Summary

A number of passengers woke early and climbed to the top deck to watch the sun come up. They spotted a British destroyer port side. It was a welcomed sight for the passengers who believed the ship was there to protect them. At 6:00 am the Lusitania slowed to 15 knots due to heavy fog and activated the foghorn; crewmen were assigned to provide extra lookout duty. The fog was a defense against submarines that had less visibility than any other ship on the seas. The fog cleared and the men in the crow’s nest got the first glimpse of Ireland’s coastline.

The intelligence that Room 40 received confirmed that there was only one U-boat – U-20 – in the waters off Country Cork. Cunard chairman Alfred Booth pleaded with Navy officials to provide security for his flagship and to alert Captain Turner about...