which seeks and demands appropriate public ideals in government and action. So that while other elements have always tended to produce friction between neighboring countries, it was adamant, stubborn, military Prussianism which asserted itself in the middle of 1914 and set the world afire.

Enough is known at this writing to show that the cost in lives, money, morals and weakening of humanity as a whole, is staggering, and yet the whole truth can not be realized for years to come. In our own great struggle, which had for its object the liberation of the Negro, the scars which our country received have not yet been entirely eliminated. Portions of the country devastated by the soldiers still bear the marks of the invasion, but what was lost in money and material things was made up by the welding together of the two sections of the country. The Union was made a concrete, humanitarian body of citizens. The battle was for the right and liberty triumphed. And by the defeat of Germany liberty again triumphs and the world is made a safe place in which to live.

And just as America fought for liberty in the stirring days of 1776, and her peoples fought one another in the trying days of 1861-65, so America was drawn into the World's War that the principles of liberty, for which she has ever stood, might be perpetuated throughout the world, and that an international peace might be established, which has for its purposes the ending of such convulsions as have shaken the world since August, 1914, since the first shots were fired in fair Belgium by German invaders.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTORY

Civilization at Issue—The German Empire—Character of William II—The Great Conspiracy—The War by Years—United States in the War—Two Hundred Fifty Miles of Battle—The Downfall of Turkey—The Democratic Close of the War

CHAPTER II

GEN. PERSHING'S OWN STORY

Organization of His General Staff—Training in France—In the Aisne Offensive—At Chateau Thierry—The St. Mihiel Salient—Meuse-Argonne, First Phase—The Battle in the Forest—Summary

CHAPTER III

PRESIDENT WILSON'S REVIEW OF THE WAR

Troop Movement During the Year—Tribute To American Soldiers—Splendid Spirit of the Nation—Resume the Work of Peace—Outline of Work in Paris—Support of Nation Urged

CHAPTER IV

THE FLASH THAT SET THE WORLD AFLAME

Teutons Find in a Murder the Excuse for War—Germany Inspired by Ambitions for World Control—The Struggle for Commercial Supremacy a Factor—The Underlying Motives

CHAPTER V

WHY AMERICA ENTERED THE WAR

The Iron Hand of Prussianism—The Arrogant Hohenzollern Attitude—Secretary Lane Tells Why We Fight—Broken Pledges—Laws Violated—Prussianism the Child of Barbarity—Germany's Plans for a World Empire

CHAPTER VI

THE THINGS THAT MADE MEN MAD

Germany's Barbarity—The Devastation of Belgium—Human Fiends—Firebrand and Torch—Rape and Pillage—The Sacking of Louvain—Wanton Destruction—Official Proof

CHAPTER VII

THE SLINKING SUBMARINE

A Voracious Sea Monster—The Ruthless Destructive Policy of Germany—Starvation of Nations the Goal—How the Submarines Operate—Some Personal Experiences

CHAPTER VIII

THWARTING THE U-BOAT

Nets to Entangle the Sea Sharks of War—"Chasers" or "Skimming Dish" Boats—"Blimps" and Seaplanes—Hunting the Submarine With "Lance" Bomb and Gun—A Sailor's Description

CHAPTER IX

THE EYES OF BATTLE

Aeroplanes and Airships—They Spy the Movements of Forces on Land or Sea—Lead Disastrous Bomb Attacks—Valuable in "Spotting" Submarines—The Bombardment at Messines Ridge

CHAPTER X

WAR'S STRANGE DEVICES

Chemistry a Demon of Destruction—Poison Gas Bombs—Gas Masks—Hand Grenades—Mortars—"Tanks"—Feudal "Battering Rams"—Steel Helmets—Strange Bullets—Motor Plows—Real Dogs of War

CHAPTER XI

WONDERFUL WAR WEAPONS

The Terrible Rapid-fire Gun—Armored Automobiles and Automobile Artillery—Howitzers—Mounted Forts—Armored Trains—Observation Towers—Wireless Apparatus—The Army Pantry

CHAPTER XII

THE WORLD'S ARMIES

The Efficient German Organization—The Landwehr and Landsturm—General Forms of Military Organization—The Brave French Troops—The Picturesque Italian Soldiery—The Peace and War Strength—Available Fighting Men—Fortifications

CHAPTER XIII

THE WORLD'S NAVIES

Germany's Sea Strength—Great Britain's Immense War Fleet—Immense Fighting Craft—The United States' New Battle Cruisers—The Fastest and Biggest Ocean Fighting Ships—The Picturesque Marines: The Soldiers of the Sea

CHAPTER XIV

THE NATIONS AT WAR

Unexpected Developments—- How the War Flames Spread—A Score of Countries Involved—The Points of Contact—Picturesque and Rugged Bulgaria, Roumania, Servia, Greece, Italy and