The Voyage Begins in Wartime
In the spring of 1915, the Lusitania prepared to leave New York for Liverpool as war raged across Europe. The ship was famous, admired, and trusted. To many travelers, it seemed too large, too modern, and too fast to be in real danger, even though Germany had declared the seas around Britain a war zone.
A public warning from the German Embassy appeared in American newspapers on the very day passengers were preparing to sail. It stated clearly that travelers on British ships entered the war zone at their own risk. Many people noticed the warning, but most brushed it aside. Some treated it as a bluff, while others believed the Royal Navy would never allow a ship like the Lusitania to be attacked.
Nearly 2,000 people came aboard, including wealthy passengers, businessmen, writers, families, and many children. The ship represented comfort and confidence at a time when the world seemed increasingly unstable. Even those who felt uneasy often stayed on board because they believed speed itself was protection.
At the center of the voyage stood Captain William Thomas Turner, a veteran seaman with a long and difficult career behind him. He was blunt, disciplined, and highly experienced, though not polished in the way shipping companies preferred. He trusted his judgment and believed, as many did, that a submarine would struggle to catch a ship as fast as the Lusitania.
As the liner finally pulled away from New York, it carried more than passengers and luggage. It carried assumptions from an earlier age, when size, prestige, and routine still seemed stronger than new weapons. That belief would not survive the crossing.
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