"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." Larson puts out as a possibility the chance that the Lusitania was knowingly sent to its destruction as part of a conspiracy to draw America into the war. However, he also makes it clear that a confluence of events brought about its doom, most of them based in stupidity.
For example, the British admiralty knew that the Lusitania and German submarine(s) had a good chance of crossing paths near Liverpool. They also knew that a German u-boat had sunk two liners the day before the Lusitania reached those waters. However, the warning they sent Capt. Turner left out the information about the sinkings. Also, no British escort was provided for the Lusitania even after the sinkings of the other boats, in spite of the fact that British warships were in the vicinity and could have easily provided protection. That Winston Churchill was otherwise occupied also led to the lack of firmness in the Admiralty.
Room 40 information has tapered off some. Basically, they knew but didn't say much about what they knew . . . holding back for a more important time.
Passengers: Still not caring a whole bunch about any of them. Female architect is most interesting. Short Story: Yellow Wallpaper, written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, was written to bring attention to a quack doctor whose cure for women suffering depression was to have them lie down and do nothing for a couple of months. Literally nothing. Bedpans, nurses to roll them over. Bizarre. The architect in the book had been treated for depression by this doctor (name escapes me, and I can't find the page.) Always liked that story, now I like it even more knowing the back story.
U-boat: I think this is where I've learned the most. My image of WWI u-boats is pure television from the '60's. Sneaky and efficient. The sneaky part was correct, but the efficiency is not. Slow compared to "regular" ships. Periscopes are difficult to use. U-boats helpless against shells of destroyer. Also easily rammed. 40% of torpedoes fail. Tough to get the right angle to cause maximum damage to a ship. All in all, not as imposing as on TV. What a shock!
For example, the British admiralty knew that the Lusitania and German submarine(s) had a good chance of crossing paths near Liverpool. They also knew that a German u-boat had sunk two liners the day before the Lusitania reached those waters. However, the warning they sent Capt. Turner left out the information about the sinkings. Also, no British escort was provided for the Lusitania even after the sinkings of the other boats, in spite of the fact that British warships were in the vicinity and could have easily provided protection. That Winston Churchill was otherwise occupied also led to the lack of firmness in the Admiralty.
Room 40 information has tapered off some. Basically, they knew but didn't say much about what they knew . . . holding back for a more important time.
Passengers: Still not caring a whole bunch about any of them. Female architect is most interesting. Short Story: Yellow Wallpaper, written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, was written to bring attention to a quack doctor whose cure for women suffering depression was to have them lie down and do nothing for a couple of months. Literally nothing. Bedpans, nurses to roll them over. Bizarre. The architect in the book had been treated for depression by this doctor (name escapes me, and I can't find the page.) Always liked that story, now I like it even more knowing the back story.
U-boat: I think this is where I've learned the most. My image of WWI u-boats is pure television from the '60's. Sneaky and efficient. The sneaky part was correct, but the efficiency is not. Slow compared to "regular" ships. Periscopes are difficult to use. U-boats helpless against shells of destroyer. Also easily rammed. 40% of torpedoes fail. Tough to get the right angle to cause maximum damage to a ship. All in all, not as imposing as on TV. What a shock!
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