1 By 8:25 A.M., Sunday: Schwieger, War Log.
2 Simple enough in concept: For additional details about diving, see Forstner, Journal, 20–27; Koenig, Voyage, 51–58; Neureuther and Bergen, U-Boat Stories, 174.
3 as little as seventy-five seconds: Bailey and Ryan, Lusitania Disaster, 120.
4 Certain older boats: Koerver says that boats built before U-20, numbered U-5 to U-18, all powered by gasoline, took “several minutes” to dive (German Submarine Warfare, xxxvii). Breemer says, “By 1914 a diving time of five minutes or less had become standard for a boat when fully surfaced, about one minute from an awash condition” (Defeating the U-Boat, 14).
5 “suicide boats”: Koerver, German Submarine Warfare, xxxvii.
6 Commander Paul Koenig recalled: Koenig, Voyage, 51–58.
7 a reddish light: Spiegel, Adventures, 15.
8 “Well, we seem to have arrived”: Koenig, Voyage, 54.
9 To speed the process: Thomas, Raiders, 33.
10 with an angry growl: Koenig, Voyage, 27. He calls it a “furious” growl.
11 “the blind moment”: Ibid., 31; Forstner, Journal, 75.
12 “some of the most nerve-racking”: Neureuther and Bergen, U-Boat Stories, 118.
13 U-20 emerged: Schwieger, War Log.
LUSITANIA: A SUNDAY AT SEA
1 the “long course”: New York Times, Sept. 12, 1909.
2 Timing was crucial: “Answers of the Petitioner to the Interrogatories Propounded by May Davies Hopkins,” Petition of the Cunard Steamship Company, April 15, 1918, U.S. National Archives–New York, 4; Ramsay, Lusitania, 227.
3 Theodate Pope awoke: Letter, Pope to Ada Brooks Pope, June 28, 1915, Riddle Papers.
4 Second-class passenger William Uno Meriheina: Meriheina’s letter was reprinted in an unidentified news article “Saves 15 Lusitania Passengers, Then Writes to Wife from Raft,” held by the New-York Historical Society, New York, NY. It is excerpted as well in Kalafus et al., Lest We Forget.
5 “A braver man”: Kalafus et al., “William Meriheina: An Inventive Survivor,” Encyclopedia Titanica, March 29, 2014, www.?encyclopedia-?titanica.?org/?documents/?william-?meriheina-?an-?inventive-?survivor.?pdf.
6 “We have passed”: “Saves 15 Lusitania Passengers, Then Writes to Wife from Raft,” unidentified news article, New-York Historical Society, New York, NY.
7 into the crow’s nest: Testimony, Charles E. Lauriat Jr, Petition of the Cunard Steamship Company, April 15, 1918, U.S. National Archives–New York, 87.
8 On Sunday, the ship’s first full day: Lauriat, Lusitania’s Last Voyage, 3.
9 “At this rate”: Quoted in “Mr. Charles Emelius Lauriat, Jr.,” under “People,” “Saloon (First Class) Passenger List,” at Lusitania Resource, www.?rmslusitania.?info/?people/?saloon/?charles-?lauriat.
10 He looked them over: Lauriat, Claim. Lauriat’s claim before the Mixed Claims Commission numbers hundreds of pages and contains many details about his journey, down to the number of bags he brought with him and where he stored them. His claim also provides insights into his dealings with Thackeray’s daughter and granddaughter.
11 “absolutely necessary”: “Answers of Petitioner to Interrogatories Propounded by Hunt, Hill & Betts,” Petition of the Cunard Steamship Company. April 15, 1918, U.S. National Archives–New York, 58.
12 expressly prohibited from “gossiping”: Memorandum, to Captain and Staff Captain, Lusitania, Nov. 21, 1914, Cunard Archives, GM 22/1/1.
13 “Ships should give”: “Answers of the Petitioner to the Interrogatories Propounded by May Davies Hopkins,” Petition of the Cunard Steamship Company, April 15, 1918, U.S. National Archives–New York, 5; “Memorandum as to Master’s Actions,” Admiralty Papers, ADM 1/8451/56, National Archives UK.
14 “in a place where it can be destroyed”: “Instructions for Owners and Masters,” Admiralty Papers, ADM 1/8451/56, National Archives UK. A May 1915 Admiralty memorandum entitled “Notes on Mines and Torpedoes” instructs ship captains on how to treat a torpedo found floating in the sea. The first, and possibly wisest, bit of advice: “Do not hit it on the nose.” Bailey/Ryan Collection.
15 This was an effective maneuver: Telegram, Adm. John Jellicoe to Admiralty, March 23, 1915, Churchill Papers, CHAR 13/62/83. In his telegram, Jellicoe recounts the sinking of U-29 and praises the “seamanlike handling” of the Dreadnought, but nonetheless urges that the sinking be kept secret. In telegraphic prose, he writes: “It must be very disconcerting to the enemy when submarine disappeared and cause of loss not known.”
16 “It is not in any way dishonorable”: “Instructions for Owners and Masters,” Admiralty Papers, ADM 1/8451/56, National Archives UK.