania Death Toll 1346; 132 American Passengers Lost," Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA), May 8, 1915, Night Extra, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1.
• "Will Prove Lusitania Unarmed," El Paso Herald (El Paso, TX), June 15, 1915, Home Edition, Page 1, Image 1, col. 4.
• "The Official Finding in the Lusitania Case," The Day Book (Chicago, IL), July 17, 1915, Noon Edition, Page 29, Image 1, col. 1.
• "British Officially Find Submarines Sank Lusitania," Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA), July 17, 1915, Night Extra, Page 4, Image 4, col. 5.
• "Toll of Lusitania Victims Laid to German Murder Lust," Washington Herald (Washington, DC), July 18, 1915, Page 9, Image 9, col. 2.