The Captain Who Ignored U-Boats
Walter Cunliffe received six wireless warnings about German submarine activity off Ireland’s coast in 1915. As captain of the Lusitania, he was advised to zigzag through dangerous waters. Instead, he maintained a straight course at reduced speed, believing the ship’s size offered protection. A German U-boat torpedoed the liner on May 7, killing 1,195 passengers and crew. The sinking outraged Americans, helping shift public opinion toward entering World War I.
