41 chapters
24 hour read
Selected Chapters
41 chapters
WILLIAM DUNSEATH EATON CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Author "The War in Verse and Prose" "A Soldier of Navarre" etc. SPECIAL CHAPTERS BY HON. JAMES MARTIN MILLER Former United States Consul to France Author "Spanish-American War" "Prussian-Japanese War" etc.
WILLIAM DUNSEATH EATON CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Author "The War in Verse and Prose" "A Soldier of Navarre" etc. SPECIAL CHAPTERS BY HON. JAMES MARTIN MILLER Former United States Consul to France Author "Spanish-American War" "Prussian-Japanese War" etc.
CONTENTS DEDICATION PREFACE PRESIDENT WILSON'S EPOCHAL ADDRESS PRESIDENT WILSON'S WAR ADDRESS CHAPTER I CHAPTER II CHAPTER III CHAPTER IV CHAPTER V CHAPTER VI CHAPTER VII CHAPTER VIII CHAPTER IX CHAPTER X CHAPTER XI CHAPTER XII CHAPTER XIII CHAPTER XIV CHAPTER XV CHAPTER XVI CHAPTER XVII CHAPTER XVIII CHAPTER XIX CHAPTER XX CHAPTER XXI CHAPTER XXII CHAPTER XXIII CHAPTER XXIV CHAPTER XXV CHAPTER XXVI CHAPTER XXVII CHAPTER XXVIII. CHAPTER XXIX. CHAPTER XXX CHAPTER XXXI CHAPTER XXXII CHAPTER XXXIII
4 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
DEDICATION
DEDICATION
To the soldiers and sailors of the United States and Canada; to the men of the armies and navies of nations allied with us; to the splendid courage and devotion of American, French, British and Belgian women, who have endured in silence the pain of losses worse than death, and never faltered in works of mercy for which no thanks can ever pay; to all the agencies of good that have helped save civilization and the world from the most dreadful menace of all time, this volume is dedicated. To the ho
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
PREFACE
PREFACE
With the signing of an armistice November 11, 1918, by the plenipotentiaries of the nations at war, active hostilities were halted while the sweeping terms of the truce were being complied with by Germany. The collapse of the Teutonic forces came with a suddenness that was surprising, and the collapse was complete. The German army and navy ceased to be a menace to the civilized world—and all civilization rejoiced with an exceeding great joy. Remarkable events in the world's history followed with
11 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
PRESIDENT WILSON'S EPOCHAL ADDRESS
PRESIDENT WILSON'S EPOCHAL ADDRESS
CALLING FOR ACTION AGAINST GERMANY, DELIVERED BY HIM TO THE CONGRESS IN EXTRAORDINARY SESSION, APRIL 3, "Gentlemen of the Congress: I have called the congress into extraordinary session because there are serious, very serious, choices of policy to be made, and made immediately, which it was neither right nor constitutionally permissible that I should assume the responsibility of making. "On the 3d of February last I officially laid before you the extraordinary announcement of the imperial German
4 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
PRESIDENT WILSON'S WAR ADDRESS
PRESIDENT WILSON'S WAR ADDRESS
CHALLENGE TO ALL MANKIND "I am not now thinking of the loss of property involved, immense and serious as that is, but only of the wanton and wholesale destruction of the lives of noncombatants, men, women and children, engaged in pursuits which have always, even in the darkest periods of modern history, been deemed innocent and legitimate. Property can be paid for; the lives of peaceful and innocent people cannot be. The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against mank
24 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER I
WHY WE WENT TO WAR MEMORIES OF BEAUTIFUL FRANCE—WHY I WAS NOT ACCEPTED AS CONSUL TO GERMANY BY HON. JAMES MARTIN MILLER FORMER UNITED STATES CONSUL IN FRANCE To have lived on the principal battle ground of the world war was a privilege the author did not appreciate at the time. As representative of the United States Government in the Consular district of France that includes the departments of the Aisne, Ardennes, Marne, Aube, Meuse, Vosges, Haute-Marne and Meurthe-et-Moselle, he lived and had h
13 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
WHY WE WENT TO WAR
WHY WE WENT TO WAR
German Propaganda in the United States and Mexico — Sinking of the Lusitania — Unrestricted Submarine Warfare . WHY WE WENT TO WAR During two years preceding our entrance upon war, Germany had been carrying on open warfare against us, within our own borders. For more than thirty years Germany's policy of preparatory penetration had been in course. As we know now, every country, all round the globe, but especially the United States in North America and Brazil and Venezuela in South America, had b
12 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER II.
