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A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
A
REFERENCE HISTORY
OF THE WAR
COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY
IRWIN SCOFIELD GUERNSEY, M.A.
WITH A PREFACE BY
FRANK MOORE COLBY
EDITOR OF THE NEW INTERNATIONAL ENCYCLOPAEDIA
NEW YORK
DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY
r ^^^^r^ ua J
5 &'
Copyright, 1920, by
Dodd, Mead and Compant, Inc.
1 1320
©CI.A601548
PREFACE
This volume has been prepared in order to meet the ever increasing de-
mand for a reliable authentic history of the war in all its phases in one volume.
Almost all the histories of the war that have been published to date have been
written on specific aspects of the tremendous struggle. Those that cover the
entire subject have been set before the public in many volumes, and, as a con-
sequence, demand a large amount of time on the part of the reader. After
the armistice was signed and the Peace Conference finished, the publishers
of this volume determined to offer the reading public a compact history of the
war in a single volume. This has been done with the result that a compre-
hensive but not detailed history of the war has been produced. It is nar-
rated in an entertaining, scholarly style. The various chapter headings, War
in Brief, Underlying Causes of the War, Military Operations, Naval Opera-
tions, Aerial Operations, Destruction of Art and Architecture, Alleged Atroci-
ties, Peace Terms and War Aims, Neutral Nations, Economic and Financial
Aspects, Peace Conference and Peace Treaties, etc., will show at a glance
the scope of the volume. An index and bibliography of the most accessible
books on the war have also been included. The material for the history of the
war was gathered from the most reliable contemporary sources, and was edited
from time to time in order to include new facts that were unearthed or to
delete material that had been assumed true at the time it was incorporated
but later proved contrary to fact. The basic material presented for the first
two years was contributed by several members of the staff of the New In-
ternational Encyclopaedia, namely, Colonel Cornells De Witt Wilcox,
U. S. A. ; Professor F. H. Hankins ; Professor Nelson P. Mead ; Captain Lewis
Sayre Van Duzer, U. S. N. ; Mr. Herbert T. Wade; and Mr. Irwin Scofield
Guernsey. The bulk of the work has been done by Mr. Irwin Scofield Guernsey.
Frank Moore Colby, Editor-in-Chief,
New International Encyclopaedia.
CONTENTS
I. The War in Brief
II. Underlying Causes of the
War 5
National Antagonisms; Pan-German-
ism; Military Alliances; Economic
Causes.
III. Outbreak of the War . . 18
Austria's Demands; the Serbian Re-
ply; Germany and Russia; Ger-
many and France; Great Britain
and Germany; Question of Belgian
Neutrality; Italy's Position; Ja-
pan's Position; The Balkan States,
Bulgaria, Greece, Rumania; Por-
tugal ; Czecho-Slovakia.
IV. Military Operations . . 39
Mobilization and Concentration; Gen-
eral Strategy and Resources;
Equipment of the Armies; West-
ern Theatre; American Expedition-
ary Force; Eastern Theatre; Rus-
sian Revolution; The Bolsheviki;
Southern Theatre; Southeastern
Theatre; Colonies.
V. Naval Operations . . . 177
Operations in the North Sea and the
Waters about Great Britain; Oper-
ations in the Mediterranean; Opera-
tions in the Black Sea and Darda-
nelles; Cruiser Operations in the At-
lantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans;
Naval Strategy of the War; Some
Naval Lessons of the War.
VI. Aerial Operations . . . 207
Estimated Participants and Casual-
ties.
VII. Alleged Atrocities . . 219
Belgium; Armenia; Poland; Serbia;
France.
VIII. Destruction of Art and
Architecture . . 225
IX. Neutral Nations at Beginning
of War .... 227
United States; Scandinavian Coun-
tries; Netherlands; Switzerland;
South American Countries; Other
Countries.
X. Peace Proposals and State-
ments of War Aims 273
XI. Relief Measures . . . 2,98
Commission for Relief in Belgium;
Belgium Relief Fund; Jewish Re-
lief; Other Funds; Red Cross.
XII. Financial and Economic As-
pects 304
International Exchange and Banking
Problems; Currency; Employment
and Wages; American Foreign
Trade; World Trade; Foreign
Credits; Prices and Food Supplies;
Cost of the War.
XIII. Peace Conference and
Treaties of Peace 331
XIV. Bibliography .... 386
Historical Background; Military
Operations; Naval Operations;
Aerial Operations; Economic As-
pects; Finances.
A REFERENCE HISTORY
OF THE WAR
I. THE WAR IN BRIEF
On June 28, 1914, the Austrian heir-
apparent, Archduke Francis Ferdinand,
and his wife were assassinated at Sara-
jevo, the capital of Bosnia. Accusing
Serbia of complicity in the crime and
alleging that the anti-Austrian machi-
nations of Serbian patriots menaced
the integrity of the Hapsburg Em-
pire, Austria-Hungary on July 23,
1914, delivered an ultimatum contain-
ing demands with which the Serbian
government would only partially com-
ply. Despite the diplomatic remon-
strances of other powers, Austria-
Hungary refused to submit the mat-
ter to peaceful arbitration and declar-
ed war on Serbia, July 28, 1914. The
Russian government, frankly sympa-
thetic with Serbia, ordered the mobili-
zation of the Russian army and de-
clined to countermand the order,
whereupon the German government de-
clared what it considered to be a de-
fensive war against Russia, August 1,
1914. Two days later Germany de-
clared war against Russia's ally,
France. Preparatory to an invasion
of France, German troops had al-
ready occupied Luxemburg, August 2,
and begun to invade Belgium, August
4, notwithstanding Belgium's opposi-
tion. The British government con-
strued the German violation of Bel-
gian neutrality as a casus belli and
declared war against Germany, August
4. Serbia and the "Allies," or En-
tente Powers — Russia, France, and
Great Britain — were subsequently
joined by Montenegro (August 7,
1914), Japan (August 23, 1914),
Italy (May 23, 1915), San Marino
(May 24, 1915), Portugal (March 9,
1916), Rumania (August 27, 1916),
United States (April 6, 1917), Pana-
ma and Cuba (April 7, 1917), Greece
(July 2, 1917), Siam (July 21, 1917),
Liberia (August 4, 1917), China (Au-
gust 14, 1917), Brazil (October 26,
1917), Guatemala (April 22, 1918),
Costa Rica (May 23, 1918), Nicara-
gua (May 24, 1918), Haiti (July 15,
1918), and Honduras (July 19, 1918).
The "Teutonic" or Central Powers —
Austria-Hungary and Germany — on
the other hand, while they failed to re-
ceive the support of their former ally,
Italy, succeeded in enlisting the aid
of Turkey ("state of war" with Rus-
sia, October 30 ; attacked by Great
Britain and France, November 5,
1914) and Bulgaria (October 14,
1915).
From the outset the Allied navies
controlled the seas, putting an end to
German overseas commerce and com-
pelling the German battleships for the
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
most part to remain in home waters
under the protection of coast defenses
and mines, although the main German
battle fleet ventured out to fight an
indecisive battle, off Jutland, May 31,
1916, and swift German battle cruisers
repeatedly raided the British coast.
The naval engagements in the Bight
of Heligoland (August 24, 1914), off
Coronel (November 1, 1914), near
Dogger Bank (January 24, 1915), and
in the Gulf of Riga (October, 1917)
were of secondary importance. A few
daring German commerce raiders and
the surprisingly effective German sub-
marines were able to inflict consider-
able damage upon the Allied and neu-
tral merchant marines, but not to
break the virtual blockade by means
of which Great Britain hoped to starve
out her principal enemy. By the terms
of the armistice which ended the war
the greater part of the battle fleets
and submarines of the Central Powers
had to be turned over to the Allies
(November, 1918).
The military operations may be
briefly summarized as follows: (1) In
the Franco-Belgian theatre, the gallant
defense of Liege (August 4-5, 1914),
the stand at the Mons-Namur-Char-
leroi (August 21-24, 1914), and a
counter invasion of Alsace-Lorraine
(August, 1914) failed to stop the on-
ward sweep of the German armies
through Belgium, Luxemburg, and
Lorraine toward Paris. The high tide
of the German invasion was reached
in the Battle of the Marne (Septem-
ber 6-10, 1914), after which the Ger-
man right wing fell back upon the
Aisne River and extended itself north-
ward through Picardy, Artois, and
Flanders to the Belgian coast. From
October, 1914, to July, 1918, the long
intrenched battleline from the coast
to Switzerland remained almost sta-
tionary, although terrific attempts to
break through were made by the Ger-
mans in Flanders (October-November,
1914), again at Ypres (April-May,
1915), in the Argonne (July, 1915), at
Verdun (February- July, 1916), be-
tween St. Quentin and La Fere toward
Amiens (March, 1918), in the Ypres
sector (April, 1918), at the Chemin
des Dames (May-June, 1918), be-
tween Rheims and Soissons (June- July,
1918), and at the Marne (July,
1918) ; as well by the Allies at Neuve
Chapelle (March 10, 1915), in the
region just north of Arras (May- June,
1915), in Champagne (September-Oc-
tober, 1915), in Artois, near Lens
(September-October, 1915), in the
Valley of the Somme (July, 1916-
March, 1917), near Arras (April-
June, 1917), on the Aisne (April-No-
vember, 1917), in Flanders (July-De-
cember, 1917). After the failure of
the five great German attempts be-
tween March and July, 1918, the Al-
lies found themselves in a position to
take the offensive. They did not de-
pend upon the customary single huge
blow but struck a series of smaller
blows which set the whole line rocking
from the sea to the Swiss border. The
second Marne was won in July, the
third Somme in August and by Sep-
tember the whole German line from
Rheims to Ypres was in a backward
movement. In September the St.
Mihiel salient was wiped out and an
advance on both sides of the Argonne
forest begun. Toward the end of the
same month Foch struck in Flanders
and so on. By the end of the month
the Germans were back to the starting
place of March 21. In October the
Allies smashed the Hindenburg line,
cleared the Belgian coast, and ad-
vanced along the Meuse, threatening
all communications, and compelling the
THE WAR IN BRIEF
3
Germans to ask for an armistice which
was granted on November 11, 1918.
(2) In the East the initial Russian of-
fensive in East Prussia was shattered
by Hindenburg at Tannenberg (Au-
gust 26-31, 1914) ; an Austro-German
counter-invasion of Russian Poland
was checked before Warsaw (Febru-
ary, 1915) ; the Russian armies invad-
ing Galicia attained the passes of the
Carpathians early in 1915, but were
completely expelled from Austrian ter-
ritory by "Mackensen's Drive" (May-
June) ; and an Austro-German inva-
sion of Russia under the masterly di-
rection of Hindenburg, after conquer-
ing Warsaw (August 4, 1915), Brest-
Litovsk (August 25), and Vilna (Sep-
tember 18, 1915) was halted only by
the swamps before Riga, the lakes
around Dwinsk, and the Pripet
marshes. The Russians returning to
the attack in 1916 (June-August) re-
captured the Volhynian fortresses of
Lutsk and Dubno, conquered the
Bukowina, and penetrated up the
Dniester River as far as Halicz.
The Russian revolution brought opera-
tions on the East Front to a stand-
still, the only outstanding feature be-
ing the unsuccessful Russian offensive
(July) and the fall of Riga (Septem-
ber-October, 1917). Ater the Bolshe-
viki came into power they evinced a
strong desire to make peace and ulti-
mately signed the treaty of Brest-
Litovsk (March, 1918). The Allies
determined to save Russia from herself
and from Germany and sent an army
into Siberia (to aid the Czecho-Slo-
vaks) and landed two small forces at
Archangel and Murman (July, 1918).
They hoped by these means to re-es-
tablish an Eastern Front. After vary-
ing success the fighting in Russia was
still continuing after all the Central
Powers had signed an armistice. (3)
After two important Austro-Hungar-
ian attempts to "punish Serbia" had
failed (in August and December,
1914), a new Austro-German inva-
sion of Serbia was undertaken in Oc-
tober, 1915, with the aid of Bulgaria,
and by December 5, 1915, Serbia was
completely conquered. Anglo-French
forces endeavoring to succor Serbia
were defeated in the battle of the Var-
dar (December, 1915), and driven
back on their base at Saloniki, in
Greek territory. Montenegro and
northern Albania were overrun by
Austrian and Bulgar armies (Janu-
ary-February, 1916). In the summer
of 1916, the Allied army at Saloniki
assumed the offensive and wrested the
iSerbian town of Monastir from the
Bulgarians (November 19), but were
unable to advance very much beyond
that point in 1917, owing to the com-
plete downfall of Russia and Rumania.
During July, 1918, after initial suc-
cesses an Allied offensive in Albania
failed. During the succeeding months
after careful preparation, the Allies
broke the Bulgarian defenses and aft-
er a series of remarkable victories com-
pelled them to accept an armistice
(September, 1918), which amounted
to an unconditional surrender.
(It.) Rumania, entering the war on
August 27, 1916, too rashly sent her
armies to "emancipate" Transylvania,
leaving the Dobrudja undefended
against Mackensen; the Rumanian in-
vaders of Transylvania were thrown
back by Falkenhayn; and all of Ru-
mania, excepting a small part of Mol-
davia, was conquered by the Central
Powers. Disclosures made by the Rus-
sian revolutionists show that Rumania
was betrayed by the Germanophile
Russian premier, Sturmer, who failed
to send the promised army to protect
Rumania's flank. She was compelled
4
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
to sign a humiliating peace with the
Central Powers in March, 1918. (5)
Turkish armies held the Dardanelles
against Anglo-French attacks (Febru-
ary, 1915, to January 8, 1916) ; de-
livered futile attacks upon the Suez
Canal; captured a British army under
Gen. Townshend in Mesopotamia
(April 28, 1916); and expelled the
Russians from Kermanshah (July 5,
1916) and Hamadan (August 10,
1916), but were unable to defend the
important Armenian cities of Erzerum
(February 16, 1916), Trebizond
(April 18), and Erzingan (July 25)
against Grand Duke Nicholas's ad-
vance. Assuming the offensive in 1917
the Allies took Kut-el-Amara (Febru-
ary 24), Bagdad (March 10) and
Jerusalem (December 10). During
1918 the Allies continued their offen-
sive against the Turko-German forces
in Asia Minor and succeeded in prac-
tically wiping them out. The capitu-
lation of Bulgaria placed Turkey in a
precarious position and compelled her
to sue for an armistice (October,
1918). The conditions granted her
also amounted to an unconditional sur-
render. (6) The Italians, having pain-
fully penetrated into the Trentino a
few miles, were rudely repulsed in May,
1916; towards Trieste the Italians
made slow progress and finally cap-
tured Gorizia, August 9, 1916. Strik-
ing out on the Carso and Bainsizza
plateaus in the summer of 1917, the
Italians were making substantial prog-
ress towards Laibach and Trieste,
when they were again rudely repulsed
by a German-Austro force and hurled
back to the Piave River (October-
December, 1917). Contrary to expec-
tations the Central Powers did not at-
tempt to force the Piave when the
fighting season of 1918 opened. The*
attempt was not made until June and
then it was severely checked. Assum-
ing the offensive in August and Sep-
tember, 1918, the Allies completely
broke through the enemy lines and
threw them back in a disorderly rout.
