Robert,

I disagree. The doomer liner was carrying munitions, but apparently they were not the cause of the secondary explosions, as far as is known.

source:
"As stated two explosions were observed, the second being so far unexplained. One theory and claim is that is was munitions exploding, another that it was coal dust, known to be highly unstable. Those who claim it was the munitions do so to justify the secret attack, saying the munitions were contraband and the manifest was fraudulent. Lusitania was carrying munitions but these were allowed by International law, and they were stored well forward of where the second explosion took place. An examination of the wreck has shown them to be still intact."

second source
Questions about her cargo have haunted the Lusitania since the day she went down. Was she carrying illegal munitions as the Germans have always claimed. In fact, she was. The manifest for her last voyage included wartime essentials such as motorcycle parts, metals, cotton goods, and food, as well as 4,200 cases of rifle ammunition, 1,250 cases of shrapnel (not explosive), and 18 boxes of percussion fuses. The investigation conducted by the Woods Hole team and Jason suggested that these munitions did not cause the secondary blast that sent the Lusitania to the bottom."

There's more to this story, but these accounts should settle the question of the munitions.

sp