UNITED STATES ENTERS THE WAR The President Proclaims War — Interned Ships Are Seized — Congress Votes $7,000,000,000 for War — Raising an American Army — War to Victory Wilson Pledge — British and French Commission Reaches America . On April 2, 1917, Congress having been called in special session, President Wilson appeared before a joint session of both houses and in an address worthy of its historical importance asked for a formal declaration that a state of war existed with Germany, owing to t
2 hour read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III
AMERICANS AT CHATEAU THIERRY Personal Accounts of Battle—Gas and Shell Shock—Marines Under Fire—Americans Can Fight and Yell—Getting to the Front Under Difficulties—The Big Day Dawns—The Shells Come Fast—A Funeral at the Front—Impression of a French Lieutenant— Keeping the Germans on the Run. The name of Chateau Thierry will be long remembered in the United States, for it was there the American fighting quality was for the first time clearly impressed upon the Germans, to their immense astonishm
32 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER IV.
AMERICAN VICTORY AT ST. MIHIEL First Major Action by All American Army—Stories to Folks at Home—Huns Carry Off Captive Women—Hell Has Cut Loose— Major Tells His Story—Enormous Numbers of Guns and Tanks— Over the Top at 5:30 A. M.—Texas and Oklahoma Troops Fight in True Ranger Style—Our Colored Boys Win Credit. The first major action by an all American army was that which began before the St. Mihiel salient September 11, 1918. The Germans had occupied that salient almost four years, and had built
27 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER V.
THE WAR IN THE AIR The Hughes report on air craft, submitted in October, 1918, contained a full account of the difficulties, drawbacks and questionable management that had held back the manufacture and shipment of airplanes to Europe. In September there were on the French-Belgian front between 300 and machines, all of which were in the scout and observation classes, with no regulation combat planes of American build; but American airmen had conducted many successful actions against German battle
32 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER VI. CAUSES OF THE WAR
CHAPTER VI. CAUSES OF THE WAR
National and Race Prejudices—The Triple Alliance—The Triple Entente—Teuton vs. Slav—Influence of Russian Diplomacy—Russia vs. Austria—Control of Balkan Seaports—England's Commercial Supremacy Challenged by Germany—Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria by a Serb . Within the space of less than a week from August 1, 1914, five of the six "great powers" of Europe became involved in a war that quickly developed into the greatest and most sanguinary struggle of all time. The European
24 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VII.
THE INVASION OF BELGIUM Belgians Rush to Defense of Their Frontier—Towns Bombarded and Burned—Defense of Liege—Fall of Liege— —Fall of Namur—Peasants and Townspeople Flee— Destruction of Louvain . At 10 o'clock on the night of August 2 German troops crossed the Belgian frontier, coming from Aix-la-Chapelle, or Aachen, temporary headquarters of the general staff, and the bloody invasion of Belgium, involving the violation of its neutral treaty rights, began. Simultaneously the German forces enter
32 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER VIII BRITAIN RAISES AN ARMY
CHAPTER VIII BRITAIN RAISES AN ARMY
Earl Kitchener Appointed Secretary for War—A New Volunteer Army—Expeditionary Force Landed in France—Marshal Sir John French in Command—Colonies Rally to Britain's Aid—The Canadian Contingent—Indian Troops Called For—Native Princes Offer Aid . After the declaration of war by Great Britain against Germany on August 4, the first important development in England was the appointment of Earl Kitchener of Khartoum as secretary of state for war. This portfolio had been previously held by the Rt. Hon. H
25 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER IX
EARLY BATTLES OF THE WAR Belgian Resistance to the German Advance — The Fighting at Vise, Haelen, Diest, Aerschot and Tirlemont — Mons and Charleroi the First Great Battles of the War — Make a Gallant Stand, but Forced to Retire Across the French Border . From the first day of the German entry into Belgium brief and hazy reports of battles between the patriotic Belgians and the invaders came across the Atlantic. Many absurd and mischievous reports of repeated Belgian "victories" were received th
2 hour read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER X
GERMAN ADVANCE ON PARIS Allies Withdraw for Ten Days, Disputing Every Inch of Ground With the Kaiser's Troops—Germans Push Their Way Through France in Three Main Columns— Reports of the Withdrawing Engagements— Paris Almost in Sight . Flushed with their successes over the Allies at Mons and Charleroi, the Germans pushed their advance toward the French capital with great celerity and vigor. During the last week of August and the first few days of September, it appeared inevitable that the experie
22 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XI