Austria-Hungary sued for an armis-
tice and received terms amounting to
unconditional surrender (November,
1918). (7) All of the German colon-
ies were taken: Kiaochow (in China) by
the Japanese (November 6, 1914) ; the
German island possessions in the Pacific
by British and Japanese expeditions;
Togoland (August, 1914), Kamerun
(February, 1916), German Southwest
Africa (July, 1916), and German East
Africa (November, 1918).
II. UNDERLYING CAUSES OF THE WAR
In July, 1914, the murder of Fran-
cis Ferdinand, a member of the Aus-
trian royal family, set in motion a
train of events which culminated in
the terrible catastrophe of a great
European war. It was clear, however,
that this crime was not the real cause
of the tremendous struggle which many
of the statesmen and diplomats of
Europe had anticipated and all had
feared for many years. The under-
lying causes of this great War of the
Nations reach far back into the past
and cannot be reduced to any simple
formula. Some knowledge of the im-
portant political and economic forces
which have shaped the history of
Europe during the past century is nec-
essary for an adequate appreciation of
the causes of the great cataclysm.
Among the many and complex influ-
ences which have been suggested as
causes of the war, there are three
forces which appear to have contrib-
uted most directly in bringing about
the critical situation in Europe in
1914. These were (1) the clashing of
national interests and ideals, (2) the
maintenance of a system of military
alliances, and (3) the economic rivalry
among the nations of Europe.
National Antagonisms. Viewed broad-
ly, the political history of Europe in
the nineteenth century centres about
two movements which were the in-
heritance of the French Revolution
and the Napoleonic wars, (1) the
growth of democracy and (2) the
realization of national liberty. When
the diplomats of the Great Powers
met at the Congress of Vienna in 1815
5
to readjust the map of Europe, many-
expressed the hope that the Congress
would be guided in its work by these
two principles. There was much talk
of "the reconstruction of the moral
order," "the regeneration of the po-
litical system of Europe," of the es-
tablishment "of an enduring peace
founded on a just distribution of po-
litical forces," and of the formation
of an effective and permanent in-
ternational tribunal. Unfortunately
these fair promises were not realized
and the Congress, instead of establish-
ing a new era, did its utmost to re-
store the old one. The principles of
popular freedom and national liberty
were ignored wherever it was neces-
sary to do so to satisfy the dynastic
and personal influences which domi-
nated the Congress.
In the first place, as an inheritance
of the French Revolution these prin-
ciples were anathema to the reaction-
aries and, in the second place, Met-
ternich,* the reactionary Austrian
Chancellor who dominated the Con-
gress, realized that encouragement of
* Metternich, Clemexs Wenzel Nepomuk
Lothar, Prince (1773-1859). A noted Austrian
diplomat, born at Coblenz. Educated at Uni-
versity of Strassburg and studied law at Mainz.
Diplomatic career commenced at Congress of
Rastadt (1797-1799). Became Austrian Am-
bassador at Dresden (1801). Two years later
became ambassador to Prussia where he nego-
tiated treaty of alliance between Austria,
Prussia and Russia against France in 1805.
Went to Paris in 1806 as ambassador. Minister
of Foreign Affairs, 1809. Opposed dismember-
ment of France for fear Russia and Prussia
would become too powerful. Presiding officer
of Congress of Vienna. Inspiring genius of
reactionary policy of Restoration period. Aus-
trian Chancellor, 1821. Aimed to restore old
order as far as possible.
6
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
the nationalist principle would endan-
ger the heterogeneous Austrian domin-
ions. Consequently the work of the
Congress of Vienna was an effort to
establish the status quo ante bellum.
The consummation of this aim caused
numerous violations of the principle
of nationality. The history of the
nineteenth century shows a number of
revolutionary periods such as 1830,
1848, 1866, and 1870 which were caus-
ed by the determined efforts of the
liberals and radicals of Europe to
put into effect the three cardinal prin-
ciples of the French Revolution, lib-
erty, equality, and fraternity. The
last term is praetically synonymous
with the term nationality. Some of
the cruder violations of the principle
were done away with in the course of
the century. For example, Belgium
was separated from Holland and Ve-
netia and other Italian-speaking sec-
tions were taken away from Austria
and joined to the newly created Ital-
ian kingdom. There remained, how-
ever, at the close of the nineteenth cen-
tury, a number of situations which
clearly violated the principle of na-
tional sovereignty. The completion
of German unity in 1871 was accom-
panied by the violation of the prin-
ciple of French nationality in the an-
nexation of the territories of Alsace
and Lorraine after the Franco-Prus-
sian War. The reasons for the an-
nexations of these territories were
partially economic and partially po-
litical. The Germans wished to wipe
out the memories of French aggression
after the Battle of Jena during the
Napoleonic period. They also wished
to obtain the extremely valuable coal
and iron mines which were in these
territories. It was an ever present
challenge to the French people to at-
tempt to regain these lost provinces
and a constant reminder of the hu-
miliation which they had suffered at
the hands of Germany. On the other
hand it was used by Bismarck * and
the Prussian military party to justify
their programme of huge military
armaments in Germany.
Nowhere else in Europe was the
problem of nationality so acute dur-
ing the nineteenth century as in Aus-
tria-Hungary. The very existence of
the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy has
been a constant challenge to the prin-
ciple of nationality. Logically car-
ried out this principle would mean
the disappearance of Austria-Hungary
and the distribution of its territory
among the surrounding nations. The
appreciation of this fact by the Aus-
trian authorities made them apprehen-
sive of all nationalist movements, and
especially that of the southern Slavs.
As will be seen it was the outgrowth
of one of these movements which pre-
cipitated the crisis which led to the
outbreak of the war.
The Balkan states presented a pe-
culiarly vexing problem in the realiza-
tion of the principle of nationality.
The intricate mixture of racial groups
in this region made it an almost hope-
* BlSMAHCK-SCHONHATJSEN, KARL OtTO
Eduard Leopold vox, Prince (1815-98). A
famous Prussian diplomat and statesman, born
in the district of Magdeburg, Prussia. From
1832-33 he was a student of jurisprudence and
political science. Entered First General Diet
of Prussia (1847). Champion of ultra-con-
servative measures. Advocated increased pow-
ers of monarchy in Erfurt Parliament (1850).
As Prussian Ambassador to Germanic Diet at
Frankfort adopted policy of hostility to Aus-
tria. Head of Prussian cabinet and Minister
of Foreign Affairs (1862). Governed without
a budget and parliamentary majority. To
unify Germany under Prussia adopted ruth-
less policy, "mighty problems of age to be
solved by blood and iron." Forced out Austria
and in 1871 Germanic states formed an empire
with Prussian King as Emperor. Introduced
state socialism as a means of fighting social-
ism. He was a bitter opponent of the Roman
Catholic church, being the author of the famous
"May Laws," of 1873-74-75.
UNDERLYING CAUSES OF THE WAR
less task to arrange geographical
boundaries to correspond with na-
tional lines. The problem was com-
plicated, moreover, by the clashing of
the interests of the great European
Powers, especially Austria and Rus-
sia, in this territory. The condition
of chronic disorder and strife in this
region during the nineteenth century
was a source of almost constant con-
cern to the diplomats of the great
European states.
While the triumph of the ideal of
nationality has done much to advance
European civilization, it has not been
an unmixed blessing. Too often na-
tional patriotism became a fetish. Love
of one's country meant a lack of ap-
preciation of or a contempt for the
people of other countries ; a feeling
that the "kultur" of one's country was
not only different from but distinctly
superior to that of any other country.
From this it naturally followed that it
was a laudable ambition to wish to im-
pose one's superior civilization upon
an inferior people.
"If it were possible," says Prince
Bernhard von Biilow * in his book on
Imperial Germany, "for members of
different nationalities, with different
language and customs, and an intel-
lectual life of a different kind, to hve
side by side in one and the same
state, without succumbing to the temp-
tation of each trying to force his own
* Bulow, Bernhard, Prince von. A former
German Chancellor, born (1849) at Klein-
Flottbeck, Holstein. Studied at Lausanne,
L,eipsic, and Berlin. Served in Franco-Prus-
sian War and entered German Foreign Office
in 1874. Served as secretary of legations at
various capitals and also ambassador. Ap-
pointed Foreign Secretary in 1897 and Chancel-
lor of the German Empire and Prime Minister
of Prussia in 1900. His diplomacy shaped by
emperor. Against ambition of France in Mo-
rocco and led to Algeciras conference (1906).
Able to control majority in Reichstag until
1909 when failure of budget led to resigna-
tion.
nationality on the other, things on
earth would look a good deal more
peaceful. But it is a law of life and
development in history that where two
national civilizations meet they fight
for ascendancy. In the struggle be-
tween nationalities, one nation is the
hammer and the other the anvil; one
is the victor and the other the van-
quished." Prince von Billow's words
really go to the root of the whole
trouble in European politics. They
show clearly that exaggerated idea of
the inevitable antagonism of national
interests which dominated European
politics during the nineteenth cen-
tury.
In its extreme form this national
spirit has found expression in move-
ments . to unite various related ethnic
and racial groups into one political
group. Such movements have been
more or less prominent in Germany,
Russia, and the Balkan states under
the names Pan-Germanism, Panslav-
ism, Pan-Serbianism, etc. It is doubt-
ful whether any of these movements
had passed beyond the state of vague
aspirations held by a comparatively
small group of people. As a con-
tributing cause of the war the Pan-
slavic and Pan-Serbian movements
were of some importance. The growth
of such propaganda was a source of
concern to Austria-Hungary, with its
large Slavic population.
Pan-Germanism. — The Pan-German
movement was an outgrowth of Ger-
man imperialism and of the exag-
gerated race consciousness of the Ger-
mans. Roughly stated, this movement
conceives the German people wherever
located as forming one great nation-
ality. Some Pan-Germanists deny any
political or territorial ambitions and
assert that they wish merely to spread
the knowledge of German culture
8
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
throughout the world. Others, more 1
radical, proclaimed the ultimate domi-
nation of the world by the German
race. The German authorities re-
peatedly stated that the Pan-German
movement had no official sanction and
that it was the work of only a very
small part of the German people. How-
ever, what the movement has lacked
in numbers it has made up in activity.
Prominent historians, scientists, and
other writers expounded its views, while
numerous societies had been formed to
advance German ideas of culture and
civilization throughout the civilized
world.
One or two quotations will serve to
show the attitude of some of the lead-
ers of the Pan-German movement.
Von Bernhardi said on one occasion:
"Our next war will be fought for the
highest interests of our country and of
mankind. This will invest it with im-
portance in the world's history.
'World power or downfall !' will be our
rallying cry.
"Keeping this idea before us, we
must prepare for war with the confi-
dent intention of conquering and with
the iron resolve to persevere to the
end, come what may."
The French Yellow Book quotes
from an official secret report the fol-
lowing: "Neither ridiculous shriek-
ings for revenge by French chauvin-
ists, nor the Englishmen's gnashing of
teeth, nor the wild gestures of the
Slavs will turn us from our aim of
protecting and extending Deutschtum
(German influence) all the world
over."
The Kaiser said in the course of a
speech in July, 1900: "Germany's
greatness makes it impossible for her
to do without the ocean, but the ocean
also proves that even in the distance,
and on its farther side, without Ger-
many and the German Emperor no
great decision dare henceforth be
taken.
"I do not believe that thirty years
ago our German people, under the
leadership of their princes, bled and
conquered in order that they might be
shoved aside when great decisions are
to be made in foreign politics. If that
could happen, the idea that the Ger-
man people are to be considered a
world power would be dead and done
for, and it is not my will that this
would happen. To this end it is only
my duty and my finest privilege to use
the proper and, if need be, the most
drastic means without fear of conse-
quences. I am convinced that in this
course I have the German princes and
the German people firmly behind me."
In another speech in October, 1900,
the Kaiser said: "Our German Fath-
erland, (to) which I hope will be
granted, through the harmonious co-
operation of princes and peoples, of its
armies and its citizens, to become in
the future as closely united, as power-
ful, and as authoritative as once the
Roman world-empire was, and that,
just as in the old times they said
'Civis romanus sum,' hereafter, at
some time in the future, they will say
'I am a German citizen.' "
Military Alliances. The obsession
of national jealousy led inevitably to
the view that it was necessary to de-
fend nationalism with huge armaments.
The remarkable success of Bismarck in
uniting Germany by a policy of blood
and iron was used as an object lesson
by the militarists of Germany and oth-
er nations. War was glorified as an
institution in itself, not simply as a
means to an end. Says Bernhardi,*
* Friedrich von Bernhardi, born (1849) at
St. Petersburg, son of a German diplomat;
served in Franco-Prussian War; general of
cavalry and commander of the Seventh Army
UNDERLYING CAUSES OF THE WAR
9
one of the leading exponents of this
school, "War is in itself a good thing.
It is a biological necessity of the first
importance." And again, "The in-
evitableness, the idealism, the blessing
of war as an indispensable and stimu-
lating law of development must be re-
peatedly emphasized." John Adam
Cramb,* an English historian, pre-
dicted a war between Germany and
England and warned England to pre-
pare for it. Everywhere the doctrine
of military preparedness was advocat-
ed and it bore fruit in the tremendous
standing armies and huge navies of the
different European countries. It led
also to the grouping of the great
European Powers into two hostile mili-
tary alliances.
When the representatives of the
European Powers met at the Congress
of Vienna in 1815, there was organized
the so-called Concert of Europe, by
which it was hoped that the problems
of European politics would be adjust-
ed. For some years congresses rep-
resenting the Great Powers were held
at which international questidns were
considered and efforts made to main-
tain the balance of power in Europe.
After the middle of the nineteenth cen-
tury, however, the influence of this
Corps (1908); retired (1909), but in 1915, dur-
ing the European War, assigned to field com-
mand at his own request. His writings, for
which he is known internationally, are con-
cerned with German military progress and with
an expected war for the advancement of Pan-
Germanism and expansion. In English have
appeared: Cavalry in War and Peace (1910);
On War of To-Bay, Britain as Germany's Vas-
sal, and Germanv and the Next War (all
191-1) ; The New Bcrnhardi: "World Power or
Borcnfall" (1915), a collection of articles writ-
ten during the European War.
*John Adam Cramb (1862-1913), educated
at Glasgow and Bonn; from 1893 to his death
professor of modern history at Queen's College,
London: also lectured at other institutions and
gave private courses; author of Germany and
England (1914) and The Origins and Bestiny
of Imperial Britain and Nineteenth Century
Europe (1915).
Concert was materially weakened.
A political transformation of
Europe occurred in the decade between
1860 and 1870, culminating in the
creation of two new European states,
Germany and Italy. The appearance
of these two states in the family of
European nations seriously disturbed
the old political relations. Bismarck,
who had been largely instrumental in
the creation of the German Empire,
adopted as his guiding principle a sys-
tem of firm alliances rather than de-
pendence upon the more loosely consti-
tuted European Concert. In an effort
to isolate France, he first strove to
unite Russia, German}^, and Austria in
a defensive alliance. When Russia with-
drew from this alliance on account of
antagonism to Austria, Bismarck de-
voted his efforts to binding together
more closely the two Teutonic Pow-
ers. Italy later (1882) joined with
the Central Powers to form the Triple
Alliance.
