(A) ** They declared the seas around Britain a war zone and would sink any Allied ship in the region
(B) The Lusitania fired first trying to sink the German submarine
(C) They thought it was a United States battleship carrying soldiers to the western front
(E) None of the above
EXPLANATIONS BELOW
Concept note-1: -Dernburg said that because Lusitania “carried contraband of war” and also because she “was classed as an auxiliary cruiser” Germany had had a right to destroy her regardless of any passengers aboard.
Concept note-2: -The Lusitania was carrying a cargo of rifle ammunition and shells (together about 173 tons), and the Germans, who had circulated warnings that the ship would be sunk, felt themselves fully justified in attacking a vessel that was furthering the war aims of their enemy.
Concept note-3: -On February 4, 19 15, Germany declared the waters about the British Isles a “war zone” in which submarines would destroy every enemy merchant vessel found there. She warned neutrals that neither the crews nor passengers of such vessels, whether enemy or neutral subjects, would be safe in the zone.