Well-written in the sense that it didn't get bogged down in details and made complex subjects easily understood. But poorly edited. I found several typos and factual errors. I don't agree with is conclusion that the Lusitania opened the door for total war — I think that would have come about just as quickly without this incident.

Otherwise, I think the sinking was caused by the war and, big picture, it is hard to place responsibility on any one cause. The British government was trying hard to fight a war and care for a home front populace, so it's not surprising that it would use every resource, including passenger liners carrying civilians, bot bring supplies into the country. It's also not surprising that it would gamble on shipping munitions in a liner in the hope that the civilians would give the shipment some protection. Cold an calculating, yes, but necessary during war time. Also, the British blockade of Germany which lead the Germans to rely on submarine warfare is not surprising. Sea power was Britain's strength and it is expected that she would use it however she could.

The Germans were also at war and suffering from the British blockade, although winning the war in other areas. A society that had proved itself particularly willing to kill civilians of other nations to further its interest wouldn't hesitate to do so on a passenger liner that was, technically, carrying contraband. But knowing that the ship was carrying well over a thousand innocent civilians and, at best, very little war-related cargo, made the decision to sink her immoral.

From the American point of view, allowing civilians to sail on a ship that was entering a war zone while carrying contraband in light of the warning given by the Germans can hardly be looked at as anything less than greed.

And Captain Turner had to find a way to get his ship through a war zone. He had to do this so that he arrived at Liverpool at a time when he could sail in over the bar at high tide without sailing about in circles and making his ship more vulnerable.

In short, the basic goals of all involved are understandable but contrary to each other, making the disaster inevitable. I don't believe there was a conspiracy to sink the ship to get the U.S. involved in the war. All parties are to blame to some extent. The Germans are to blame to a greater extent.

What I can't understand is why my grandfather sent his wife and two children on that voyage, although I'm kinda glad he did or I wouldn't exist.