Italy's alliance with the Teutonic
Powers was largely a result of her re-
sentment against France because of
the latter's acquisition of Tunis in
1881. Checkmated by France, Italy
turned to the Germanic Powers and
joined an unnatural alliance. It was
unnatural because Austria had con-
sistently opposed Italian unity as well
as on account of clashes of economic
interests in the Balkan peninsula.
This organization of the states of
central Europe into a strong military
alliance was an invitation to the other
states of Europe to create an oppos-
ing alliance in order to maintain the
balance of power. First France and
Russia, drawn together by mutual hos-
tility to Germany, formed a Dual Al-
liance (1895) and finally Great Brit-
ain, aroused by the threatening naval
policy of Germany, abandoned her pol-
10
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
icy of "splendid isolation," and joined
with France and Russia to form a sec-
ond diplomatic group known as the
Triple Entente. England was com-
pelled to smooth over difficulties which
existed between herself and her two
allies. She clashed with France in
Northern Africa, in Siam, and over
the Newfoundland fisheries. She was
opposed to the extension of Russian
influence in the Balkans as well as to
the advance towards India in Asia.
Due largely to the efforts of Sir Ed-
ward Grey, these misunderstandings
were cleared up and a "diplomatic
group" was established. The precise
nature of this understanding was in-
definite, there being no treaty agree-
ment specifying its scope. The for-
mation of these two rival military
groups created a situation in Europe
where every disturbance of the po-
litical or diplomatic status quo
brought on a crisis. Since 1905
Europe has passed through several
such crises, each one increasing the
tension among the Great Powers and
each making the maintenance of peace
more difficult.
The first of these crises came in
1905 in a dispute over Morocco. A
part of the understanding reached be-
tween England and France in 1904
provided that France should have a
free hand in Morocco, while England
was given a free hand in Egypt. Ger-
many, which had abandoned Bis-
marck's policy of opposition to co-
lonial expansion, was looking about for
such stray portions of undeveloped
land as had not been appropriated by
England and France. Germany had
to choose between two courses. Eith-
er she could frankly recognize the in-
evitable consequences of her geograph-
ical position and her late entrance in-
to the field as a colonial power, which
handicapped her development as a
world state, or she might determine to
challenge the more fortunately sit-
uated and longer established world
powers and create for herself a larger
"place in the sun." She chose the lat-
ter alternative. With a rapidly in-
creasing population, it became a ques-
tion whether even her remarkable in-
dustrial development would accommo-
date the added millions of population.
It is true that at this time Germany
imported unskilled agricultural labor
from Russia, and that there was no
alarming emigration from Germany.
But the future held out the prospect
of a large emigration of Germans to
other countries, and the Germans re-
sented the loss of this good German
stock to the Fatherland. Colonies
where Germans might be kept under
German control were felt to be the
great need. Germany therefore deter-
mined not to stand quietly by and al-
low further colonial acquisitions by
the other great European Powers with-
out making an effort to share in the
spoils.
The Russo-Japanese War (1904-
1905) had revealed the military weak-
ness and inefficiency of Russia. This
situation made Russia's support of
France much less valuable and Ger-
many felt that it was an opportune
time to assert her position in regard
to Morocco. On March 21, 1905, the
German Emperor, while on a voyage
to Constantinople, disembarked at
Tangier and encouraged the Sultan to
reject the scheme of reforms pro-
posed by France. He, moreover, suc-
ceeded in forcing France to submit
the whole Moroccan question to a con-
ference of the Powers held at Algeciras
in January, 1906. England firmly
supported France and let it be known
that any interference with France's
UNDERLYING CAUSES OF THE WAR
11
predominant position in Morocco
would be resisted by her. Italy, more-
over, refused to support her ally, with
the result that France scored a dis-
tinct diplomatic victory.
One phase of Germany's policy of
colonial and commercial expansion
contemplated the extension of Teu-
tonic commercial and political inter-
ests in the Balkans and Turkey. In
this "Drang nach Osten" Germany, in
conjunction with Austria, hoped to
create a great economic, if not politi-
cal, sphere of influence extending
through the Balkans to Constantino-
ple and thence through Turkey in Asia
to the Persian Gulf. German engineers
and German capitalists began to de-
velop Turkish resources. German mili-
tary officials trained the Turkish
forces.
As an example of the importance
that the Pan-Germanist element placed
upon the movement toward the south-
east, the following quotation is given
from a book entitled, Asia, by Fried-
rich Naumann (1900): "All weaken-
ing of German national energy by
pacifist associations or analogous ac-
tivities reinforces the formidably in-
creasing power of those who rule to-
day from the Cape to Cairo, from
Ceylon to the Polar Sea. . . . No
truce with England. Let our policy be
a national policy.
"This must be the mainspring of our
action in the eastern question. This
is the fundamental reason which ne-
cessitates our political indifference to
the sufferings of Christians in the
Turkish Empire, painful as these must
be to our private feelings. If Turkey
were disintegrated to-day, the frag-
ments of her empire would become the
sport of the great powers, and we would
be left with nothing, as has happened
so often in the past. We must retard
the catastrophe. Let Turkey have
any constitution she likes, so long as
she can keep herself afloat a while
longer.
"Bismarck taught us to make a dis-
tinction between our foreign policy
and our domestic policy. The same
thing applies to the Christian mis-
sions. As Christians we desire the
propagation of the faith by which we
were saved. But it is not the task of
our policy to concern itself with Chris-
tian missions.
"The truth here, as elsewhere, is
that we must find out which is the
greatest and morally the most impor-
tant task. When the choice has been
made, there must be no tergiversation.
William II has made his choice; he is
the friend of the Padishah, because he
believes in a greater Germany. . . .
"Imagine a few firm, rigid, incor-
ruptible officials at the head of a ter-
ritory like Palestine scouring the coun-
try on horseback with European
promptitude. They would be as much
abused as Satan, but as useful as
angels. . . .
"A sort of amicable dictatorship
would be set up, which would often
address Turkey as the bird of the
proverb was addressed, 'Eat or die.'
. . . Meanwhile Germans would be set-
tling upon all the shores of the Medi-
terranean. Good luck to you, my
brethren. Work hard. Bestir your-
selves. The old sea will yet behold
many things. You hold in your hands
a morsel of Germany's future life."
In July, 1908, a revolution, led by
the Young Turks, broke out in Con-
stantinople. Taking advantage of this
situation Bulgaria annexed eastern
Rumelia and declared her complete in-
dependence of Turkey. Austria felt
the time opportune to annex Bosnia
and Herzegovina, which had been
12
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
placed under her administration in
1878 by the Congress of Berlin, main-
ly through the efforts of Bismarck.
This action of Austria irritated Italy
and aroused Serbia, which latter had
hoped to bring these provinces, closely
related to her in blood, into a Greater
Serbia. Russia protested against Aus-
tria's violation of the Treaty of Ber-
lin, but Germany stood by her ally,
and Russia, unprepared for war, was
forced to submit. The Teutonic al-
lies had scored a distinct diplomatic
success and another European crisis
was passed.
Once again in 1911, the Moroccan
question brought Europe to the verge
of war. Germany had not accepted
with good grace her diplomatic defeat
at Algeciras, and watched with an in-
creasing irritation the extension of
French influence and control in Mo-
rocco. Germany complained that
France was not observing the policy
of equal commercial opportunity for
all nations and on July 1, 1911, the
German cruiser Panther appeared off
Agadir with the avowed purpose of
protecting German interests. Both
England and France likewise sent
ships there, and for several months
European peace hung in the balance.
A compromise was finally reached
whereby Germany recognized France's
predominant position in Morocco while
in return Germany received 100,000
square miles of the French Congo.
Hardly had this second Moroccan
crisis been passed when the delicate
balance in European politics was dis-
turbed by the Turco-Italian War. Dis-
appointed in her desire to obtain
Tunis, Italy turned her attentions to
the neighboring Turkish province of
Tripoli and gradually extended her
economic interests there. Friction de-
veloped with the corrupt and inefficient
Turkish authorities and in September,
1911, the Italian government demand-
ed that Turkey place the provinces of
Tripoli and Cyrenaica under Italian
control. Upon Turkey's refusal Italy
declared war and after a long cam-
paign succeeded in occupying the ter-
ritory. Germany was placed in the
difficult position of seeing her protege
Turkey despoiled by her ally Italy.
She was, however, powerless to prevent
Italy from carrying through her de-
signs for fear that the latter might
desert the Triple Alliance and join the
Entente.
The Turco-Italian War was a pre-
lude to a much more serious and far-
reaching upheaval in the Turkish do-
minions. The policy of the Young
Turks after the revolution of 1908, in
attempting to build up a strong, uni-
fied Ottoman nation, stirred the smol-
dering embers of the rival nationalities
in the Balkans. The Greeks, Bulgar-
ians, Serbs, and Montenegrins resented
the attempt to Ottomanize their fellow
nationals in Macedonia and Albania.
Putting aside for the moment their
own rivalries these four Powers or-
ganized the Balkan League, and sub-
mitted to Turkey a demand for far-
reaching reforms in Macedonia. The
European Powers quickly saw the dan-
ger of a European war if the Balkan
situation was disturbed and they
served notice on the Allies that under
no conditions would they allow a modi-
fication of the territorial status quo
in the Balkans. Undeterred by this
threat of European intervention the
Allies declared war on Turkey in Oc-
tober, 1912, and after a series of bril-
liant campaigns, completely routed the
Turks and drove them to the gates of
Constantinople. As the Allies had an-
ticipated, the European Powers did
not make good their threat to restore
UNDERLYING CAUSES OF THE WAR
13
the status quo. When it came to a di-
vision of the spoils the old rivalries
among the Allies once more appeared.
Serbia had been thwarted in her de-
sire to obtain Albania by the opposi-
tion of Italy and Austria. This led
to a demand by Serbia for a modifica-
tion of the agreement for the divisions
of the territory made by the Allies
before the war. To this Bulgaria
would not consent and Serbia, Greece,
and Montenegro combined against
their former ally. Rumania and Tur-
key also joined Bulgaria's enemies
with the result that Bulgaria's forces
were quickly overwhelmed. The strug-
gle closed in August, 1913, and Bul-
garia was forced to give up a large
part of the conquered Turkish terri-
tory.
As a result of interference by the
great Powers of Europe an autonom-
ous Albania was established under the
kingship of William Frederick of
Wied, a German mediatized prince.
This effectively thwarted Serbia's de-
sire for a seaport on the Adriatic.
The outcome of the Balkan wars
was a bitter disappointment to Ger-
many and Austria. Not only had
their protege Turkey been practically
driven from Europe, but the creation
of a greater Serbia and the strength-
ening of Greece and Bulgaria checked
the plans of Austria to reach the
^Egean Sea at Saloniki. Russian in-
fluence, too, had been greatly in-
creased in the Balkans by the
strengthening of the Slavic states.
That Germany appreciated the seri-
ous blow which had been dealt to Teu-
tonic influence in the Balkans was in-
dicated by the introduction in Febru-
ary, 1913, of a new army bill. This
was defended on the ground that the
outcome of the Balkan wars had seri-
ously disturbed the balance of power
in central Europe to the detriment of
Austria and Germany.
To the peace footing of the German
army were added 117,000 men and
19,000 officers, bringing the total
strength of the peace army, including
auxiliary services, up to 870,000. Im-
mediately the Superior Council of War
in France replied to the German chal-
lenge by proposing March 4, that the
term of military service be increased
from 2 to 3 years, in order to aug-
ment the strength and improve the or-
ganization of the French army. It
should be noted that the German in-
crease was proposed first, that it was
approved by the Bundesrath on March
28, and that it was finally passed by
the Reichstag on June 30, 1913, three
weeks before the French Three- Year
Law was passed by the Chamber of
Deputies, July 19. Russia, the ally
of France, and Austria-Hungary, the
ally of Germany, likewise made war-
like preparations. In July the Duma
authorized a new army budget and
the lengthening of military service
from 3 to 3y± years ; General Joffre,
the French commander-in-chief, vis-
ited Russia in August, 1913, to con-
fer on the reorganization of the Rus-
sian army. Austria-Hungary intro-
duced a new scheme whereby her peace
army was increased from 463,000 to
560,000 ; and enormous sums were ap-
propriated for the provision of artil-
lery. Even the smaller states of the
Balkan, Iberian, and Scandinavian
peninsulas caught the contagion of the
army fever. The most ominous fea-
ture of all this military preparation
was the fear and hatred it inspired.
France introduced three-year service
because she feared the German army,
with its corps at Metz, Saarbriicken,
and Strassburg. When little Belgium
introduced universal military service
14
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
and planned to create a field army of
150,000 in addition to garrisons of
130,000 men, the explanation was
frankly made that the recent construc-
tion of German railways leading to the
Belgian frontier, without obvious eco-
nomic purpose, signified that Germany
was preparing to transport troops in-
to and through Belgium in case of a
Franco-German war. Similarly Ger-
many was alarmed by the projected
construction of new Russian railways,
which would facilitate Russian mobili-
zation against Germany. And in the
spring of 1914 a veritable panic was
created in the German and Austro-
Hungarian press, by articles in the
Cologne Gazette, Germania, the Post,
and the Berliner Tageblatt, comment-
ing on the Russian preparations,
which would be perfected in a year or
two. Bernhardi, in the Post, warned
Germany to be ready for a war in the
near future. On the other hand,
the St. Petersburg (Petrograd) Bir-
shewija Wjedomosti on June 13, 1914,
declared that, "France and Russia do
not desire war, but Russia is pre-
pared, and hopes that France will
likewise be prepared." Thus national
militarism created the situation out of
which grew the War of the Nations —
the nations of Europe armed to the
teeth, regarding each other with in-
sane fear, awaiting the inevitable con-
flict.
Economic Causes. Some advocates
of the economic interpretation of his-
tory seek to place all historical facts
on an economic basis. To this school
of historical writers this war is ex-
plained almost entirely on economic
grounds. While it is quite possible to
exaggerate this economic motive, there
is no question that economic consid-
erations played an important part in
bringing about the situation which
precipitated the European crisis.
Some of these economic influences may
be briefly stated.
At the close of the eighteenth cen-
tury there occurred in Europe a com-
plete transformation of industrial con-
ditions known as the industrial revolu-
tion. The invention of improved
methods of spinning and weaving, the
application of steam power, the sub-
stitution of the factory system for the
former method of cottage industry,
and the appearance of distinct cap-
italist and laboring classes were the
most striking features of this revolu-
tion in industrial life.
England was the first country to
feel the effects of this change. Fac-
tories began to turn out large quan-
tities of manufactured commodities,
more than enough to supply the home
market. For a time England had a
practical monopoly of the field, and
had no difficulty in disposing of her
surplus products in the markets of the
world. But the industrial revolution
in time reached other countries ;
France in the period after 1830, the
United States in the period following
the Civil War, and Germany in the
period after 1880. The great indus-
trial interests in these countries began
to compete with those of England for
the control of the markets of the
world. England had the advantage of
having vast colonial possessions which
might serve both as a market for her
manufactured products and as a field
for the investment of surplus capital
in the development of their natural
resources. France and the United
States, in a lesser degree, also enjoyed
this advantage. Germany, on the
other hand, because of her late ap-
pearance as a great power, was prac-
tically without colonial possessions of
any potential value. She felt that her
UNDERLYING CAUSES OF THE WAR
15
industrial development was being ham-
pered through no fault of her own, but
simply because the best parts of the
world had been appropriated by other
countries.
