Front matter
■ii lii ^.
^ - /ii' 'III
J ^ A
Introduction
The Roman historian, Livy, begins his account of the Second Punic War with this declaration: "I am about to describe the greatest of all the wars that ever were waged." Doubtless he told the truth as it was in his time ; but if he could revise his book to-day he would open it with a different sentence. The solemn dutj' of narrating the greatest of all wars that ever were waged now devolves upon our journalists, and a few years hence it will tax the powers of the ablest historian that the world can produce.
Whatever may be the prejudices, the opinions, or the original na= tionality of an American, he cannot seriously consider this tremendous, complicated conflict without feeling that he is a citizen of the world, profoundly affected by European wars and sincerely desirous of world-wide peace.
This book is intended to enable the reader to scan the daily bulletins with something of an intelligent understanding of the despatches. No one, as yet, can tell him how it will all end; but we endeavor here to tell him why it began ; to indicate, as nearly as possible, the various ends that are striven for; and to show him the resources and implements that come into play — many of them for the first time. There is no intention here of according praise or blame to any of the combatants, or expressing any opinion as to the merits of the conflict or the truth or falsehood of those that wage it. We hope we have presented, simply and clearly, as many of the pertinent facts as our space allows ■ — only adding that when Byron expressed his enthusiasm for "Livy's pictured page" neither he nor that brilliant historian ever had seen such pictured pages as these. R. J.
Contents
CHAPTER
I. The Immediate Causes of the War .
The Original Causes — Boundaries and Races Mobilization ......
CHAPTER I.— THE IMMEDIATE CAUSES OF THE WAR Assassination of the heir apparent to the
throne of Austria.
First blow of the international conflict
struck at Servia.
Austria's long-cherished design to extend her
domain along the Adriatic.
Her oppression of Servia in the past.
garded as a pretext for further oppression and annexation of territory.
Ifrnoring of Servia's request that the Austrian ultimatum be referred to the tril)Unal of The Hague.
The Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente.
The assassination of the heir apparent re- Opinions liy experts, Servian and Austrian.
CHAPTER II.— THE ORIGINAL CAUSES— BOUNDARIES AND RACES How to study these causes intelligently
The tendency of mankind to work toward centralization when natural boundaries are found.
Why the natural law of geographical necessity holds a nation together.
Other elements of union.
Elements of separation.
Difl^erent races, religions, and languages.
Polyglot speech of Austria-Hungary.
The "Eastern Question."
The "Sick Man" of Europe.
The usual outcome of modern wars.
CHAPTER III.— MOBILIZATION Mobilization of the world in everyday life
Time is required for the mobilization of an army.
The call to arms.
Getting the commissary department ready.
Provision made for cavalry as well as men.
The medical corps and Red Cross nurses.
Preparation of signal corps: field instruments and operators.
Mobilization of an army in Germany.
In France.
In Russia.
In England.
Standing forces and incorporation of reserves.
Various classes of reserves.
Diagram of a German army corps.
Table showing fighting strength of nations.
CHAPTER IV.— THE NEW WARFARE Inventive genius applied to war
Dreadnoughts and quick-firers.
Alternations between improvements in attack and defense.
Poetic prophecy of air-ships.
The Red Cross Society and the advances
made in medical and surgical science.
CHAPTER v.— MILITARY IMPLEMENTS OF WAR Multiplicity of engines of slaughter since the
Napoleonic wars.
Offensive and defensive weapons.
Various forms of explosives.
Smokeless powder.
Varieties of modern rifles.
Sword and lance.
Small caliber bullets; the "dum-dum" bullet. The machine guns used by different nations.
Artillery guns.
Field artillery.
Horse artillery.
Common shell and shrapnel
Case shot.
Hand grenades.
Automobiles in warfare.
Motor-cars fitted with surgical operatingrooms.
Motor-vans for carrying commissary supplies.
Motor-trucks for transporting wireless telegraphy outfit.
Bicycles and motorcycles.
CHAPTER VI.— WARSHIPS AND NAVAL IMPLEMENTS OP WAR Romance attached to historic sea-fights
Modern battle-ships.
