The sinking, without warning, of the British liner Lusitania in its approach to the Irish Sea by the German submarine U-20 on May 7, 1915, during World War I. The giant Cunard Vessel, carrying 4, 200 cases of contraband ammunition, sank in twenty minutes, and 1, 128 out of 1, 959 passengers and crew perished-128 of them American. On May 13, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson asked Germany to disavow its action but avoided a diplomatic break. Germany eventually suspended unrestricted attacks, and in February 1916 it apologized and offered indemnity without acknowledging illegality.
See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.
