Final answer:
The statement is false; the split of the Titanic was confirmed long after it sank. The RMS Lusitania was a separate incident where the ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat, leading to over a thousand deaths.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement in question is false. Most people at the time of the Titanic's sinking did not know that the ship had split in half. It wasn't until the wreck was discovered on the ocean floor in 1985 that the splitting of the Titanic was confirmed. On the other hand, the RMS Lusitania, another tragic maritime disaster during World War I, is known to have been torpedoed by a German U-boat and sank in 18 minutes. The sinking caused the deaths of over a thousand people, including 128 American citizens, which contributed to the American public's outrage and had significant political ramifications.