The British "Dreadnought," which effected a revolution in the construction of battleships.
Pre-dreadnoughts and super-dreadnoughts.
The new "Queen Elizabeth."
Battle-ship cruisers.
Ordinary cruisers.
Destroyers.
Submarines.
Periscopes.
Naval guns.
The armor-piercing shell.
How a large naval gun is operated.
Range-finding.
Torpedoes.
CHAPTER VII.— COAST-DEFENSES AND FORTIFICATIONS The modern inland fort
The chains of interior fortifications in
Europe.
Construction of a typical fort.
Mines.
Theoretical invulnerability of a fort.
Heaviest of all weapons used in coast fortifications.
Coast-defense guns.
Range-finding of heavy guns.
CHAPTER VIII.— AIRCRAFT AND WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY IN WAR Aircraft the most spectacular feature of
modern warfare.
The former talk of aircraft has passed from
jest to earnest.
Aviation established as an arm of military
service in 1913.
Air-ships, or dirigibles.
The Zeppelin type.
Semi-rigid and non-rigid types.
Aeroplanes.
Hydro-aeroplanes.
Value of aircraft as a means of reconnois-
sance.
Wireless telegraphy.
Great strides in the science of signaling since
the War of 1812.
F>om flags and semaphores to wireless
telegraphy and telephony- Kites and balloons make connections by wireless with stations at long distances.
CHAPTER IX.— EUROPEAN WARS SINCE 1815 The Greek War for Independence (1829- '30)
The Greeks under Turkish rule for centuries.
Revolt at Jassy in 18:21.
Historic massacre at Chios.
Lord Byron's part in the Greek war.
Urahira Pasha, viceroy of Efrypt, and his effort to crush the Greek revolt.
A protocol drawn by three great European Powers, demanding an armistice.
Turkish and Egyptian forces routed at the battle of Navarino.
Proclamation of Greece as an independent kingdom.
The Revolution of July (1830) Charles X on tlie throne of France.
Polignac, the arbitrary head of the ministry;
his craft and deception.
Suppression of Algerian pirates.
Oifenses against the rights and liberties of
the people.
Revolt breaks out, and Charles X is driven
out of France.
Crowning of Louis Philippe.
Revolutionary Movements of 1848 Social conditions in Europe in the first half
of the 19th century.
Metternich, his autocratic rule, his fall and
flight.
Spirit of the French Revolution stirring in
the people.
Kossuth, Hecker, Garibaldi, collaborators
for freedom.
Beginnings of the new revolt in Paris.
The March Laws.
Independence of Hungary.
Revolt in Milan; strife against Radetzky,
Austria's general in charge.
The battle of Prague.
The fall of Kossuth.
Resignation of Victor Emmanuel I.
The Crimean War (1854-'55) The desire of Russia to gain access to the
sea.
Russia's invasion of Turkey.
Declaration of war on Russia by the allied
Powers.
Balaclava — Inkerman — the English Royal
Guards.
The siege of Sebastopol — Its fall.
Treaty of Paris.
Turkey admitted as a European Power.
The Franco-Austrian War (1859)
Ascendancy of Austria in Italy.
Woeful condition of the people.
Declaration of war against Austria by Napoleon III.
Battle of Magenta: Marshal MacMahon: battle of Solferino.
The Peace of Villafranca.
The Liberation and Unification of Italy
(1859-'70) Long subservience of Italy to foreign rulers. Result of conquests of Napoleon I on Italian
division of territory.
Suppression of lil)eral thought in Italy.
Mutiny of tiic royal troops of Naples.
The three great liberators: Mazzini, Garibaldi,
Cavour.
Insurrection in the two Sicilies.
Tlie Italian victory at Gaeta.
Withdrawal of Napoleon Ill's troops from
Italy.
End of the temporal power of the papacy.
"Italy free!"
The Schleswlg-Holstein War (1864)
The Duchy of SclUeswig-Holstein.
Origin of Schleswig dates from time of King Cnut (Canute).
Origin of the Duchy of Holstein under Danish rule.
Union of the two duchies under Danish rule.
The Danish King declared a member of the Germanic body.