BATTLE OF THE MARNE German Plans Suddenly Changed—Direction of Advance Swings to the Southeast When Close to the French Capital—Successful Resistance by the Allies—The Prolonged Encounter at the Marne—Germans Retreat With Allies in Hot Pursuit for Many Miles . Suddenly the German plans were changed. With Paris almost in sight, almost within the range of their heavy artillery, the German forces on the right of the line on September 4 changed the direction of their advance to a southeasterly cours
55 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XII
THE RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN Slow Mobilization of Troops—Invasion of German and Austrian Territory—Cossacks Lead the Van—Early Successes in East Prussia—"On to Berlin"—Heavy Losses Inflicted on Austrians—German Troops Rushed to the Defense of the Eastern Territory . When at 7:30 o'clock on the evening of August 1, 1914, the German Ambassador at St. Petersburg handed the declaration of war to the Russian foreign minister, the immediate reason was that Russia had refused to stop mobilizing her army, as re
55 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIII
THE AUSTRO-SERVIAN CAMPAIGN Declaration of War by Austria—Bombardment of Belgrade— Servian Capital Removed—Seasoned Soldiers of Servia Give a Good Account of Themselves—Many Indecisive Engagements—Servians in Austrian Territory . Formal declaration of war against Servia was proclaimed by Austria on Tuesday, July 28. The text of the official announcement was as follows: "The Royal Government of Servia not having given a satisfactory reply to the note presented to it by the Austro-Hungarian Minist
19 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XIV
STORIES FROM THE BATTLEFIELD Thrilling Incidents of the Great War Told by Actual Combatants —Personal Experiences from the Lips of Survivors of the World's Bloodiest Battles—Tales of Prisoners of War, Wounded Soldiers and Refugees Rendered Homeless in Blighted Arena of Conflict . HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING Cavalry fighting on the banks of the River Marne in the year 1914 was almost identical with the charge in the days when Hannibal's Numidian horse charged at Romans at Lake Trasimene, or when Charle
2 hour read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XV
THE MYSTERY OF THE FLEETS Movements of British Battleships Veiled in Secrecy—German Dreadnoughts in North Sea and Baltic Ports—Activity of Smaller Craft—English Keep Trade Routes Open— Several Minor Battles at Sea . Shortly before war was declared a great review of the British navy was held at Spithead, on the English Channel, when several hundred vessels were gathered in mighty array for inspection by King George and the lords of the Admiralty. The salutes they fired had hardly ceased to reverb
36 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVI
SUBMARINES AND MINES Battleships in Constant Danger from Submerged Craft—Opinions of Admiral Sir Percy Scott—Construction of Modern Torpedoes—How Mines Are Laid and Exploded on Contact . Sir Percy Scott, admiral in the British navy, who through his inventions made possible the advance in marksmanship with heavy guns and increased the possibilities of hitting at long range and of broadside firing, said recently that everything he has done to enhance the value of the gun is rendered useless by the
13 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVII
AERO-MILITARY OPERATIONS Aerial Attacks on Cities—Some of the Achievements of the Airmen in the Great War—Deeds of Heroism and Daring—Zeppelins in Action—Their Construction and Operation. During the first ten weeks of the war German airmen flew over Paris several times and dropped bombs that did some damage. Aeroplanes, not Zeppelins, were used in these attempts to terrorize the capital and other cities of France. The early visits of Zeppelin airships to Antwerp have been described in a previous
20 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XVIII
BATTLE OF THE AISNE Most Prolonged Encounter in History Between Gigantic Forces—A Far-Flung Battle Line—Germans Face French and British in the Aisne Valley and Fight for Weeks—Mighty Armies Deadlocked After a Desperate and Bloody Struggle . For a few days after the tide of battle in France turned in favor of the Allies (September 9), the German forces continued to retreat to the north, closely followed by the French and British armies that had fought and won the battle of the Marne, as described
2 hour read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XIX
FALL OF ANTWERP Great Seaport of Belgium Besieged by a Large German Force — Forts Battered by Heavy Siege Guns — Final Surrender of the City — Belgian and British Defenders Escape — Exodus of Inhabitants — Germans Reach the Sea. When the battle of the Marne ended in favor of the Allies and the Germans retired to take up a defensive position along the Aisne, the Belgian army renewed its activities against the invader. With the fortified city of Antwerp as their base, the Belgians began (on Septem
32 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XX
CHAPTER XX
