On May 7, 1915, the R.M.S. Lusitania, an ocean liner owned by the Cunard Line, was torpedoed by a German U-boat, 8 miles off Kinsale, Ireland. The Lusitania sank in 18 minutes, and 1,198 of the 1,959 people aboard were killed; 128 were Americans.
The Lusitania was carrying ammunition for the Allies to use against the Germans. The U.S. threatened to sever diplomatic relations, and the Germans re-imposed restrictions on U-boat activity.—wikipedia.
