Chapter III: Introduction: By General March

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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 1

CHAPTER II. THE WORLD SUDDENLY TURNED UPSIDE DOWN

The War Storm Breaks--Trade and Commerce Paralyzed--Homeward
Rush of Travelers--Stock Markets Closed--The
Tide of Desolation Following in the Wake of War 21

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 41

CHAPTER IV. THE PLOTTER BEHIND THE SCENE

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 58

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 88

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 117

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 “The First Strategist in Europe”--The Battle that
Won the Baton of a Marshal 153

CHAPTER VIII. JAPAN IN THE WAR

Tsing-Tau Seized by the Mikado--German “Gibraltar”
of 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 170

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 184