It has been argued, with consider-
able force, that a nation does not bene-
fit commercially by the control of col-
onies or weak states. The case of Ger-
many is cited to show how marvel-
ously a state may expand commercial-
ly without colonies. But there is no
doubt that certain economic interests
within a nation do gain by national
control of undeveloped parts of the
world. There are government con-
tracts to be let, franchises to be given,
concessions to be granted, and pos-
sibly preferential tariffs to be estab-
lished. The financial interests in close
touch with the governmental author-
ities of a great power undoubtedly
have a great advantage.
In the German apologies for the
war, Great Britain is bitterly accused
of envying German prosperity and of
welcoming the war as an opportunity
to crush German commercial and in-
dustrial competition. The strenuous
efforts of British business men during
the war to capture German trade are
cited as proof. The British apologists
reply that Great Britain entered the
war only after extreme hesitation, aft-
er warning Germany not to violate
Belgian neutrality ; that Great Britain
had not welcomed the war, far less
caused it ; and that the war on Ger-
man trade was a result rather than
the purpose of the armed conflict.
On the other side, Germany is ac-
cused of waging war for economic ag-
grandizement. In explanation, let us
refer to the origin of the German Em-
pire. Besides a sentimental yearning
for national unity, two factors worked
together to weld the many petty Ger-
man States into a united nation. The
spectacular part was played by the
Prussian army, under the control of
domineering, landowning aristocrats,
like Prince Bismarck. Equally impor-
tant, if less striking, was the work of
the industrial capitalists. They had
built railways binding the Germanies
together with bands of steel; they had
economically federated the Germanies
in the Tariff League (ZoUverem),
preparing the way for political union.
After the formation of the German
Empire (1871), the influence of the
two elements, the landed aristocracy
of army officers and the business aris-
tocracy of wealth, was manifested in
the demand for a protective tariff.
The former demanded a high tariff on
imported foodstuffs to raise the price
of their own farm products ; the latter
required a tariff wall to keep foreign
manufacturers from entering into com-
petition with German articles in the
home market. Bismarck adopted the
protective tariff policy in 1879. It is
easy to see how such a policy might
endanger peace. For example, consid-
er Russo-German relations. In 1904
Russia and Germany signed a commer-
cial treaty whereby each country made
certain reductions in its tariff duties
on imports from the other country.
The Russians felt that Germany had
the best of the bargain. In 1914, as
the date approached for the renewal or
modification of the treaty, fear was
expressed in the German press lest
Russia's improved army would enable
her to demand more favorable terms.
In this fashion the desire of each na-
tion to tax foreign imports and at the
same time to obtain free admission of
its own products into foreign coun-
tries, stimulated militarism and pro-
voked warlike sentiments among the
Powers. The United Kingdom, it
16
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
should be observed, adhered to its free
trade policy, and, with few exceptions,
admitted the products of all lands on
an equal footing. The British self-
governing colonies, however, had
adopted protection.
Whether it was due to the protec-
tion of the tariff wall, or to the Ger-
man genius for applying natural
science to industry, or to German
thoroughness, or to aggressive com-
mercial methods, the business inter-
ests prospered mightily under the
aegis of the German Empire. Mills
and mines multiplied wealth. Titanic
ocean steamships carried German
wares to the ends of the earth. By
1912, British excelled German foreign
commerce by about $1,300,000,000;
but German commerce had trebled it-
self since 1883, while British commerce
had not quite doubled. The German
government derived rich revenues from
the customs duties on an expanding
commerce, and viewed with satisfac-
tion the prodigious increase in wealth
and population (population increased
from 41 to 66 millions between 1871
and 1912) which furnished men and
money for an ever-growing army.
And on the other hand, the industrial
and landowning classes considered the
army as protection and insurance for
their interests. In one respect, how-
ever, the German business community
was dissatisfied. The German mer-
chant marine, although it had rapidly
expanded, was still four times out-
weighed by British shipping. Great
Britain's superiority was ascribed to
her earlier economic development, to
the fact that Germany had very little
Atlantic sea-coast, to the superiority
of the British navy. Germany, there-
fore, set herself to overcome these
handicaps. And without imputing ag-
gressive motives to the German gov-
ernment, the historian may and should
affirm that certain German business
men consciously hoped for the over-
throw of British naval power and for
the annexation of an Atlantic port by
Germany. The open confession of
such desires by German journalists
like Maximilian Harden and by Ger-
man shipping magnates like Herr Bal-
lin, explains why the Belgians feared
the loss of Antwerp and Ostend, and
the British the loss of the sea. In
parenthesis, it may be observed that
similar desires for advantageous sea-
ports were urging Russia on to Con-
stantinople and to the Southern Bal-
tic, Serbia on to the Adriatic, and
Austria-Hungary on to Saloniki.
In a third respect the economic am-
bitions of Germany conflicted with
those of other nations. In the last
quarter of the nineteenth century cer-
tain groups of business men awoke to
the opportunities which the vast un-
civilized areas of Africa and Oceanica
offered for the sale of cheap cotton
goods, cheap liquors, and other manu-
factures, for the highly remunerative
investment of money in the construc-
tion of railways, the development of
mines, and the traffic in rubber, ivory,
and oil. King Leopold of Belgium,
one of the first to realize the oppor-
tunity, acquired control of the Congo
region in the heart of Africa. France
carved out a mighty colonial empire,
and Great Britain added to hers. Ger-
many, a belated arrival in the field,
was permitted, even encouraged by
the British government, to acquire ter-
ritories in Africa. But when Ger-
many, becoming aggressive in world
politics, and demanding an ever larg-
er "place in the sun," challenged the
French in Morocco and appeared en-
vious of the British and French pos-
sessions, the prospect of a war for
UNDERLYING CAUSES OF THE WAR
17
world-empire began to fill Europe with
uneasy forebodings.
Concessions as well as colonies were
contended for by Germans as against
British and French capitalists. For
example, when in 1914 Bulgaria ar-
ranged in return for a loan to concede
to German capitalists valuable railway
and mining privileges in Bulgaria, a
rival bid was unsuccessfully made by
the French. The financing of the
Bagdad railway occasioned consider-
able rivalry between France and Ger-
many, until an agreement was reached.
In 1914 the envious cry was raised in
Germany that German interests were
being outstripped by the other Pow-
ers ; that the English were greedily
helping themselves to the oil product
of Persia and striving to secure the
oil fields of Latin America ; that the
French capitalists were securing new
railway contracts in China, in Russia,
and in Greece.
Of all the economic interests inimic-
al to peace, the most dangerous was
the arms-manufacturing business. It
is commonly known that in 1913 Karl
Liebknecht * horrified the German
Reichstag by alleging that the
Krupps, the world-famous makers of
guns and armor, systematically
* Liebknecht, Karl (Paul August Ferdin-
and) (1871-1919). Born at Leipsic, where he
studied law. Became practicing attorney in
Berlin. Chosen Selectman of City of Berlin
(1902); member Prussian House of Deputies
(1908), and elected to Reichstag (1912) and
soon recognized as a leader among Socialist
deputies. In 1913 made charges leading to reve-
lation of Krupp scandals and in 1914 only
member to vote against war credits. His work
Militarisms und Antimilit (trismus (1907) for-
bidden circulation and led to charge of high
treason, for which he was convicted. Despite
protests, mustered into army (1915). Arrested
(1916) for making a speech at May Day dem-
onstration. On signing of armistice and flight
of Emperor became leader of extreme Socialist
group known as Spartacides. Killed (Janu-
ary 15, 1919) by military officers while under
arrest.
stirred up hostility between France
and Germany in order to obtain larger
orders for arms. Every Army Bill,
every dreadnought, every war, meant
profits for the armament firms. The
Balkan Wars were fought with weap-
ons forged in Germany and France.
As the Krupps had made the Turkish
guns, the defeat of Turkey meant di-
minished prestige and smaller sales
for Krupp wares, unless another war
should reestablish the fame of can-
non "made in Germany." English
firms — Armstrong & Vickers, and Wit-
worth — were engaged to build an ord-
nance factory in Russia, and to con-
struct battleships for Spain, for Bra-
zil, for Turkey. For Krupps, as well
as for their rivals, the War of the
Nations was a golden opportunity.
The Belgian armament manufacturers
at Liege alone were unfortunate, for
Liege was captured by German troops.
Finally, a word may be added re-
garding the banking interests and the
war. Articles have appeared in sup-
port of the argument that the panic
and consternation in financial circles
at the outbreak of the war proved con-
clusively that "capital" did not want
the war. While there is doubtless
much truth in this reasoning, the fact
must not be overlooked that in panics
large fortunes are won as well as for-
tunes lost. The huge war loans, more-
over, offered unexampled opportuni-
ties for financial speculation. The
statement is also made that the cap-
italists welcomed the war as a relief
from the intolerable burden of mili-
tarism ; for by means of income-, prop-
erty-, and inheritance-taxes, Socialist-
ically-inclined legislators were shifting
the burden of militarism so as to bear
more and more heavily on the wealth-
ier classes.
III. OUTBREAK OF THE WAR
On June 28, 1914, the Archduke
Francis Ferdinand,* nephew of Em-
peror Francis Joseph and heir to the
Hapsburg throne, and his morganatic
wife, the Duchess of Hohenburg, were
assassinated by Serbian sympathizers
while on an official visit to the town of
Serajevo, the capital of Bosnia. It
was generally believed in Austria that
the crime was instigated by Pan-Ser-
bian agitators, who had maintained
a persistent propaganda for the ac-
quisition of the provinces of Bosnia
and Herzegovina ever since they had
been annexed by Austria in 1908.
These provinces had once formed part
of the old Serbian Empire, and about
half of the population was related to
the Serbs in race and speech. Despite
the fact that Serbia had agreed in
1909 to recognize the annexation of
these provinces by Austria as a fait
accompli, the Pan-Serbian movement
was allowed to continue in Serbia, un-
hampered by the government author-
ities.
In Austria this movement was re-
sented for two reasons. In the first
place, Serbia had emerged from the
second Balkan war doubled in size, and
any further strengthening of this
country ran counter to Austria's com-
mercial interests in the Balkans. As
it was, Serbia stood in the way of
Austria's realizing her ambition of
* Francis Ferdinand (1863-1914). Arch-
duke of Austria-Este. Born at Graz. On
death of Crown Prince Rudolph (1889) and his
own father, became heir apparent to crowns of
Austria and Hungary. Assassinated with his
wife at Serajevo, Bosnia (June 28, 1914), as
result of political plot due to absorption of
Bosnia into Austro-Hungarian Empire (1908).
reaching the ^Egean Sea at Saloniki
as well as obstructing the Berlin to
Bagdad route. In the second place,
the Pan-Serbian movement was a posi-
tive danger to the integrity of the
Austrian Empire. If successful, it
might encourage other racial groups
within the Empire to disrupt com-
pletely the Hapsburg dominions. Aus-
tria had therefore good reasons for
regarding the Pan-Serbian propagan-
da with fear and resentment. Inves-
tigations carried on by the Austrian
officials at Serajevo led to the conclu-
sion that the assassination of the
Archduke had been planned by the
conspirators at Belgrade and that
the pistols and bombs used had been
smuggled into Bosnia from Serbia with
the connivance of Serbian officials.
Having established these alleged facts,
the Austrian government felt justified
in proceeding in the most summary
manner to crush once and for all the
Pan-Serbian movement. With this in
view there was presented to Serbia, by
Austria, on July 23, 1914, an ulti-
matum couched in the most vigorous
language. Count Berchtold * was the
Austrian Foreign Minister.
The note began by recalling the dec-
laration made by Serbia on the 31st of
March, 1909, wherein Serbia recog-
nized the fait accompli regarding Bos-
nia and agreed to renounce any atti-
* Berchtold, Leopold Anthony Johann
Sigmund, Count von. Born (1863) in Vienna.
Entered diplomatic service at early age, and
in 1895 appointed secretary of Austrian Em-
bassy in Paris. In 1899 appointed counselor of
Embassy in London and in 1903 same position
in St. Petersburg. 1912 became Foreign Minis-
ter of Dual Monarchy.
18
OUTBREAK OF THE WAR
19
tude of protest or opposition to the
annexation of Bosnia by Austria. The
Austrian note then went on to com-
plain that Serbia had not lived up to
this undertaking, and had made it nec-
essary for Austria to take action to
protect herself against the Pan-Ser-
bian propaganda. Austria insisted
that Serbia should make an official and
public condemnation of this propa-
ganda and express regret at its conse-
quences.
The note then submitted ten specific
demands and required an answer from
Serbia by six o'clock on Saturday
evening, July 25, within 48 hours of
its presentation.
These demands required that Serbia
should suppress every publication
which excited hatred of the Dual Mon-
archy; that the Serbian government
dissolve certain societies accused of
fomenting the propaganda hostile to
Austria; that teachers guilty of insti-
gating hatred of Austria be dismissed
and that objectionable matter in the
textbooks be eliminated ; that Serbia
dismiss from her army and govern-
mental employ all officers and officials
found taking part in the propaganda ;
that Serbia accept the collaboration
of agents of the Austro-Hungarian
government in suppression of the sub-
versive movement against Austria ;
that Austro-Hungarian representa-
tives be allowed to take part in the in-
vestigation of persons in Serbia ac-
cused of complicity in the murder of
the Archduke; that Serbia take action
against two specified officials, who
were accused of complicity in the crime
at Serajevo; that Serbia take effective
measures to stop the smuggling of
arms and ammunition across her bor-
der; and finally that Serbia give ex-
planation of the expressions of hos-
tility toward Austria-Hungary on the
part of certain high Serbian officials.
The publication of this note imme-
diately aroused great apprehension in
the chancelleries of the European Pow-
ers. It was clear that Europe was
confronted with another serious crisis.
It is a striking fact that each of the
Powers of the Triple Entente was con-
fronted by serious internal difficulties
at this most critical time. Great Brit-
ain was threatened by serious disturb-
ances in Ireland resulting from the
passage of the Home Rule Bill; St.
Petersburg was involved in a great
strike; in France the Caillaux affair
had affected seriously the prestige of
the government and the Minister of
War declared that the army was in
a deplorable state of unpreparedness.
The first move of Sir Edward
Grey,* the British Foreign Secretary,
was to urge upon Austria-Hungary
the necessity of extending the time lim-
it of the ultimatum. In this he was
strongly supported by M. Sazonov,
the Russian Foreign Minister. Ger-
many, however, was not inclined to
bring pressure upon her ally in this
matter and Austria flatly refused any
extension of time.
Failing in this move, the British and
Russian Ministers turned their efforts
to persuading Serbia to accept, as far
as possible, the demands made by Aus-
tria. In this they were largely suc-
cessful.
The Serbian Reply. Serbia's reply
* Grey, Sir Edward. Born (1862) in North-
umberland. Educated at Winchester and Bal-
liol College, Oxford. Entered Parliament, 1885.
Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
1892-95. Made "Privy Councillor 1902. In 1905
became Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
and soon became most commanding figure in
European diplomacy. Consummated Triple
Entente, uniting Great Britain, France, and
Russia. Opposed German expansion in North
Africa. In Balkan crisis of 1912 brought about
conference in London and presided over its
deliberations. Unable to prevent the great
world war, despite strenuous efforts.
