History of the World War | Page 3

A. MARCH
This history is an original work and is fully protected by the copyright
laws, including the right of translation. All persons are warned against
reproducing the text in whole or in part without the permission of the
publishers.
WAR DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF.
WASHINGTON,
NOVEMBER 14, 1918. With the signing of the Armistice on
November 11, 1918, the World War has been practically brought to an
end. The events of the past four years have been of such magnitude that
the various steps, the numberless battles, and the growth of Allied
power which led up to the final victory are not clearly defined even in
the minds of many military men. A history of this great period which
will state in an orderly fashion this series of events will be of the
greatest value to the future students of the war, and to everyone of the
present day who desires to refer in exact terms to matters which led up
to the final conclusion.
The war will be discussed and re-discussed from every angle and the
sooner such a compilation of facts is available, the more valuable it will
be. I understand that this History of the World War intends to put at the
disposal of all who are interested, such a compendium of facts of the
past period of over four years; and that the system employed in
safeguarding the accuracy of statements contained in it will produce a
document of great historical value without entering upon any
speculative conclusions as to cause and effect of the various phases of
the war or attempting to project into an historical document individual
opinions. With these ends in view, this History will be of the greatest
value. Signature [Payton C. March] General, Chief of Staff. United
States Army.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.
A WAR FOR INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM A Conflict that was
Inevitable--The Flower of Manhood on the Fields of
France--Germany's Defiance to the World--Heroic Belgium--Four
Autocratic Nations against Twenty-four Committed to the Principles of
Liberty--America's Titanic Effort--Four Million Men Under Arms, Two
Million Overseas--France the Martyr Nation--The British Empire's
Tremendous Share in the Victory--A River of Blood Watering the
Desert of Autocracy
CHAPTER II.
THE WORLD SUDDENLY TURNED UPSIDE DOWN The War
Storm Breaks--Trade and Commerce Paralyzed--Homeward Rush of
Travelers--Harrowing Scenes as Ships Sail for America--Stock Markets
Closed--The Tide of Desolation Following in the Wake of War
CHAPTER III.
WHY THE WORLD WENT TO WAR The Balkan Ferment--Russia,
the Dying Giant Among Autocracies--Turkey the "Sick Man" of
Europe--Scars Left by the Balkan War--Germany's Determination to
Seize a Place in the Sun.
CHAPTER IV.
THE PLOTTER BEHIND THE SCENES The Assassination at
Sarajevo--The Slavic Ferment--Austria's Domineering Note--The
Plotters of Potsdam--The Mailed Fist of Militarism Beneath the Velvet
Glove of Diplomacy--Mobilization and Declarations of War
CHAPTER V.
THE GREAT WAR BEGINS Germany Invades Belgium and
Luxemburg--French Invade Alsace--England's "Contemptible Little
Army" Lands in France and Belgium--The Murderous Gray-Green

Tide--Heroic Retreat of the British from Mons--Belgium
Overrun--Northern France Invaded--Marshal Joffre Makes Ready to
Strike
CHAPTER VI.
THE TRAIL OF THE BEAST IN BELGIUM Barbarities that Shocked
Humanity--Planned as Part of the Teutonic Policy of
Schrecklichkeit--How the German and the Hun Became Synonymous
Terms--The Unmatchable Crimes of a War-Mad Army--A Record of
Infamy Written in Blood and Tears--Official Reports
CHAPTER VII.
THE FIRST BATTLE OF THE MARNE Joffre's Masterly Plan--The
Enemy Trapped Between Verdun and Paris--Gallieni's "Army in
Taxicabs"--Foch, the "Savior of Civilization," Appears--His Mighty
Thrust Routs the Army of Hausen--Joffre Salutes Foch as "First
Strategist in Europe"--Battle that Won the Baton of a Marshal
CHAPTER VIII.
JAPAN IN THE WAR Tsing Tau Seized by the Mikado--German
"Gibraltar" of the Far East Surrendered After Short Siege--Japan's Aid
to the Allies in Money, Ships, Men and Nurses--German Propaganda in
the Far East Fails
CHAPTER IX.
CAMPAIGN IN THE EAST Invasion of East Prussia--Von
Hindenburg and Masurian Lakes--Battle of
Tannenberg--Augustovo--Russians Capture Lemberg--The Offer to
Poland
CHAPTER X.
STRUGGLE FOR SUPREMACY ON THE SEA The British

Blockade--German Raiders and Their Fate--Story of the Emden's
Remarkable Voyage--Appearance of the Submarine--British Naval
Victory off Helgoland--U-9 Sinks Three British Cruisers
CHAPTER XI.
THE SUBLIME PORTE Turkish Intrigues--The Holy
War--Mesopotamia and Transcaucasia--The Suez Canal--Turkey the
Catspaw of Germany
CHAPTER XII.
RESCUE OF THE STARVING Famine in Belgium--Belgium Relief
Commission Organized in London--Herbert C. Hoover--American
Aid--The Great Cardinal's Famous Challenge
CHAPTER XIII.
BRITANNIA RULES THE WAVES German and British Squadrons
Grapple off the Chilean Coast--Germany Wins the First
Round--England Comes Back with Terrific Force--Graphic Picture of
the Destruction of the German Squadron off Falkland Islands--English
Coast Towns Bombarded for the First Time in Many Years.
CHAPTER XIV.
NEW METHODS AND HORRORS OF WARFARE Tanks--Poison
Gas--Flame Projectors--Airplane Bombs--Trench Mortars--Machine
Guns--Modern Uses of Airplanes for Liaison and Attacks on
Infantry--Radio--Rifle and Hand Grenades--A War of Intensive
Artillery Preparation--A Debacle of Insanities, Terrible Wounds