THE WOUNDED AND PRISONERS Typical Precautions Used by the German Army — The Soldiers' First-Aid Outfit — System in Hospital Arrangements — How Prisoners of War Are Treated — Are Humane and Fair to All Concerned . Modern armies take the best possible care of their wounded and none has brought this department of warfare to greater perfection than the Germany army. One detail of this work shows the German army at its best. Every soldier has sewn under a corner of his coat a strip of rubber cloth. U
20 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XXI
CHAPTER XXI
HORRORS OF THE WAR American Relief for War-Stricken Peoples of Europe — Millions of Dollars Contributed in Cash and Gifts—Canada Aids the Belgians—Devastation of Poland Even Greater and More Terrible them that of Belgium . Soon after the world became aware of the fact that the German army's progress through Belgium on its dash to Paris in August of 1914 had resulted in the absolute devastation of the little buffer state, an enterprising and sympathetic American citizen, Mr. James Keeley, editor
18 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XXII
CHAPTER XXII
LATER EVENTS OF THE WAR Results of the Battle of the Aisne — Fierce Fighting in Northern France — Developments on the Eastern Battle Front — The Campaign in the Pacific — Naval Activities of the Powers . With a battle front reaching from the Belgian coast on the North Sea to the frontier of Switzerland, or a total distance of 362 miles, the operations in the western theater of war toward the end of October were being conducted on a more gigantic scale than was ever witnessed before. On both side
2 hour read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XXIII
CHAPTER XXIII
SINKING OF THE LUSITANIA Destruction of the Great Cunard Liner by a German Submarine Caused a Serious Crisis in German-American Relations—Over a Hundred Americans and Many Canadians Drowned, Including Citizens of Prominence and Wealth—Prompt Diplomatic Action by President Wilson—The German Campaign of Frightfulness and Its Results. Steaming majestically over a smiling sea, with the green hills of Erin in sight over the port bow and all well aboard, the greatest, fastest and most beautiful transa
6 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XXIV
CHAPTER XXIV
A SUMMER OF SLAUGHTER Submarine Activities—Horrors in Serbia—Bloody Battles East and West—Italy Enters the War and Invades Austria—Russians Pushed Back in Galicia. The Lusitania was the twenty-ninth vessel to be sunk or damaged in the first week of May, 1915, in the war zone established by Germany about the British isles. Most of these vessels were torpedoed by German submarines, although in some cases it has not been established whether the damage was inflicted by mines or underwater boats. Six
42 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XXV
CHAPTER XXV
SECOND WINTER OF WAR In all the arenas of the great struggle, the winter campaign of 1915-16, the second winter of the war, was accompanied by unparalleled hardships and sufferings. It was, in fact, described by Major Moraht, military expert of the Berliner Tageblatt and the best known German military critic, as "the most terrific campaign in the world's history." Hundreds of thousands of men of all classes, in all the armies stretched along the battle fronts east and west, struggled against win
23 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER. XXVI
CHAPTER. XXVI
CLIMAX OF THE WAR. Prolonged Battle of Verdun the Most Terrible in History— Enormous Losses on Both Sides—Submarine Activity Imperils Relations of America and Germany . Beginning with the first infantry attack by the Germans on Monday, February 21, after twenty-four hours of continuous bombardment, the battles incident to the siege of Verdun were fought at brief intervals during the next two months, down to the middle of April, and marked the climax of the War. The losses on both sides were enor
46 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XXVII
CHAPTER XXVII
THE WORLD'S GREATEST SEA FIGHT. British and German High-Sea Fleets Finally Clash in the North Sea—Huge Losses in Tonnage and Men on Both Sides—British Navy Remains in Control of the Sea. After many months of unceasing sea patrol on the part of the British, and of diligent preparation in port on the German side, it came at last—the long-expected clash of mighty rival fleets in the North Sea. It was on the misty afternoon of Wednesday, May 31, that Admiral David Beatty, in command of Britain's bat
26 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XXVIII.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
BATTLES EAST AND WEST After gallantly holding their own for many months against repeated German attacks, the Canadian troops holding that section of the western front southeast of Ypres, between Hooge and the Ypres-Menin railway, were engaged during the week ending June 3, 1916, in a battle scarcely less determined in its nature than that of St. Julien and other great encounters in which they distinguished themselves and added to Canadian military laurels earlier in the war. On Friday, June 2, t
2 hour read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XXIX.