Prussian troops invade the united duchies.
Courage of the Danes.
Schleswig-Holstein annexed to Prussia.
The Prusso-Austrian War (1866) Determination of Bismarck to consolidate the German States.
Equally strong desire of Prussia and Austria to become the dominant power in the German States.
The clash called the Seven-Weeks' War.
The battle of Sadowa.
Austria's defeat.
King of Prussia becomes also the German Emperor.
The revolution in Spain of 1868.
Deposition of Queen Isabella.
An eligible candidate for the Spanish crown chcsen in a German prince, Leopold of HohenzoUern.
France, through Napoleon III, objects to possible increase of German power.
The French Ambassador to Germany requests the German Emperor to forbid the prince to accept the crown.
Germany takes offense.
Mobilization of German army ordered, July IS, 1870.
France makes ready for war.
A Berlin!
Inadequate preparation of French army.
German army in perfect condition for warfare.
The battle of Worth.
The siege of Metz.
Marshal MacMahon and Bazaine.
The battle of Sedan.
Napoleon III hands his sword to Emperor William I.
The siege of Paris.
Bismarck's triumph.
The Russo-Turkish War (1877) Turkish misrule during four centuries.
Rise of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1876.
Massacre of Christians.
Barbarous Bashi-Bazouks.
Europe protests: Gladstone, Disraeli, the Russian Emperor, Alexander II.
The siege of Plevna.
The Russian army enters Adrianople»
The Treaty of San Stefano.
Independence of Servia, Montenegro, and Rumania.
Bosnia and Herzegovina protected by Austria.
The Greco-Turkish War (1897)
The Greek Government since 1863.
King George I.
Years of wrangling between Greece and Turkey over boundary lines culminates in hostilities on the Island of Crete.
Turkey overcomes Greece by better preparedness for war.
Turkish atrocities horrify the world.
.\rmistice demanded by Russia.
Peace treaty at Constantinople.
Settlement of the boundary line and question of territory.
War ia the Balkan States (1912-'13)
Annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria.
Bulgarians in 1885 object to Russian domination and join the people of Eastern Rumelia against the Czar's ministers.
They repress the Servians, who protest against the expansion of Bulgaria.
The prince of Bulgaria becomes king (1908) and throws off Turkish allegiance.
The momentous year when the "Young Turks" wrested a constitution from the Sultan.
Banishment of Abdul Hamid.
Macedonia the seat of the trouble that followed.
ITprisings in Albania.
Cireece joins in the general fray.
Fall of Adrianople.
Treaty of peace signed in London.
Chapter X.— Countries At War And Involved
and population
Austria-Hungary. Area of the dual monarchy.
Boundaries, mountains, and rivers Early history of Austria.
Mode of government.
Military service.
Education.
Religion.
Variety of languages spoken in the two countries.
Napoleon's career in Austria.
Congress of Vienna, which decided Napoleon's fate.
Attractions of Vienna, the capital of Austria.
Early history of Hungary.
Picturesqueness of Buda-Pest, its capital.
Austrian declaration of war on Russia (Aug. 6, 1914).
Belgium. Area and population.
Its provinces and peoples:
The Flemings; the Walloons.
The languages.
Early history.
Mode of government.
Education.
Religion.
Agriculture and commerce.
Rivers and canals.
Military service.
Various industries.
Wealth per capita.
Belgium the battle-ground of Europe.
Attractions of celebrated cities and towns:
Antwerp.
Bruges.
Brussels.
Ghent.
Ostend.
The battlefield of Waterloo.
The Belgian Congo.
The British Empire. Area of the United
Kingdom.
Mountains and rivers.
Climate ; fertility of soil ; picturesque scenery. Coal mines and manufacturing centers.
London, the largest city in the world.
Oxford and Cambridge universities.
Famous cathedrals.
Early history.
The American Revolution.
Struggles with Napoleon.
The Duke of Wellington.
The Victorian reign.
England's colonial possessions.
Mode of government.
Religion.
Military and naval defenses.
France. Area, boundaries, rivers, and
mountains.
Great variety and beauty of scenery
throughout France.