20
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
to the Austrian ultimatum was handed
to the Austrian Minister at Belgrade
on July 25, only two minutes before
the expiration of the time limit. The
reply began by stating that the Ser-
bian government was not aware of any
official action since 1909 protesting
against the political status of Bosnia-
Herzegovina, and that the only rep-
resentation made by Austria, that con-
cerning a school book, had been ex-
plained to the satisfaction of the Aus-
trian government. To this the Aus-
trian government replied in an of-
ficial rejoinder that it was not sufficient
to indicate that there had been no of-
ficial action against Austria. It was
the failure of Serbia to use energetic
measures to suppress unofficial agita-
tion directed against the territorial in-
tegrity of Austria of which complaint
was made.
The Serbian reply further stated
that the Serbian government did not
consider that they could be held re-
sponsible for the opinions expressed
by private individuals, such as articles
appearing in the press and the peace-
ful proceedings of societies. Serbia
agreed, however, to amend her consti-
tution to permit the enactment of leg-
islation to suppress such publications.
Most of the other demands were
agreed to by Serbia with slight verbal
changes. There were two points,
however, with which Serbia did not
comply. In the first place, to the
demand that Serbia accept the colla-
boration of agents of the Austrian
government in the suppression of the
subversive movement directed against
the territorial integrity of the Dual
Monarchy, Serbia replied that she did
not understand exactly the meaning
of the demand, but that she was ready
to accept such collaboration as should
conform to the principles of interna-
tional law and criminal procedure. The
Austrian rejoinder stated that it was
not a question of international law but
of the exercise of police powers which
could be settled by agreement between
the parties concerned. In the second
place the demand made by Austria that
Austrian officials be permitted to take
part in the investigation relating to
the judicial proceedings in Serbia
against persons involved in the Sera-
jevo crime, the Serbian government
would not concede on the ground that
such action would violate the Serbian
constitution. The Austrian rejoinder
accused the Serbian government of de-
liberately misrepresenting the Aus-
trian demand, which contemplated sim-
ply a participation in the preliminary
investigation to the judicial proceed-
ings. Finally the Serbian government
agreed, in case the Austrian govern-
ment should find the reply unsatisfac-
tory, to submit the disputed questions
to The Hague Tribunal or the Great
Powers for decision.
The representatives of the Entente
Powers were satisfied that Serbia's re-
ply was a substantial agreement to the
Austrian demands. Austria, however,
claimed to find the reply wholly unsat-
isfactory and in this view she was ap-
parently supported by Germany, which
country adopted the view that she
could not infringe on Austria's sov-
ereignty.
From the time of the presentation
of the Austrian ultimatum, it was rec-
ognized on all sides that the great dan-
ger was that any move on the part of
Austria would precipitate a general
European war. The delicate balance
of interests in the Balkans could not
be disturbed without involving serious
consequences. Russia in particular
felt that she was deeply interested in
the fate of the small Slav nations in
OUTBREAK OF THE WAR
21
the Balkan Peninsula. The Russian
Ambassador at Vienna stated on July
24 that "any action taken by Austria
to humiliate Serbia could not leave
Russia indifferent." (B.W.P. No. 7.)
At Berlin, too, it was clearly recog-
nized that Austria's action would prob-
ably involve Russia. The German
memorandum states that Germany was
fully aware that "warlike moves on the
part of Austria-Hungary against Ser-
bia, would bring Russia into the ques-
tion and might draw Germany into a
war in accordance with her duty as
Austria's ally." (G.W.B. p. 4.) *
Despite Austria's assurance that she
had no intention of annexing Serbian
territory or disturbing the balance of
power in the Balkans, Russia felt that,
apart from the acquisition of territory,
the crushing of Serbia would reduce
her to a vassal state of Austria, and
that this would imperil the balance of
power in the Balkans. In view of this
situation the Russian Foreign Minister
stated that Russia would mobilize
against Austria on the day that the
Austrian army crossed the Serbian
frontier. (B.W.P. No. 72.)
This determined attitude of Russia
made any efforts which the Powers
might make to localize the struggle
futile. The next question of vital in-
terest was the attitude which Germany
would take. How far was she prepared
to support her ally Austria in her un-
compromising position towards Serbia?
In defining its position the German gov-
ernment declared "The attitude of the
Imperial government in this question is
clearly indicated. The agitation car-
ried on by the Pan-Slavs in Austria-
* In referring to the official documents, the
following abbreviations are used: British White
Paper, B.W.P.; German White Book, G.W.B. ;
Austrian Red Book, A.R.B.; Russian Orange
Book, R.O.B.; French Yellow Book, F.Y.B.;
Belgian Gray Book, B.G.B.; Italian Green
Book, I.G.B.
Hungary has for its goal the destruc-
tion of the Austro-Hungarian Mon-
archy, which carries with it the shat-
tering or weakening of the Triple Al-
liance and, in consequence, the complete
isolation of the German Empire. Our
nearest interests, therefore, summon us
to the support of Austria-Hungary."
(G.W.B. exhibit 2.) And further "A
morally weakened Austria under the
pressure of Pan-slavism would be no
longer an ally on whom we could count
and in whom we could have confidence,
such as we must have, in view of the
increasingly menacing attitudes of our
neighbors on the east and west." (G.
W.B. memo. p. 5.) It is clear there-
fore that Germany felt that her inter-
ests as well as those of Austria were
vitally affected. It was generally be-
lieved, and openly stated, that Ger-
many knew the nature of the Austrian
ultimatum to Serbia before it was sent
and had urged Austria to precipitate a
crisis by presenting demands which
Serbia would not accept. This was
categorically denied by the German au-
thorities. (B.W.P. No. 25.) Never-
theless Germany thoroughly approved
of the Austrian demands and insisted
that the quarrel should be considered
simply as an affair between Austria
and Serbia.
Obviously it was of the utmost im-
portance to prevent, or at least delay,
the first hostile move by Austria
against Serbia. On July 26, Sir Ed-
ward Grey suggested a conference of
the representatives of the four Powers,
England, France, Germany, and Italy,
for the purpose of discovering an issue
which would prevent complications be-
tween Austria and Russia. (B.W.P.
No. 36.) To this suggestion France
and Italy agreed. Germany, however,
declined to fall in with this plan. The
German Foreign Minister stated that
22
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
"a conference such as Sir Edward
Grey suggested would amount to a
court of arbitration and could not, in
his opinion, be called together except
at the request of Austria and Russia'*
(B.W.P. No. 43) ; and furthermore
that "he did not think it [the confer-
ence] would be effective, because such a
conference would in his opinion have
had the appearance of an Areopagus
consisting of two Powers of each group
sitting in judgment upon the two re-
maining Powers." (B.W.P. No. 71;
G.W.B. memo. p. 8.)
Direct negotiations between Russia
and Austria were unsuccessful, Austria
refusing to consider a modification of
the terms of her ultimatum to Serbia.
(B.W.P. No. 93; R.O.B. No. 45.) Fur-
ther efforts on the part of England to
have Germany propose some formula
which would be acceptable proved un-
availing (B.W.P. No. Ill), and on
July 28, 1914, Austria declared war
on Serbia. This action on the part of
Austria appears explicable on one of
two grounds. Either she was con-
vinced that Russia was bluffing and
would back down as she did in 1908,
or else that Austria was prepared de-
liberately to precipitate a European
war.
Germany and Russia. The Russian
government had very definitely declared
that Russia could not remain indiffer-
ent to the fate of Serbia. It was gen-
erally believed in Russia that Austria's
action was directed against her quite
as much as against Serbia. (R.O.B.
No. 75.) Consequently on July 29,
1914, Russia declared partial mobili-
zation against Austria-Hungary. At
the same time the Russian Foreign
Minister stated that this action was in
no way directed against Germany. (R.
O.B. No. 49.) These military prepa-
rations stimulated the diplomats in
their final efforts to find some solution
which would prevent a European con-
flagration. Various formulas were sug-
gested but none was acceptable. On
July 29, Sir Edward Grey urged that
"the German government should sug-
gest any method by which the influ-
ence of the four Powers could be used
to prevent war between Austria and
Russia. France agreed. Italy agreed.
The whole idea of mediation or mediat-
ing influence was ready to be put in
operation by any method that Ger-
many thought possible, if only Ger-
many would press the button in the
interests of peace." (B.W.P. No. 84.)
Germany did press the button to the
extent of urging Austria to renew ne-
gotiations with Russia. At the same
time Russia was requested to prepare a
formula which would be satisfactory
to her. M. Sazonov accordingly sub-
mitted the following suggestion: "If
Austria, recognizing that her conflict
with Serbia has assumed the character
of a question of European interest, de-
clares herself ready to eliminate from
her ultimatum points which violate the
principle of the sovereignty of Serbia,
Russia engages to stop all military
preparations." This formula was whol-
ly unsatisfactory to Germany and Aus-
tria, and at the suggestion of Sir Ed-
ward Grey the Russian formula was
modified to read : "If Austria will
agree to check the advance of her
troops on Serbian territory; if, recog-
nizing the fact that the dispute be-
tween Austria and Serbia has assumed
a character of European interest, she
will allow the Great Powers to look
into the matter and determine whether
Serbia could satisfy the Austro-Hun-
garian government without impairing
her rights as a sovereign state or her
independence, Russia will undertake to
maintain her waiting attitude."
OUTBREAK OF THE WAR
23
One final effort was made by Eng-
land and Germany to prevent a break
between Austria and Russia. Sir Ed-
ward Grey, on July 31, said that if
Germany would suggest any reason-
able proposal which would preserve
peace, and if France and Russia re-
jected such a proposal, Great Britain
would not support them, but on the
other hand if no such proposal were
made and France became involved,
Great Britain would be drawn in. (B.
W.P. No. 111.) Germany, on her
part, brought pressure on Austria to
agree to discuss with Russia the terms
of the Austrian ultimatum, and at the
last moment, on July 31, Austria
agreed to do so. (A.R.B. Nos. 49-50.)
This slim chance of preventing a break
at the eleventh hour was nullified by
the demand made by Germany that
Russia should cease her military prepa-
rations and demobilize her army. At
midnight on July 31, 1914, the Ger-
man Ambassador delivered an ultima-
tum to Russia demanding that she de-
mobilize her forces not only against
Germany but also against Austria-
Hungary. (R.O.B. No. 70.) As Rus-
sia returned no reply to this demand
the German Ambassador was ordered
on August 1, at 5 p.m., to notify the
Russian government that Germany
considered that a state of war existed
between the two countries. (G.W.B.
exhibit 26; R.O.B. No. 76.)
Germany and France. At the same
time that Germany presented the ulti-
matum to Russia, a communication was
sent to France informing her of Ger-
many's action and asking what atti-
tude France would take in the event
of war between Germany and Russia.
An answer was demanded within 18
hours. (F.Y.B. No. 116; G.W.B. ex-
hibit 25.) To this demand the French
Premier replied on August 1, that
"France would take such action as her
interests might require." (G.W.B. ex-
hibit 27.) Despite this unsatisfactory
answer the German Ambassador did
not leave Paris until August 3. In the
meantime charges and countercharges
were made by the French and German
authorities that warlike moves had been
made on the frontier.
A document which was purported to
be instructions from the Imperial Ger-
man government to its ambassador at
Paris was published about the middle
of 1918 in the French press at the in-
stance of the government. The Ger-
man Ambassador was to ask the
French Government if it would remain
neutral in case of war between Rus-
sia and Germany. If the answer was
"Yes," the German Ambassador was
to demand the surrender of Verdun,
Nancy, Toul, and Belfort and other
strategic points as a guarantee that
France would keep her word and re-
main neutral. Inasmuch as this would
be a severe infringement upon the sov-
ereignty of France and would likely
be met by a flat refusal, the inference
is drawn that Germany did not want
France to remain neutral, but wished
to draw her into a world conflict.
Great Britain and Germany. From
the first it was evident that the ques-
tion of England's attitude in the face
of the great European crisis was of
the most vital importance. In that
most critical week following the presen-
tation of the Austrian ultimatum, Sir
Edward Grey worked early and late
to arrive at some peaceful solution of
the difficulty. From the very begin-
ning France and Russia had urged
Great Britain to come out with a def-
inite statement that if war was pre-
cipitated she would support them,
pointing out that such a stand by
Great Britain would deter Germany
24
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
from entering the war. M. Sazonov,
the Russian Foreign Minister, said "he
did not believe that Germany realty
wanted war, but her attitude was de-
cided by England's. If she took her
stand firmly with France and Russia
there would be no war." (B.W.P. No.
17.) The President of France, M.
Poincare,* went so far as to appeal
directly to King George stating "I am
profoundly convinced that at the pres-
ent moment the more Great Britain,
France, and Russia can give a deep
impression that they are united in their
diplomatic action, the more possible it
will be to count upon the preservation
of peace." Sir Edward Grey did not
accept their suggestions. It was his
view that Great Britain could work
most effectively for peace by playing
the part of mediator. At the same
time he made it clear to the German
Ambassador that if Germany and
France became involved "the issue
might be so great that it would in-
volve European interests and he did
not wish him to be misled into think-
ing that Great Britain would stand
aside." (B.W.P. No. 89.) Germany
fully appreciated the importance of
keeping Great Britain neutral, if pos-
sible. With this end in view the Ger-
man Chancellor proposed that if Great
Britain would remain neutral Germany
Poixcare, Raymond. Born (1860) in Bar-
le-Duc, Lorraine. Educated early at lycees of
Bar-le-Duc and Louis-le-Grand. Later made
brilliant record as law student in Paris. Prac-
ticed law for short time. At age of 27 elected
to Chamber of Deputies. Opposed separation
of church and state. Made Minister of Public
Instruction (1893); Minister of Finance
(1894). Held various ministries. Elected to
Senate (1903). Prime Minister (1912) and
took portfolio of Foreign Affairs. Vigorous
supporter of alliance with Russia and of the
entente with England. Elected President
(1913). Believed" President should not be
figurehead and made himself influential. Fa-
vored three-year military service bill. Admit-
ted to French Academy (1909). Author of
several books.
would guarantee that no territorial ac-
quisitions would be made at the ex-
pense of France. He was unwilling,
however, to make a similar undertak-
ing in regard to the French colonies.
(B.W.P. No. 85.) This suggestion
was declined by Great Britain on the
ground that France might be so
crushed as to lose her position as a
great power, without having territory
taken from her. Furthermore that
other contingencies might arise which
would justify Great Britain's entrance
into the war. (B.W.P. No. 101.) A
further request from Germany that Sir
Edward Grey formulate conditions on
which Great Britain would remain neu-
tral was declined. He stated that "he
could only say that they must keep
their hands free." (B.W.P. No. 123.)
The British government, therefore, up
to the very last day of European peace
refused either to bind herself to come
to the aid of France and Russia or to
remain neutral.
Question of Belgian Neutrality. The
Congress of Vienna in 1815 turned
over the Austrian Netherlands, or Bel-
gium, to Holland in compensation for
certain Dutch colonial possessions re-
tained by Great Britain. This union
was opposed by the Belgians and at
the first favorable opportunity (1830)
they revolted. France was anxious to
annex the provinces but Great Britain,
following her traditional policy, op-
posed their union with any great pow-
er. This opposition was due to the
proximity of the Belgian coast to her
shores and also because of the impor-
tant commercial interests of Great
Britain in these rich provinces, which
might suffer if they passed into the
hands of some great European power.
Great Britain's interests would be best
served by erecting Belgium into an in-
dependent state and by guaranteeing
OUTBREAK OF THE WAR
25
the permanence of this independent
status by making the country perpet-
ually neutral. Accordingly in 1831
the principal European Powers, Great
Britain, France, Prussia, and Russia,
joined in guaranteeing the indepen-
dence and perpetual neutrality of Bel-
gium. This treaty was replaced by
treaties signed in 1839 after Holland
had agreed to recognize Belgian inde-
pendence. When in 1870, at the out-
break of the Franco-Prussian War, it
seemed possible that one or both of the
combatants might violate the neutral-
ity of Belgium, a separate treaty was
signed between Great Britain and each
of the belligerents, by which Great
Britain agreed that if either belliger-
ent should violate Belgian neutrality
the other could rely upon England as
an ally in defense of the treaty of
1839.
When on July 31, 1914, the out-
break of a European war seemed un-
avoidable, Sir Edward Grey tele-
graphed the British ambassadors at
Paris and Berlin to request the French
and German governments to state
whether they were prepared to respect
the neutrality of Belgium so long as no
other power violated it. To this the
French authorities returned an affir-
mative answer. The German Secre-
tary of State, however, stated that it
was doubtful if Germany could return
any reply without disclosing a certain
amount of her plan of campaign. On
August 2, 1914, the German Minister
presented to the Belgian Foreign Min-
ister an ultimatum which stated that
Germany had "reliable information
... of the intention of France to
march through Belgian territory," that
it was "an imperative duty for the
preservation of Germany to forestall
this attack." Germany agreed to
evacuate Belgian territory as soon as
the war was over and to indemnify Bel-
gium for all damages if she would
maintain an attitude of "friendly neu-
trality." In case of refusal Germany
stated that Belgium would be consid-
ered as an enemy and the question
would be left "to a decision of arms."
(B.G.B. No. 20.) To this demand the
Belgian government returned a flat re-
fusal and stated that they were "firmly
resolved to repulse by every means
within their power any attack upon
their rights." (B.G.B. No. 22.) At
the same time Belgium called upon
Great Britain, France, and Russia, as
signatories of the treaty of 1839, to
carry out the guarantee of Belgian
neutrality. In response to this request
Sir Edward Grey on August 4, 1914,
sent an ultimatum to Germany demand-
ing a satisfactory reply to her request
that Belgian neutrality be respected
and requiring an answer by midnight
of the same day. Upon Germany's re-
fusal to give such a guarantee Great
Britain declared war on Germany.
While the violation of Belgian neutral-
ity was the ostensible reason for Great
Britain's declaration of war, she had,
as a matter of fact, intervened in the
war two days before the dispatch of
her ultimatum to Germany. In a
speech made in the House of Commons
on August 2, 1914, Sir Edward Grey
stated that he had on that day assured
the French government that the Brit-
ish fleet would protect the northern
coast of France from any attack by
the German fleet. By this act Great
Britain had tentatively intervened in
the war, and the violation of Belgian
neutrality by Germany changed this
partial and tentative intervention into
full participation in the war.
German authorities clearly appre-
ciated that Germany's action in invad-
ing Belgium would arouse public sen-
26
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
timent in most neutral countries and
strenuous efforts were made subse-
quently to justify their action. In a
speech in the Reichstag on August 4,
1914, the German Chancellor, Theo-
bald von Bethmann-Hollweg,* said:
"Gentlemen, we are now acting in self-
defense. Necessity knows no law. Our
troops have occupied Luxemburg and
have possibly already entered on Bel-
gian soil. Gentlemen, this is a breach
of international law." But other
grounds than that of bald necessity
have been advanced by German apol-
ogists to justify their action. It has
been claimed that Prussia, and not
the German Empire, signed the treaty
of 1839 and hence the latter was not
bound by its provisions. To this it
has been answered that the German
Empire succeeded to the obligations of
its component parts and that all
treaties survived that were not for-
mally renounced. It has also been
stated that the treaty of 1839 was
superseded by the treaties of 1870
which latter had lapsed. From the
debates in the British Parliament at
the time of the proposal of the treaties
of 1870 there is no indication that the
treaty of 1839 was to be superseded
but rather to be strengthened. Ger-
many furthermore claimed that certain
secret documents which were discovered
among the papers of the Belgian gov-
ernment at Brussels go to prove that
Belgium had by its own acts relieved
Germany of the obligation to respect
* Bethmann-Hollweg, Theobald Theodore
Frederic Alfred von. Born (1856) in Bran-
denburg, Germany. Educated at College of
Pforta and at universities of Strassburg,
Leipsic and Berlin. Appointed Landrat of
Oberbarnim, Brandenburg. President Province
of Brandenburg (1901), Minister of Interior
(1905), appointed Imperial Secretary of State
for the Interior and Vice President of the
Prussian Council (1907), and Chancellor of
the German Empire (1909). A mild conserva-
tive, but non-partisan in domestic affairs.
her neutrality. These documents con-
tain an account of certain conversa-
tions between the Chief of the Belgian
General Staff and the British Mili-
tary Attache at Brussels, relative to
the sending of British military forces
to Belgium in case of an invasion of
the latter by Germany. The German
authorities claim that this amounted
to an Anglo-Belgian alliance against
Germany. In answer to this charge
King Albert * of Belgium stated, ac-
cording to an interview in the New
York World (March 22, 1915), that
the conversations referred to had been
long known to the German authorities,
having been communicated to the Ger-
man Military Attache at Brussels so
as to avoid any semblance of entering
into an unneutral agreement. Germany
also complained that Belgian military
preparations for the defense of her
neutrality, instead of being impartially
directed against the possibility of an
attack from any of the Powers, were
made entirely against Germany. To
this it is answered that the fortress of
Namur was directed against France as
Liege was directed against Germany.
Furthermore that if greater energy
had been directed towards fortifying
the German than the French frontier,
this was but natural in view of the
German activity in building military
railways leading up to the Belgian
frontier. Finally Germany declared
that her invasion of Belgium was in
response to violations of Belgian neu-
trality by France. But of this no
satisfactory evidence has been pro-
* Albert I., King of the Belgians. Born
in 1875. Carefully educated. Democratic and
firiendly in manner. Traveled widely and
student of economics and politics. Made tour
of Belgian Congo and advocated reform in
the treatment of natives. When he became
King (December, 1909) many improvements
were made in the administration of the colony.
One of the heroic figures of the great war.
OUTBREAK OF THE WAR
27
duced. To the impartial observer,
therefore, it would appear that Ger-
man justification for the violation of
Belgian neutrality must rest entirely
on the ground of military necessity.
The Lichnowsky Memorandum.
Notes taken by Prince Lichnowsky,
formerly German Ambassador in Lon-
don, were made public early in 1918
and caused a sensation in the press of
the belligerent powers by their revela-
tion of the friendly attitude of Eng-
land and her desire to maintain peace
in the period just preceding the war.
The memorandum, which bears the title
My London Mission, 1912-H, was
dated August 16, 1916. When called
to account by his government the
prince said that the document was
meant for the family archives and
that it had found its way outside that
circle as a result of a breach of con-
fidence. He expressed his regret and
resigned his rank as ambassador. The
government forbade the prince to write
articles for the press. Space is lack-
ing for the quotation of the letters, but
the following summary indicates his
general attitude. In the first place he
emphasized the conciliatory attitude
of the British statesmen, especially Sir
Edward Grey. Reviewing the policy
of the German government just before
the war, he said that although it had
made repeated errors there, everything
was still open as late as July, 1914.
Agreement with England had been
reached. If a representative of aver-
age ability had been sent to St. Peters-
burg he might have convinced Russia
of Germany's peaceful intentions. The
German government could have proven
to Russia that it had no desire to seize
the Dardanelles or to destroy the
Serbs. At this time M. Sazonov was
saying, "Leave Austria and we will
leave the French," and the French
ambassador was saying, "You need
not follow Austria everywhere." He
said that there was no need then of
either alliances or wars, but only of
treaties that would protect Germany
and others and guarantee Germany an
economic development. After Russia
had been relieved of trouble in the west
she would have turned again to the east
which would have saved the situation.
He said that Germany might also have
taken up the matter of the limitation
of armaments. He summed up the
case against his own government as
follows :
"As appears from all official publications,
without the facts being controverted by our
own White Book, which, owing to its poverty
and gaps, constitutes a grave self-accusation:
(1). We encouraged Count Berchtold to at-
tack Serbia, although no German interest was
involved, and the danger of a world war must
have been known to us — whether we knew the
text of the ultimatum is a question of com-
plete indifference.
(2). In the days between July 23 and July
30, 1914, when M. Sazonov emphatically de-
clared that Russia could not tolerate an attack
on Serbia, we rejected the British proposals of
mediation, although Serbia, under Russian and
British pressure, had accepted almost the whole
ultimatum, and although an agreement about
the two points in question could easily have
been reached, and Count Berchtold was even
ready to satisfy himself with the Serbian re-
ply-
(3). On July 30, when Count Berchtold
wanted to give way, we, without Austria's hav-
ing attacked, replied to Russia's mere mobili-
zation by sending an ultimatum to St. Peters-
burg, and on July 31 we declared war on the
Russians, although the czar had pledged his
word that as long as negotiations continued not
a man should march — so that we deliberately
destroyed the possibility of a peaceful settle-
ment.
In view of these indisputable facts, it is not
surprising that the whole civilized world out-
side Germany attributes to us the sole guilt
for the world's war."
In one of his papers the prince asks
the following questions : "Is it not in-
telligible that our enemies declare that
they will not rest until a system is de-
stroyed which constitutes a perma-
28
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
nent threatening of our neighbors?"
. . . "Were those people not right
who declared that it was the spirit of
Treitschke and Bernhardi which domi-
nated the German people — the spirit
which glorifies war as an aim in itself
and does not abhor it as an evil?"
Italy's Position. At the outbreak of
the European War, Italy found her-
self in a most trying position. To
Austria and Germany she was bound
by the defensive treaty of the Triple
Alliance. Her position as a member of
this alliance had from the beginning
been unnatural. Ever since Italy ob-
tained national unity in 1870, there
has been a strong movement to obtain
the Italian-speaking provinces of Tri-
este and Trentino, still held by Aus-
tria. This aspiration in Italy for what
is called "Italia Irredenta," or unre-
deemed Italy, has been a source of fric-
tion between Italy and Austria.
The first indication of Italy's waver-
ing in the support of her allies was
when she threw her influence against
Germany at the Algeciras Conference
in 1906. Again in 1908 Italy was
much irritated when Austria-Hungary
annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina, thereby
strengthening her position on the
Adriatic Sea. But the most serious
blow to the diplomatic group of the
Triple Alliance was given by Italy in
1911 when she declared war on Tur-
key, a country which had come to be
regarded as a member of the Triple
Alliance group. Germany and Aus-
tria were forced to stand by and allow
Italy to weaken the influence of the
Triple Alliance by dismembering Tur-
key. All of these events indicated that
Italy's attitude at the outbreak of a
European war would be uncertain. Her
position was made more precarious by
her extensive coast line. Any war
which involved Great Britain as an
enemy would expose Italy to attack
by the powerful British navy.
Apart, however, from questions of
vital self-interest, Italy maintained
that under the terms of the Triple Al-
liance she was not bound to come to
the aid of Germany and Austria-Hun-
gary, because, in her view, Austria-
Hungary had been the aggressor and
Italy's obligations under the treaty
contemplated only a defensive war. Ac-
cordingly on August 1, 1911, Italy de-
clared that she would remain neutral.
Italy's declaration of neutrality did
not, as the Italian Foreign Minister
stated, "signify the relinquishment of
Italian interests in the Balkans and in
the Adriatic, but, on the contrary, the
persuasion that such interests and as-
pirations shall be validly supported
while the neutrality be maintained."
(I.G.B. No. 2.)
Italy's next step was a most dif-
ficult one to determine. Should she -
remain neutral she could expect to gain
little from either side, and she had to
fear from her former allies, Germany
and Austria, in case of their military
success, a revengeful attitude. On the
other hand to join the Entente allies
was a difficult policy to pursue. In
the first place it involved the moral
question of turning against her former
allies. In the second place the Rus-
sian and Serbian policy in the Balkans
was not certain to be in agreement
with Italy's ambition to control the
Adriatic. Other considerations also
caused Italy to hesitate before casting
in her lot with the Entente allies. Such
were the unfavorable financial condi-
tion of the country, the pro-German
sympathies of the royal family, and
the opposition of ex-Premier Giolitti,*
* Giolttti, Giovanni. Born (1843) at Mon-
dovi in Province of Cuneo. Educated at Turin.
Served in a department of Ministry of Finance.
Elected to Chamber of Deputies. 1889 became
OUTBREAK OF THE WAR
29
who, with a strong personal following
in the Italian Parliament, maintained
that Italy should not enter the war.
For 10 months the contest between
the neutralists and the interventionists
went on in Italy. Great efforts were
made by Germany and Austria, espe-
cially through Prince von Biilow and
his Italian wife, to influence public
opinion in Italy. It was clear, how-
ever, that there was a steady drift of
popular sentiment in favor of the En-
tente. This movement was strength-
ened, too, by the death of the Marquis
di San Giuliano, Minister of Foreign
Affairs, in October, 1914, who was
popularly regarded as a strong sym-
pathizer with Germany and Austria-
Hungary. Baron Sidney Sonnino,*
who succeeded him, is regarded as one
of the most astute Italian statesmen
since Cavour. In the meantime the
Italian government had entered upon a
series of communications with Austria-
Hungary looking to a satisfaction of
Italian aspirations and interests in the
Balkans. The Italian Foreign Minis-
ter began by setting forth that, under
Article VII of the Triple Alliance,
Italy was entitled to compensations, in
the event of any occupation of Serbian
territory, even temporarily, by Aus-
tria-Hungary. The Austrian officials
Minister of the Treasury and following year
Minister of Finance. Forced to resign because
of his policy of extreme economy. Became
President of Ministry in 1892. Introduced
many reforms in favor of lower classes. In
1893 compelled to resign because of bank scan-
dals. Became Minister of the Interior in 1901,
resigned May, 1903. Prime Minister several
times. Resigned last time in 1914 on veto of
colonial budget.
* Sonnino, Sidney, Baron. Born (1847) at
Pisa. Graduated from university there (1865).
In diplomatic service (1867-72), and after 1880
deputy in Italian legislature. Minister of
Finance (1893-94). Minister of Treasury, Pre-
mier and Minister of the Interior in 1906 and
1909-10. Accepted portfolio of Foreign Af-
fairs December, 1914, when Italy made prep-
arations to enter European war. Author of
works on social and political topics.
were not inclined to admit, at first,
that Italy had any valid claim to com-
pensations under the terms of the
treaty of alliances.
From this stand, however, Austria
soon receded, probably under pressure
from Germany, and conceded the prin-
ciple that Italy was entitled to com-
pensations. There followed several
months of protracted negotiations.
Italy demanded as the minimum that
she would accept in the way of com-
pensations "the district of the Tren-
tino, a new district on the Isonzo, the
special treatment of Trieste, the ces-
sion of some islands of the Curzolari
Archipelago, a declaration of Aus-
tria's disinterestedness in Albania, and
the recognition of our possession of
Valona and Dodecanesia." To these
demands Austria was willing to con-
cede only a portion of the Trentino
and was unwilling to make any cession
before the end of the war.
These fruitless negotiations culmi-
nated in the declaration by Italy, on
May 4, that she no longer considered
herself bound by the provisions of the
Triple Alliance. After three weeks of
hesitation during which public excite-
ment in Italy reached a high pitch,
Italy finally declared war on Austria,
May 24, 1915. Just before the final
break, according to a statement made
by the German Chancellor, Austria-
Hungary made a last attempt to pur-
chase Italy's neutrality offering (1)
the Italian part of the Tirol; (2) the
western bank of the Isonzo "in so far
as the population is purely Italian,"
and the town of Gradisca; (3) sov-
ereignty over Valona and a free hand
in Albania; (4) special treatment of
Italian nationals in Austria and am-
nesty for political prisoners who were
natives in the ceded provinces; (5)
Trieste to be made an Imperial free
30
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
city, and to have an Italian University.
Furthermore, it was stated that Aus-
tria would make these concessions at
once and not wait for the conclusion
of the war.
Japan's Position. Japan's entrance
into the European War was due to
her treaty of alliance with Great Brit-
ain. After the Chinese-Japanese War
Japan was deprived of the fruits of
her victory, when Port Arthur and the
Liaotung peninsula had to be returned
to China at the demand of Russia,
France, and Germany. Smarting un-
der this humiliation, Japan turned to
Great Britain and in 1902 negotiated
a treaty of alliance, according to the
terms of which Japan agreed to come
to the defense of Great Britain's east-
ern possessions if she were attacked by
more than one Power. Great Britain
on the other hand insured Japan
against a European coalition such as
had intervened at the conclusion of
the Chinese-Japanese War.
At the outbreak of the European
War Japan saw her opportunity to re-
venge her humiliation at the close of
the Chinese War. Actuated also by a
determination to carry out her obliga-
tions to Great Britain, the Japanese
representative in Berlin presented an
ultimatum on August 19, 1911, "ad-
vising" Germany to withdraw all war-
ships from Asiatic waters and turn
over to Japan the territory of Kiao-
chow before September 15, 1911, which
territory Japan promised eventually
to restore to China. This port and
surrounding territory had been ob-
tained by Germany from China in
1897 as a compensation for the mur-
der of two German missionaries. The
Germans had fortified the harbor
strongly and had made it a fine naval
base. As Germany refused to reply to
the Japanese demand, Japan declared
war on August 23, 1914. The Japa-
nese Foreign Minister defended this
action on the ground that Japan was
bound by treaty obligations to come to
the aid of her ally, Great Britain, and
that Germany's position at Kiaochow
gravely threatened the maintenance of
peace in the Far East and the inde-
pendence and integrity of China which
Japan had bound herself to maintain.
Turkey. Germanic influence had for
a number of years prior to the out-
break of the war been predominant
in Turkey. It was natural, therefore,
that Turkish sympathies would be with
the Teutonic allies. But Turkey hesi-
tated, at first, to make common cause
with Germany because of her exposed
position and the fact that her recent
experiences in the Balkan wars had
left her exhausted. Events, however,
rapidly forced Turkey to abandon her
attitude of quasi-neutrality. Shortly
after the outbreak of the war two Ger-
man warships, the Goeben and the
Breslau, in order to escape capture by
the British and French fleets, sought
refuge in the Dardanelles. The de-
mand of England and France that
these ships should either be forced to
put to sea or be interned was answered
by Turkey stating that she had pur-
chased the ships from Germany. Tur-
key also refused to remove the German
crews of the two vessels. The Triple
Entente also resented the action of
Turkey in closing the Dardanelles and
in serving notice that the "capitula-
tions," under the terms of which the
national subjects of various Powers
were given special privileges in Turkey,
would be revoked on October 1, 1914.
When on October 29 the former Ger-
man warship, the Breslau, bombarded
the Russian Black Sea port of Theo-
dosia, Russia accepted this as a dec-
laration of war and the following day
OUTBREAK OF THE WAR
31
the Russian Ambassador at Constanti-
nople demanded his passports. This
action of Russia was followed by
France and England declaring war on
Turkey, November 5, 191-1. Turkey's
entrance into the war aroused the hope
in Germany and some fear in Great
Britain and France that a Holy War
would be proclaimed by the Sultan
which would arouse the Moslem popu-
lations in India, Egypt, and Morocco.
The Sultan's efforts in this direction
proved unavailing, and no serious up-
rising occurred among the Moham-
medan subjects of Great Britain and
France.
The Balkan States. The opening of
the European War found the Balkan
Peninsula in the political shape given
to it by the Treaty of Bucharest, Au-
gust 10, 1913, which closed the second
Balkan War. This treaty, which rep-
resented the latest effort on the part
of the European Powers to adjust the
Balkan situation, proved unsatisfac-
tory to nearly all of the parties con-
cerned. Turkey did not accept with
good grace the loss of nearly all of her
European territory. Bulgaria was bit-
ter towards her former allies, Greece,
Serbia, and Montenegro, who she felt
had treacherously combined to deprive
her of her just rewards. Serbia re-
sented the action of Austria, Italy, and
Germany in depriving her of an outlet
to the Adriatic. Montenegro was dis-
appointed in being forced to surrender
Scutari. Finally Albania, the new
state created by the Powers to thwart
Serbia's ambition to reach the Adri-
atic, was in a state of ill-disguised an-
archy under the shadowy control of
Prince William of Wied.*
* William of Wied, Prince (Wilhelm Fried-
rich Heinrich). Born (1876) at Neuwied,
Prussia. Studied law and political science at
Jena. Later graduated with distinction at the
Kriegsakademie. Accepted throne of Albania
As has been seen, Serbia had been
involved in the war from the beginning
and Montenegro soon threw in her lot
with her neighbor. The attitude of the
other Balkan states was a matter of
great concern to the diplomats of the
allied groups. During the months suc-
ceeding the outbreak of the war, a dip-
lomatic struggle ensued in these states,
with the aim of winning their support
to one or the other side.
In this struggle the diplomats of the
Teutonic Powers had certain distinct
advantages. In the first place the mon-
archs (Constantine I,* Ferdinand I,f
Charles I $) of the three states,
offered to him by great Powers of Europe
(1914). Reign troubled and forced to leave
country September, 1914. Albanian Senavte
elected as ruler Burhan Eddin, the son of the
former sultan of Turkey. His bitter opponent
and rival for the throne was Essad Pascha.
* Constantine I., King of Greece, born
(1868) in Athens, son of King George I. and
Olga, niece of Czar Nicholas I. Studied at
the Universities of Berlin and Leipsic. Mar-
ried (1889) a sister of Emperor William II. of
Germany. Received careful military training.
Commander in chief of Greek forces in Turk-
ish War of 1897. In the Balkan War (1912-13)
acquitted himself so well, he was hailed as na-
tional hero. Became King of the Hellenes on
March 21, 1913. Continued campaigns against
Turks and Bulgarians and doubled area of
country. During the European war he main-
tained a strong pro-German attitude as a re-
sult of which he was compelled to abdicate by
the Entente Allies. He was succeeded by his
second son Alexander.
f Ferdinand I. Born (1861) in Vienna. Re-
ceived excellent education. Offered throne of
Bulgaria (1886) and took oath to constitution
and title of Prince (1887). Not recognized by
Great Powers or Turkey until 1896. In 1908
proclaimed full independence of Bulgaria and
assumed title of King. Royal title recognized
by Powers and Turkey in 1909. Favored form-
ation of Balkan League and prosecution of
Balkan War (1912-13). As a result of this
war territory increased, but not sufficiently to
satisfy Ferdinand.
$ Charles I. Born (1839). Served in Prus-
sian army. Elected Prince of Rumania (1866).
Country in wretched condition. Showed tact
and statesmanship in work of reorganization.
Helped Russia in Russo-Turkish War (1877).
Declared independence of Rumania shortly
after beginning of war. In 1881 crowned
King. Country developed, education advanced.
Held aloof from recent war in Balkans. Be-
loved by peasants, but opposed by landowning
Boyards (lower nobility).
32
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
Greece, Bulgaria, and Rumania, were
related by blood and marriage with the
Teutonic royal families. Moreover, as
the British Prime Minister (H. H. As-
quith *) indicated in a speech in the
House of Commons, Germany had a
distinct advantage in that she could
conduct her negotiations with a single-
ness of purpose, as her interests and
those of Austria-Hungary were identi-
cal. On the other hand, the Entente
diplomats had to consider the interests,
not always identical, of three and,
later, four Powers. Finally the En-
tente allies were handicapped by the
fact that Russian ambitions in the Bal-
kans conflicted with the national aspi-
rations of the smaller Balkan states;
that Italy's territorial ambitions in Al-
bania ran counter to the legitimate as-
pirations of Serbia, and that Greece
resented the attempt of Itah T to gain a
foothold on the coast of Asia Miner,
which was racially and historically
Greek.
In view of these conditions it is not
surprising that the efforts of the En-
tente diplomats, even had they been
conducted more skillfully than they ap-
pear to have been, should have failed.
Bulgaria. — The second Balkan War
left, as has been noted, a heritage or
bitterness and hatred among the former
Balkan allies. The Bulgars, smarting
under the humiliation of the Treaty of
Bucharest, welcomed the opportunity
* Asquith, Herbert Henry. Born (1852)
in Yorkshire. Admitted to bar after gradua-
tion from Oxford. Became member of Par-
liament and won favor of Gladstone. Made
Home Secretary (1882). Favored free trade.
Helped turn Conservatives out of office (1905)
and became Chancellor of the Exchequer under
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman and because
of feeble health of Prime Minister, virtual head
of government. Favored old-age pension bill,
which was passed. Became Prime Minister
(1908) and a liberal programme accelerated.
House of Lords sheared of power of veto, be-
cause opposed to social legislation and defeat
of budget. He resigned on December 5, 1916,
and was succeeded by David Lloyd George.
to revenge themselves upon their for-
mer allies. Completely disillusioned
by their experiences of the past few
years, they put aside all feeling of
generosity or gratitude and frankly
adopted a programme of "real politik."
To the diplomats of the Entente and
the Teutonic allies the Bulgarian au-
thorities made it clear that all ques-
tion of sentiment, so far as Bulgaria
was concerned, was to be disregarded
and that they were prepared to sell out
to the highest bidder. Great Britain
and France brought pressure to bear
on Rumania, Serbia, and Greece to sat-
isfy, in part, the territorial demands of
Bulgaria. The Teutonic Powers made
counter proposals promising Bulgaria
a large part of Serbian territory in
case of the success of the Central Pow-
ers. For more than a year Bulgaria
hesitated, apparently weighing the rela-
tive advantages of the rival proposals.
In the meantime the Bulgarian army
was mobilized, in order to be prepared
when the final decision was reached. It
became increasingly evident as the
months passed that the attitude of King
Ferdinand and the military leaders was
favorable to the Teutonic allies. Mat-
ters were brought to a head when, on
Oct. 3, 1915, Russia notified Bulgaria
that if she did not, within 24 hours,
break with the Teutonic Powers, the
Russian Minister would withdraw from
Sofia. A similar demand was made by
France, while Great Britain stated that
if Bulgaria precipitated hostilities in
the Balkans she would break off rela-
tions with her. On Oct. 8, 1915, Bul-
garia replied, rejecting these demands
and throwing her support to the Teu-
tonic Powers. In a manifesto issued
by M. Radoslavoff,* the Bulgarian Pre-
* Vaseil Radoslavoff, born in Lowatsch; stud-
ied law at Heidelberg; at various times served
as Minister of Justice, Minister of the Interior,
OUTBREAK OF THE WAR
33
mier, there was set forth the reasons
for Bulgaria's decision. He stated
frankly that considerations of self-in-
terest had dictated the step. He
pointed out that Bulgaria's chief eco-
nomic interests were with the Teutonic
Powers and Turkey, and that these in-
terests would be seriously menaced if
Constantinople fell into the hands of
Russia. In reviewing the proposals of
concessions made to Bulgaria by the
opposing groups, he held that the Teu-
tonic proposals were more advanta-
geous to Bulgaria. And finally he had
reached the conclusion that the pro-
gress of the war indicated the probable
success of the Central Powers, and it
was vital to the interests of Bulgaria
to be on the side of the victors.
Greece. — Conflicting influences and
interests complicated the situation in
Greece at the outbreak of the war. On
the one hand, the royal family was
closely related to the Hohenzollerns,
the Greek Queen Sophia being a sister of
the German Emperor, William II. On
the other hand, the Premier Venizelos *
felt that the best interests of Greece
would be served by joining the Entente
allies. Popular sympathy in the coun-
try appeared to be with the Entente
group, and especially with France. In
addition, Greece was bound by a treaty
of alliance with Serbia which obligated
her to come to the aid of Serbia if she
and Premier; did much as Premier in 1913 to
bring Balkan War to an end; became Premier
and Minister of Foreign Affairs (October,
1915) during European War; made important
declarations of Bulgarian policy; shot at twice
(March, 1916).
* Vexizelos, Eleutherios. Born (1864) on
island of Crete. Graduated (1886) from Uni-
versity of Athens in law. Made brilliant repu-
tation as a lawyer. At 25 chosen to Cretan
legislature. Minister of Justice in 1899. Fa-
vored political union of Crete and Greece.
Chosen Premier of Crete (1910). Central fig-
ure in events in the Balkans. Greek premier
in 1910. Had prominent part in revising Greek
constitution. Championed side of Triple En-
tente.
were attacked by Bulgaria. During the
first months of the war the diplomats
of France and Great Britain directed
their efforts to winning all of the Bal-
kan states to the support of the En-
tente. With this end in view both
Greece and Serbia were urged to make
territorial concessions to Bulgaria.
These efforts were seconded by M.
Venizelos, but the Greek King flatly
opposed any territorial concessions and
maintained that the best interests of
Greece would be served by the observ-
ance of strict neutrality. The break
between the King and his chief Minis-
ter led to the resignation of the latter
in March, 1915. His return to office
shortly after as a result of popular ap-
proval expressed in the elections to the
new Chamber was hailed as a victory
for the Entente, and it was generally
expected that Greece would soon enter
the war. The situation became acute
when, in September, 1915, Bulgaria
mobilized her army and Greece did like-
wise. Bulgaria's entrance into the war
on the side of the Teutonic Powers
raised the question of Greece's obliga-
tion under the treaty of alliance with
Serbia. M. Venizelos maintained that
Greece was bound to come to Serbia's
aid, but the King once more interposed
his objections, holding that the treaty
contemplated only a local Balkan war
and not one in which the Great Powers
were involved. Again M. Venizelos re-
signed. In the meantime arrangements
had been made by the Greek Premier
with the Entente allies for the landing
of French and English troops at the
Greek port of Saloniki, which troops
were to be used to aid Serbia. This
use of a Greek port was a clear viola-
tion of Greek neutrality and the Greek
government entered a formal protest.
