The Little Book of the War

The Little Book of the War

By:
Eva March Tappan, PHD

The Little Book of the War outlines the events and consequences of World War I, detailing causes, key battles, and the involvement of various nations, including America.

1. The Spark that exploded the Magazine
   • The Turks and Turkey — The unrest of the Balkan peoples — The Balkan Wars — Serbia — Belgrade — The independence of the Serbians. — The desire of the Balkan peoples to be divided according to their nationalities — Causes of their discontent — The assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria at Serajevo — The Austro-Hungarian note and Serbia’s reply — Russia’s resources and wishes — Germany’s aims — The condition of AustriaHungary — The Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente — Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
2. The Dash toward Paris
   • Attempts to prevent war — Why Germany wished for war — Her feelings toward the Entente countries — Germany’s aims and preparations for war — Declarations of war — Mobilization of German troops — The troubles of American tourists — The Germans violate Luxemburg and Belgium — Belgium’s honor — The “scrap of paper” incident — Why England entered the war — The Germans in Belgium — The dash toward Paris — General Joffre and the battle of the Marne.
3. “Kitchener’s Mob”
   • Japan and Montenegro join the Allies — – Japan captures Kiao-chau — German aims in Turkey — How Turkey was tricked into the war — The two groups of combatants — How Germans are trained for war — Rapidity of their mobilization — Lord Kitchener creates a volunteer army — His letter — His death — Trenches and trench fighting — Dangers in captured trenches — Pranks of the Irish — The double line of trenches — The Eastern Front — Von Hindenburg’s success — The Russians in Galicia — How Serbia was saved by King Peter — How Germany’s fleet was bottled up — Results of the war at the end of 19 14.
4. Modern Methods of Warfare
   • Camouflage — Barbed wire — Machine guns — Liquid fire — Poison gas — Hand grenades — Shrapnel — Wire-less telegraphy and the telephone — Tanks — Flying machines and anti-aircraft guns — Work of the aircraft — Submarines — Teleferica — Value in war of mules, horses, pigeons, and dogs — The Blue Star and the Red Star.
5. The Troubles of the Neutrals
   • “Quiet” times on the Western Front — Attacking a trench — Neuve Chapelle — The Canadians at Ypres — Energy of the French and the English — The duties and! rights of neutrals — England interferes with American trade — Germany’s undersea warfare — American sales of guns and ammunition — Torpedoing of Red Cross ships.
6. The War in 1915
   • “Frightfulness” — Destruction of the Lusitania — Defeat of the Russians at the Mazurian Lakes — The siege of Przemysl — Retreat of the Russians in Galicia — Fall of Lemberg and Warsaw — The Grand Duke Nicholas sent to the Caucasus — Typhus fever in Serbia — Bulgaria joins the Central Powers — Serbia is overrun — Russia’s geographical difficulties — The plan to capture Constantinople — The Dardanelles and their fortifications — Failure of the fleet — The struggle at Gallipoli — The Allied forces withdraw — Results of the year 191 5.
7. The War in 1916
   • Failure of the attempt to capture Verdun — Battle of the Somme — Naval battle of Jutland — Portugal and Italy enter the war—” Italia Irredenta ” — San Marino becomes an ally— New “Fronts”— The Turks aim at the Suez ‘ Canal — Massacres of the Armenians — The Grand Duke Nicholas captures Erzerum and Trebizond — The Russians make a successful drive into Galicia — The English surrender to the Turks in Mesopotamia — Bravery of the Italians — Rumania joins the Allies, is overrun by the Central Powers — Montenegro is devastated — Results of the year 1916.
8. The United States enters the War
   • The United States proclaims her neutrality — German spies — Dishonorable acts of the German Embassy — The crimes of Germany — Submarine warfare — Count von Bernstorff receives his passports — The United States declares war — Democracy — Autocracy — The Government of Germany — Why we are fighting.
9. The Crumbling of Russia
   • The grievances of the Russian people — Their revolution — Effect upon the war — “America is our ally” — Service of our Navy — Many nations join the Allies — “Spurlos versenkt” — Greece enters the war — Explosion of mines — Armored tanks at Cambrai — The Italians on the Piave — The English capture Bagdad, Beersheba, Gaza, Joppa, and at length enter Jerusalem — History of Jerusalem — Tact of General Allenby — A national home for the Jews — Capture of Jericho — Germany seizes the Ukraine — The allies in Murmansk and Vladivostok — The Czecho-Slovaks — The independence of Siberia — The unconditional surrender of Bulgaria.
10. The Americans as Helpers
    • Plattsburg — “Intensive training” — “Selective draft” — Soldiers’ and sailors’ insurance — Cantonments — The salute — General Foch in command — Americans as soldiers — Teaching English at the cantonments — Americans struggle with French — Our Navy — How our Government gets money for the war — The Y.M.C.A. — The Knights of Columbus — The Y.M.H.A. — The Red Cross — Its Indian members — The American Fund for French Wounded — The Friends — Work of college boys and college girls — The nurses’ camp at Vassar — The Salvation Army — Boy Scouts — Girl Scouts and Campfire Girls — The Red Star — A war that must be won.