CHAPTER XXIX.
CONTINUATION OF WAR IN 1917. German Sea Raider Busy—British Victory in Mesopotamia —Russia Dethrones the Czar—United States' Relations with Germany Severed—Germans Retreat on the West . On January 10 the Greek government accepted the ultimatum of the Allies, providing satisfaction to them without interfering with the administration of the country or local communications. From this time on the situation in Greece ceased to be a source of serious trouble to the Allied commanders at Saloniki. GERMA
32 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XXX
CHAPTER XXX
GEN. PERSHING'S OWN STORY American Operations in France Described by the Commander-in- Chief—Glowing Tribute to His Men . A remarkable summary of the operations of the American Expeditionary Force in France from the date of its organization, May 26, 1917, to the signing of the armistice November 11, 1918, was cabled to the Secretary of War by General Pershing on November 20, 1918. His account of the active military operations was as follows: COMBAT OPERATIONS During our period of training in the
39 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XXXI
CHAPTER XXXI
WHEN THE DAYS OF RECKONING DAWNED American Troops on All Fronts—Changes Come Fast and Furious—First Hun Cry for Peace—Virtue, Vice and Violence—Austria Surrenders—Opens Up the Dardanelles—Closing Days of Hohenzollern Reign—Killing of Tisza—Terms Prepared for Germany— Armistice Signed by Germany . AMERICAN TROOPS ON ALL FRONTS The collapse of Russia in 1917 had released vast bodies of German troops for service in France, but the calamities that overtook them on the French front were so destructiv
51 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XXXII
CHAPTER XXXII
HOME FOLLOWS THE FLAG Nearly 28,000,000 Red Cross Relief Workers Distributing Aid in Ten Countries—Two War Fund Drives in 1918 Raise $291,000,000—Other Organizations Active—3,000 Buildings Necessary—Caring for the Boys—Boy Scouts Play Their Part Well. From the hour of enlistment to the hour of return, the United States soldiers and sailors have had with them, throughout the war, the advantage of intelligent, sympathetic help from various civilian organizations, co-ordinating with the military. F
16 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XXXIII.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
TERMS OF THE ARMISTICE On the memorable afternoon of Monday, November 11, 1918. President Wilson convened the Senate and the House of Representatives in the capitol at Washington, and there read out the terms of the armistice which Germany had accepted, and to the observance of which Germany was pledged with guaranties so strict that evasion was made impossible. The President is an unemotional man, but in that hour he must have felt deep satisfaction in the fact that the document in his hand had
28 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XXXIV.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
HONOR TO THE VICTORS November 16, 1918, the American Distinguished Service Medal was conferred upon General Pershing at his headquarters in the field by General Tasker H. Bliss, representing President Wilson. The ceremony was witnessed by the members of the allied missions, and was most impressive, Admiral Benson, representing the United States Navy, and William G. Sharp, American Ambassador to France, were also present. SERVICE MEDAL TO GENERAL PERSHING General Bliss, in presenting the decorati
34 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
CHAPTER XXXV.
CHAPTER XXXV.
CHRONOLOGY OF WORLD WAR Comprehensive Chronology of the Four Years of War—Dates of Important Battles and Naval Engagements—Ready Reference of Historical Events from June, 1914, to End of War in 1918. June 28—Archduke Ferdinand and wife assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia. July 28—Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. August 1—Germany declares war on Russia and general mobilization is under way in France and Austria-Hungary. Aug. 2—German troops enter France at Cirey; Russian troops enter Germany
32 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter