LUSITANIA: MESSAGES
1 “Submarines active”: Telegram, Censor, Valencia to Admiralty, May 7, 1915, Lusitania Various Papers, Admiralty Papers, ADM 137/1058, National Archives UK.
2 “Submarines off Fastnet”: Ibid.
3 After dinner, Preston Prichard: Letter, Guy R. Cockburn to Mrs. Prichard, Sept. 6, 1915, Prichard Papers.
4 On past voyages: “Programme in Aid of Seamen’s Charities,” R.M.S. Lusitania, Sept. 21, 1912, DX/728, Merseyside; “Programme of Entertainment,” April 21 and 22, 1915, D42/PR3/8/25, Cunard Archive.
5 “I was keenly interested”: Lauriat, Lusitania’s Last Voyage, 5.
6 Under certain conditions: Ramsay, Lusitania, 164.
7 “that no suggestion would be made”: “Statement of Mr. A. J. Mitchell,” May 14, 1915, Lusitania Papers, Microcopy 580, Roll 197, U.S. National Archives–College Park.
8 “She was only too happy”: Josephine Brandell Account, quoted in Kalafus et al., Lest We Forget.
9 “Hope you have a safe crossing”: Record of Wireless Signals, May 6, 1915, “Lusitania Various Papers,” Admiralty Papers, ADM 137/1058, National Archives UK.
LONDON; WASHINGTON; BERLIN: TENSION
1 “in sight for five minutes:” Telegram, Naval Center Queenstown to Admiralty, May 6, 1915, “Home Waters: General Operation Telegrams,” May 6–10, 1915, Admiralty Papers, ADM 137/113, National Archives UK.
2 “heart failure, accelerated by shock”: New York Times, May 6, 1915; Washington Times, May 5, 1915.
3 “running amok”: Washington Times, May 5, 1915.
4 “There are some things”: Wilson to Galt, May 5, 1915, Wilson Papers.
5 “I can hardly see”: Wilson to Galt, May 6, 1915, Wilson Papers.
6 “There was the fear”: Wilson, My Memoir, 66–67.
7 “Oh, so many things swarmed”: Ibid., 67.
8 “all the problems which confronted him”: Ibid.
9 “unwelcome publicity”: Ibid.
10 “This fact is eminently bound not only to alter our good relations”: Link, Wilson: Struggle, 398.
11 That evening: Washington Times, May 6, 1915.
12 At midnight that Thursday: Intercepted telegram, “Norddeich to all Ships,” Admiralty Papers, ADM 137/3959. Here’s the actual text:
MAY 6, 1915
NORDDEICH TO ALL SHIPS
NO. 48
S.S. LUSITANIA LEAVES LIVERPOOL FOR NEW YORK ON MAY 15TH. S.S. TUSCANIA LEAVES GLASGOW ON MAY 7TH FOR NEW YORK VIA LIVERPOOL. S.S. CAMERONIA 11,000 TONS LEAVES ON MAY 15TH FOR NEW YORK.
U-20: FOG