Many were killed or injured immediately by the explosions. Before the liner’s headway was lost, some boats were lowered, and capsized as a result. The immediate listing of the steamship added to the difficulties of rescue and increased the tragical toll of dead. Much heroism and calmness were displayed by many in the few minutes the liner remained afloat. The bearing of Frohman, Vanderbilt, Hubbard and other Americans was declared to have been particularly inspiring. Rescue ships and naval vessels rushed to the aid of the survivors from all nearby ports of Ireland. It has been said that the sinking of the Lusitania was carefully planned by the chiefs of the German admiralty. They expected, it was believed, to demoralize British shipping and strike terror into the minds of the British people by showing that the largest and swiftest of liners could easily be destroyed by submarines. According to the Paris paper, _La Guerre Sociale_, published by Gustave Hervé, the submarine responsible was the U-21, commanded by Lieutenant Hersing. Hersing was said to have been decorated for his deed. The U-21 afterwards was destroyed and the story of its participation in the sinking of the great Cunarder never was confirmed. Immediately upon the news of the Lusitania disaster, President Wilson took steps to hold Germany to that “strict accountability” of which he had notified Berlin when the war-zone operations were begun earlier in the year. His first communication, protesting against the sinking of the liner in the name of humanity and demanding disavowal, indemnity and assurance that the crime would not be repeated, was despatched on May 13th. On May 30th the German reply argued that the liner carried munitions of war and probably was armed. The following official German version of the incident by the German Admiralty Staff over the signature of Admiral Behncke was given: “The submarine sighted the steamer, which showed no flag, May 7th, at 2.20 o’clock, Central European time, afternoon, on the southeast coast of Ireland, in fine, clear weather. “At 3.10 o’clock one torpedo was fired at the Lusitania, which hit her starboard side below the captain’s bridge. The detonation of the torpedo was followed immediately by a further explosion of extremely strong effect. The ship quickly listed to starboard and began to sink. “The second explosion must be traced back to the ignition of quantities of ammunition inside the ship.” These extenuations were all rejected by the United States, and the next note prepared by President Wilson was of such character that Secretary of State Bryan resigned. This second communication was sent on June 11th, and on June 22d another was cabled. September 1st Germany accepted the contentions of the United States in regard to submarine warfare upon peaceful shipping. There were continued negotiations concerning the specific settlement to be made in the case of the Lusitania.