Final answer:
The statement about the RMS Lusitania's sailing route is false; it was traveling from New York to Liverpool when it was sunk by a German submarine on May 7, 1915, leading to over 1,200 deaths, inclusive of 128 American citizens.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the passenger ship Lusitania sailed from London en route to New York when it was attacked is false. The correct historical event is that the RMS Lusitania, a British ocean liner, was traveling from New York to Liverpool when it was torpedoed by a German submarine off the coast of Ireland on May 7, 1915. This tragic incident resulted in the loss of more than 1,200 lives, including 128 American citizens, which significantly impacted international relations and sentiment towards World War I at the time.
The Germans justified the attack on the Lusitania by stating that the ship was carrying a large cache of munitions, which was discovered to be true as it was later revealed that the ship was indeed transporting four million rounds of ammunition. Despite this, the sinking of the Lusitania was seen by many, especially in the United States, as an act of unprovoked aggression, which stoked public outrage and shifted public opinion.