<P> On 17 April 1915, Lusitania left Liverpool on her 201st transatlantic voyage, arriving in New York on 24 April . A group of German--Americans, hoping to avoid controversy if Lusitania were attacked by a U-boat, discussed their concerns with a representative of the German Embassy . The embassy decided to warn passengers before her next crossing not to sail aboard Lusitania . The Imperial German Embassy placed a warning advertisement in 50 American newspapers, including those in New York (see illustration). </P> <P> While many British passenger ships had been called into duty for the war effort, Lusitania remained on her traditional route between Liverpool and New York . She departed Pier 54 in New York on 1 May 1915 on her return trip to Liverpool with 1,959 people aboard . In addition to her crew of 694, she carried 1,265 passengers, mostly British nationals as well as a large number of Canadians, along with 128 Americans . Her First Class accommodations, for which she was quite famous on the North Atlantic Run, were booked at just over half capacity at 290 . Second Class was severely overbooked with 601 passengers, far exceeding the maximum capacity of 460 which had been designated to Second Class . While a large number of small children and infants helped reduce the squeeze into the limited number of two and four berth cabins, the situation was ultimately rectified by allowing some Second Class passengers to occupy empty First Class cabins . In Third Class, the situation was considered to be the norm for an eastbound crossing, with only 373 travelling in accommodations designed for 1,186 . </P> <P> The German Embassy in Washington had issued this warning on 22 April 1915 . </P> <P> Notice! Travellers intending to embark on the Atlantic voyage are reminded that a state of war exists between Germany and her allies and Great Britain and her allies; that the zone of war includes the waters adjacent to the British Isles; that, in accordance with formal notice given by the Imperial German Government, vessels flying the flag of Great Britain, or any of her allies, are liable to destruction in those waters and that travellers sailing in the war zone on the ships of Great Britain or her allies do so at their own risk . Imperial German Embassy Washington, D.C. 22 April 1915 </P>

Who was involved in the sinking of the lusitania