From ‘News of the Week’, The Spectator, 15 May 1915:
SINCE our last issue every day has been to packed with incident and emotion that it is difficult to see events in their right perspective. The diabolical crime of sinking the ‘Lusitania’ is, from a military point of view, of course much lees important than the development of large and critical movements on both fronts of the war. The battle raging in the western theatre is probably the greatest which has yet been fought, and, measured by the employment of artillery, it is probably the greatest battle in history. But the passions roused by the murder of the ‘Lusitania’s’ passengers—feelings powerful enough to transform the outlook of the whole world upon the war—and the political events, abroad and at home, which are likely to flow from those feelings, are of such importance that we most write first of the ‘Lusitania.’ That is, indeed, the preoccupying subject. It is now admitted in effect by the neutral countries—we ought to say by the people of those countries lather than by their Governments in most cases—that “neutrality” cannot possibly remain the mere attitude of a detached spectator.
We must give a brief summary of the facts about the ‘Lusitania.’ Before this famous liner sailed from New York the American newspapers had published an advertisement signed by the German Ambassador in Washington to the effect that Americans crossing the Atlantic in any vessel flying the British flag, or the flag of any of Britain’s allies, would do so at their own risk. Telegrams were also sent to well-known Americans. No one applied the warning with any seriousness to the ‘Lusitania.’ It seemed incredible that Germany contemplated the crime of sinking an unarmed liner—the German statement that the Lusitania’ carried guns is wholly untrue—with some two thousand non-combatants on board and very little cargo. In any case, it was said that the ‘Lusitania’s’ great speed would give her complete security. On the afternoon of Friday week she was a few miles off the Irish coast in calm and bright weather when she was torpedoed without warning. Captain Turner, who was in command, said that he saw the wake of the torpedo. There was a second explosion, but he did not know whether it was due to another torpedo or was an internal explosion. The ‘Lusitania’ at once listed over. Unfortunately the engines had been damaged by the torpedo which had penetrated the ship, and they could not be worked. Otherwise they would have been reversed to stop the vessel. In these circumstances the launching of the boats was a difficult and dangerous business. In a little over half an hour the ‘Lusitania’ had disappeared.
There were 1,906 persons on board, including the crew of 651, and the survivors number 772. Those who perished either by drowning or by the explosions were thus 1,134. Among the Americana lost were Mr. A. G. Vanderbilt, Mr. Charles Frohman (the well-known theatrical manager), Dr. F. S. Pearson, Mr. Justus Miles Forman, Mr. Elbert Hubbard, and Mr. Charles Klein (the playwright). Among the British passengers Sir Hugh Lane was drowned and Mr. D. A. Thomas was saved. Captain Turner went down with the ship, but was afterwards picked up. At the time of the disaster the ‘Lusitania’ was steaming about eighteen knots. In the House of Commons on Monday Mr. Churchill stated that the Admiralty had sent a warning to the ‘Lusitania’ and instructions as to her course.
A warning was certainly necessary, as several vessels had already been torpedoed off the Irish coast. No escort was supplied by the Admiralty. Mr. Churchill explained that it would be impossible to send destroyers to escort all the vessels, averaging two hundred a day, which enter and leave British ports. We sincerely hope that there will be no foolish attempt to stampede the Admiralty on this question. We must trust our naval experts. Ws suppose that the points where shipping is thickest are patrolled, or can be patrolled, but to weaken our main force in nursing merchantmen would be madness. Happily our merchant captains know this, and ask for nothing but freedom to look after themselves in their own way. The spirit of British passengers is also beyond praise. It is evident from what the shipping offices say that for men and women who have to cross the ocean the one motto is “Carry on.”
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