9. The Germans issued warnings to passengers on British ships
The United States was officially neutral in 1915, though it maintained a brisk trade with Great Britain. Its ships entered the war zone flying the American flag, which the Germans respected. British ships in the war zone did not fly any flags, hoping the lack of recognition would allow them to slip past the Germans. False flags were recognized as a legitimate ruse of war, though not on armed ships, including the Q Ships. Lusitania’s famous profile meant that the use of a false flag would be of little value. The ship was too well-known and at best it might have been confused with Mauretania. Besides, the Germans knew Lusitania had been designated an armed merchant cruiser, making it an asset of the Royal Navy.
As Lusitania steamed westward, a warning appeared in American newspapers, placed by the German embassy in Washington. In as many cases as possible, it appeared on the shipping pages, alongside the advertisements or schedule announcements by Cunard Line. It reminded potential passengers of the war zone, and of the German intention to attack ships of Great Britain or its allies, “and that travelers sailing in the war zone on the ships of Great Britain or her allies do so at their own risk”. The warning had been issued on April 22, 1915. Lusitania arrived in New York on April 24, having completed its 201st crossing.