Historic castles and cathedrals.
Medieval fortifications the most perfectly
preserved in the world.
Tlie castles of Francis I.
Early history.
Sources of wealth: minerals, vineyards,
manufactures.
Mode of government.
Population.
Military and naval service.
Colonial possessions.
The German Empire. Boundaries, rivers, area and population.
Beginning of the German Empire in its present form.
History of Germany from the eighteenth century.
Table of States composing the empire.
Colonial acquisitions.
Mode of government.
Successful dealing with the problem of pauperism.
Religion.
Education.
Military and naval service and defenses.
Military dirigibles and aeroplanes.
Industries, manufactures, mining, fisheries.
Railways and waterways: The Kaiser Wilhelm Canal; its locks larger than those of the Panama Canal.
Foreign possessions.
Demand of the German Emperor that the mobilization of Russian troops he discontinued (July 31, 1914). His declaration of war on Russia.
Russia. Area, boundaries, and climate.
Population.
Agriculture, mining, fisheries, and cattle.
Mode of government.
Religion.
Education.
Early history.
Ivan the Terrible; the Cossack; the first of
the Romanoffs, the founder of the present
royal line.
Peter the Great; Catherine II.
Conquest of Poland.
Napoleon I in Russia.
Emancipation of the serfs.
Stifling of free thought and speech Russia's
policy from earliest times.
Expansion of the empire.
Troubles of the Jews.
The flrst "Duma."
Russian mobilization of troops to aid Servia
against Austria.
Servia: boundaries, area, and population.
Mountains and rivers.
Mining and other industries.
Education.
Absence of paupers.
Military service.
Early history.
Independence of Turkey achieved in 1878.
King Milan: his abdication.
King Alexander: his assassination in 1903.
Montenegro. Area, population, boundaries.
Education.
Religion.
Change from a principality to a kingdom.
Joins Servia and the Allies.
Albania. The chief use of this State.
Boundaries, rivers, and principal towns.
Early history.
A country infested with bandits and warring
tribes.
A puppet in the hands of the European
Powers.
Italy. Boundaries, mountains, and rivers.
Population.
Form of government.
Education.
Rehgion.
Military and naval service.
Equivocal position of Italy at opening of
war.
Proclamation of neutrality.
Strong reasons inclining Italy to join the
AUies.
Japan. Boundaries, area, and population.
Present government.
Religion.
Education.
Military and naval service.
Joins England against Germany.
Ultimatum demanding evacuation of Kiau-
Chou.
Ill-feeling against Germany of long standing.
CHAPTER XI.— THE HAGUE CONFERENCE "The capital of the world."
The Peace Palace.
The progress of a century in international
morality.
The first peace conference (1899).
Chief accomplishment of the conference.
The second peace conference (1907).
The first case tried before the tribunal.
Other important cases.
The international prize court.
Provisions of the tribunal of The Hague.
Ignoring of these provisions by some of the Powers.
The "Drago Doctrine."
The Hague Peace Palace a gift from Andrew Carnegie.
Chapter Xii.— The Effect Of The War On The Western World
How the disaster and desolation of war produce the paradox of prosperity.
The money markets of the world just before "the clash of nations."
Heavy shipments of gold from the United States to Europe.
Unshakable stability of American finances.
Temporary paralysis of business in the United States.
Great opportunities for many lines of American industry.
What the drawbacks to the prosperity of the United States are likely to be.
Foodstuffs.
The fate of the American apple crop of 1914.
A hard blow at cotton manufacture.
The metal trades strong.
A new factor to help in bringing prosperity.
Magnificent opportunity to reestablish the American merchant marine.
A weak link in the chain of American citi-
- zenship.
Great opportunity for United States trade in South America and Central America.
Rare chance for enterprising men to act as "business scouts" in South America.
Effect of months of stoppage of immigration to our shores.
America the land of worthy work, democratic equality, and noble peace.
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You’ve reached the end of The war in Europe, its causes and consequences; an authentic narrative of the immediate and remote causes of the war, with a descriptive account of the countries involved, including statistics of armies, navies, aeroplanes, dirigibles, &c., &c..