Re: The Lusitania
There has been no evidence that the Lusitania was carrying munitions. Even Bob Ballard’s dives on the wreck failed to show the Lusitania was carrying munitions. The second explosion that was reported after the U-boat’s torpedo struck was most likely from coal dust. The ship was returning to England and had used much of its coal, leaving coal dust floating amount in the coal bunkers. This dust can be highly explosive if ignited.
From what I have seen, the German warning was published in American papers. Ironically it ran next to an ad for the Lusitania in one paper.