It was understood on all sides that this
protest was purely formal, and the
34
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
landing of troops continued. The resig-
nation of M. Venizelos aroused some ap-
prehension in France and England and
pressure was brought to bear upon the
new Premier, M. Zaimis,* to define his
position. He stated that the attitude
of Greece would be "neutrality, with
the character of sincerest benevolence
towards the Entente Powers." King
Constantine, however, vigorously pro-
tested against the violation of Greek
territory by Great Britain and France.
He maintained that it was the sheerest
hypocrisy for these countries to pro-
test against the violation of Belgian
neutrality by the Germans, while they
themselves were violating Greek neu-
trality. He was strongly supported in
these views by Stephanos Skouloudis,
who succeeded Zaimis as Premier and
who also took the portfolio of Foreign
Affairs.
The period of the premiership of
Skouloudis was very stormy. The Al-
lies seemed to fear that their Saloniki
expedition was threatened from the rear
by the Greek army. This fear of an
attack compelled General Sarrail to
keep a strong force on the Macedonian
front. In order to remove this threat
the Allies from time to time made de-
mands on the Greek government which
weakened the latter's military posi-
tion. The Allies desired the use of the
Peloponnesian railway to transport the
regenerated Serbian army from Corfu
to Saloniki. This was refused on the
ground that it would be a violation of
neutrality. After some hesitation the
British Foreign Office announced that
the troops would be transported by
water.
* Zaimis, Alexander. Born (1855) in Athens.
Educated at universities of Athens, Leipsic,
Berlin (Ph.D.), and Paris. Elected deputy
(1885); Minister of Justice, (1890-93); presi-
dent of Chamber of Deputies (1895-97); Pre-
mier (1897-99 and 1901-02). Brought about
annexation of Island of Crete to Greece (1913).
This demand was only a preliminary
to those which were to follow. In June,
1916, the Bulgarians crossed the Mace-
donian frontier and seized several Greek
forts. When war was not immediately
declared on Bulgaria, the Allied Pow-
ers demanded that the Greek army be
demobilized. To enforce their demands,
they blockaded the Greek ports and
seized vessels and supplies in the har-
bors. Martial law was declared in Sa-
loniki and the Greek military com-
mander was superseded by a French-
man. The Greek government sent iden-
tical notes of protest against interfer-
ence with her trade by the Entente Pow-
ers to the United States and to all the
South American governments. Never-
theless the result of the blockade was
the demobilization of the 12 senior
classes on June 9th.
As soon as order was restored a new
set of demands was made on the Greek
government. Before they were officially
received, however, the Skouloudis gov-
ernment resigned. Former Premier
Alexander Zaimis was again called upon
to head the cabinet. The first act of
his government was to accept uncondi-
tionally the demands of the Allies,
which included briefly, (1) demobiliza-
tion of the rest of the Greek army, (2)
replacing of the Skouloudis cabinet
with a business cabinet favorable to the
Allies, (3) dissolution of the chamber
and the holding of new elections, and,
(4) replacement of certain police func-
tionaries who had permitted insults
against the Allied legations. Upon the
acceptance of these demands the Allied
blockade was withdrawn.
During this period of national un-
rest there was gradually springing up
a strong anti-German party. The seiz-
ure of the garrison at Kavala by the
Bulgarians, the abandonment of the
Macedonian forts without a struggle
OUTBREAK OF THE WAR
35
and the entrance of Rumania into the
war, brought the move to a head. A
Committee of National Defense was es-
tablished by those who were opposed to
the supine attitude of the Greek gov-
ernment. It set up a provisional form
of government for Macedonia and de-
manded that the Bulgarians be driven
out. In order to aid this movement to
succeed the Allies took an active part
in it. They seized enemy merchant-
men in the Piraeus, the port of Athens.
They also demanded and received all
Greek ports and the use of the tele-
graph system. On account of inabil-
ity to handle the situation the Zaimis
ministry resigned.
The pro-Ally movement reached its
height when a formidable revolution
broke out in Crete during the third
week in September. Venizelos immedi-
ately left Athens with a number of sup-
porters for the seat of the revolution.
One of his chief followers was Admiral
Coudouriotis, whose desertion of the
King left the latter in a very serious
predicament. A proclamation estab-
lishing a provisional government was
issued by Venizelos and Admiral Cou-
douriotis, and within a very short time
Macedonia and all of the Greek islands
were under their control. The provi-
sional government declared war on Ger-
many and Bulgaria on Nov. 25, 1916.
The Allies heartily approved the new
Venizelos government and proceeded to
make further demands on the new Greek
government, headed by Spyridon Lam-
bros. The new demands included the
turning over to the Allies of the Greek
navy, certain strategical railways,
forts, mails, telegraphs, police service,
naval material and the Piraeus. They
further demanded that any Greek who
so desired be permitted to join the new
government. All these demands were
acceded to as a result of necessity.
Apparently still fearing an attack in
their rear, the Allies demanded that all
the arms and munitions belonging to
the Greek army and navy be turned
over to them. The Greek government
was given until Dec. 1, 1916, to grant
this last request. King Constantine re-
fused to agree, marines were landed
from the Allied fleet, and a scene simi-
lar to the days of the French Revolu-
tion occurred in Athens. True to his
promise, Vice Admiral du Fournet fired
upon royalist troops, when the time of
his ultimatum expired. Thereupon a
regular civil war broke out in Athens.
Royalist troops fired upon Venizelists
and vice versa. As a result of a truce
King Constantine agreed to surrender
all the mountain guns of the Greek
army. When this was accomplished all
the Allied marines were withdrawn to
the fleet with the exception of a small
guard.
The Entente nations continued to
exert a political and economic pressure
upon the Greek government. King Con-
stantine adopted a passive attitude of
submission to the demands of the Allies
and determined to rely on the ultimate
recognition by the world that his treat-
ment had been unjust. The long con-
flict between King Constantine and the
Entente came to an end on June 12,
1917, when the King abdicated in favor
of his second son Alexander. This step
was taken at the dictation of the Allies,
who decided, after investigation, that
the King and his elder son George were
strongly pro-German. Zaimis, the
prime minister, resigned and was suc-
ceeded by Venizelos, the staunch friend
of the Entente. One of the first acts of
the new ministry was to declare war on
Bulgaria and Germany (July 2). Al-
lied control was withdrawn with the ex-
ception of that over telegraphs and
press censorship. Immediate steps
36
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
were taken to actively join the Entente
army around Saloniki. This removed
the continual threat of an attack by
Greek forces in the rear of General
Sarrail's army. See Southeastern
Theatre,
Rumania. — Somewhat the same di-
vision of sentiment obtained in Rumania
as in Greece at the outbreak of the
European War. The King, Charles I,
was a member of the Hohenzollern fam-
ily, and it was rumored that there was
a secret treaty between Rumania, Ger-
many, and Austria-Hungary. The
mass of the Rumanian population is
composed of illiterate peasants, but
among the educated classes there was
a strong pro-French and especially pro-
Italian sentiment. The Rumanians
claim descent from Roman colonists ;
and there has always been a strong sen-
timental attachment to Italy among the
Rumanians. Apart from conflicting
sentimental influences, the question of
the wisest policy for Rumania to pur-
sue to advance her material interests
was not easy to determine. On the one
hand a large Rumanian population was
included in the Austrian dominions in
Transylvania, while on the other hand
the Russian province of Bessarabia was
equally Rumanian in nationality and
more valuable economically than Tran-
sylvania.
At the head of the Rumanian minis-
try was John Bratianu, one of the
shrewdest statesmen in the Balkans. He
advocated a policy of w r aiting, with the
intention of entering the war at the
proper time when the greatest reward
could be obtained by the least fighting.
The death of King Charles in October,
1914, and the entrance of Italy into the
war, were expected to influence Ru-
mania to join forces with the Entente
allies. But the failure of the Russian
campaign in Galicia and Bulgaria's
alliance with the Teutonic Powers
caused Rumania to continue her policy
of watchful waiting.
She continued this policy until April
28, 1916, when the Rumanian minister
at Vienna presented a note to the Aus-
tro-Hungarian Foreign Minister which
said that Rumania considered herself
at war with Austria-Hungary since nine
o'clock the previous evening. She
maintained that her treaties with the
Central Powers had been continually
broken since the war began and that
Rumanians in Austria-Hungary were
being persecuted. She intervened to
prevent these persecutions, to shorten
the war if possible, and to realize her
national ideal. She thought an alli-
ance with the Entente allies would best
enable her to accomplish the last pur-
pose.
Portugal. Portugal was bound by a
treaty of alliance with Great Britain,
and at the outbreak of the European
War Portugal stated that she was pre-
pared to carry out her treaty obliga-
tions whenever Great Britain desired
her to do so. However, Portugal did
not enter the war until more than a
year after the beginning of hostilities,
although there were clashes between
Portuguese and German troops in Af-
rica. On Feb. 24, 1916, at the request
of Great Britain, Portugal seized a
number of German and Austrian ships
lying in Portuguese harbors. On
March 8, 1916, Germany declared war
on Portugal, stating that the seizure of
German vessels was done at the dicta-
tion of Great Britain, and could be re-
garded in no other light than as a hos-
tile move against Germany.
Czecho-Slovakia. This is the name
of a new nation which was born as a
result of the war. It comprises the
former Austrian states of Bohemia,
Moravia, part of Silesia, and the dis-
OUTBREAK OF THE WAR
37
trict of Hungary known as Slovakia.
It has a population of about 13 mil-
lions with an area of 52,000 square
miles. The natural wealth is estimated
at 15 billions of dollars. Its declara-
tion of independence was published at
Paris October 18, 1918; the local gov-
ernment was taken over in Prague Oc-
tober 28, 1918, and the republic for-
mally proclaimed the next day. The
republic had maintained four armies,
one in Bohemia, one in France, one in
Italy, and a force of approximately
75,000 men operating in Russia and
Siberia partially at the request of the
Allied governments. The first presi-
dent of the republic was Thomas Gar-
rigue Masaryk, who was also one of the
chief leaders in the movement for an
independent Czecho-Slovakia.
In the first part of August, 1918, the
British government formally recognized
the Czecho-Slovaks as an Allied nation.
The Italian and French governments
had made special agreements with the
Czecho-Slovak National Council in re-
gard to the Czecho-Slovak army which
had been formed in each of those coun-
tries {see below). The British govern-
ment definitely recognized the unity of
that army and said that in considera-
tion of their efforts to achieve inde^
pendence, Great Britain regarded the
Czecho-Slovak armies as constituting
an Allied and pledged army waging
regular warfare against Austria-Hun-
gary and Germany. It also recognized
the Czecho-Slovak National Council as
the representative of the future gov-
ernment. At the beginning of Sep-
tember the United States government
also recognized the Czecho-Slovak Na-
tional Council as a belligerent govern-
ment clothed with proper authority and
recognized the state of war between
the Czecho-Slovaks and the German and
Austro-Hungarian empires. At this
time the Czecho-Slovak forces were in
the neighborhood of Chita and the com-
posite Allied force was advancing in
the Ussuri Province from Vladivostok.
For an account of their military cam-
paigns see Military Operations,
Eastern Front.
For the purposes of convenience the
following dates of the declaration of
war are given:
CENTRAL POWERS
Austria against Serbia — July 28, 1914.
Austria against Russia — August 6, 1914.
Austria against Montenegro — August 9, 1914.
Austria against Japan — August 27, 1914.
Austria against Belgium — August 28. 1914.
Bulgaria against Serbia — October 14, 1915.
Germany against Russia — August 1, 1914.
Germany against France — August 3, 1914.
Germany against Belgium — August 4, 1914.
Germany against Portugal — March 9, 1916.
Germany against Rumania — September 14,
1916. '
Turkey against the Allies — November 23, 1914.
Turkey against Rumania — August 29, 1916.
ENTENTE ALLIES
Brazil against Germany — October 26, 1917.
China against Austria and Germany — August
14, 1917.
Costa Rica against Germany — May 24, 1918.
Cuba against Germany — April 7, 1917.
France against Germany — August 3, 1914. '
France against Austria — August 13, 1914.
France against Turkey — November 5, 1914.
France against Bulgaria — October 16, 1915.
Great Britain against Germany — August 4,
1914.
Great Britain against Austria — August 13,
1914.
Great Britain against Turkey — November 5,
1914.
Great Britain against Bulgaria — October 15,
1914.
Greece (provisional government) against Ger-
many and Bulgaria — November 28, 1916.
Greece (Alexander's government) against Ger-
many and Bulgaria — July 2, 1917.
Guatemala against Germany — April 23, 1918.
Hayti against Germany — July 15, 1918.
Honduras against Germany — July 19, 1918.
Italy against Austria — May 24, 1915.
Italy against Turkey — August 21, 1915.
Italy against Bulgaria — October 19, 1915.
Italy against Germany — August 28, 1916.
Japan against Germany — August 23, 1914.
38
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
Liberia against Germany — August 4, 1917.
Montenegro against Germany — August 9, 1914.
Nicaragua against Germany — May 7, 1918.
Panama against Germany — April 7, 1917.
Panama against Austria — December 10, 1917.
Portugal against Germany — November 23, 1914.
(Passed resolutions authorizing military in-
terventions as treaty ally of Great Britain.)
Portugal against Germany — May 19, 1915.
(Military aid granted.)
Rumania against Austria — August 27, 1916.
(Allies of Austria also considered it a dec-
laration against them.)
Russia against Turkey — November 3, 1914.
Russia against Bulgaria — October 19, 1915.
San Marino against Austria — May 24, 1915.
Serbia rgainst Germany — August 6, 1914.
Serbia against Turkey — December 2, 1914.
Serbia against Bulgaria — October 19, 1915.
Siam against Germany and Austria — July 22,
1917.
The Hedjaz (Arabia) against Central Powers
—June 9, 1916.
United States against Germany — April 6, 1917.
United States against Austria — December 7,
1917.
IV. MILITARY OPERATIONS
The military operations of the great
war, in which the Central Powers were
by turns on the offensive and on the
defensive, hinge on the plan of the
German general staff according to
which Austria, with a small German
force, was to hold Russia in check,
while Germany crushed France, both
Central Powers uniting for the subse-
quent Russian campaign.
The strategy of the war from this
viewpoint falls easily under the follow-
ing main divisions : I, Introduction
and discussion of mobilization and re-
sources ; II, Western theatre, or cam-
paign against France; III, Eastern
theatre, or campaigns against Russia;
IV, Southern theatre, or campaigns
against Serbia (involving Bulgaria's
entry into the war) and Italian cam-
paign ; V, Southeastern theatre, or
Turkish campaigns, including Suez,
Gallipoli, and Caucasus. In no theatre
of the war was the strategy unconnect-
ed with events taking place or about to
take place on other fronts.
I. Introduction. The war that broke
out in 1914 involved three continents
and the seven seas. Not only its com-
batants, but the killed and wounded,
were to be numbered by millions. Every
known resource of mechanical ingenuity
was drawn upon, and old and forgotten
methods of warfare were brought into
play side by side with the most power-
ful modern artillery, while aeronautics
for the first time had occasion to show
its worth. (See section Aerial Opera-
tions.) The edifice of international
law, of the conventions of warfare, so
painfully built up after centuries of
struggle, was toppled over as a thing
of no account. With these considera-
tions before us we must remark that in
the space here available nothing but a
statement of the principal facts can be
attempted. But even so, the nature
of the struggle on one front, the west-
ern, calls for a word or two. When
both sides simultaneously reached the
sea there began a siege over the whole
front that gave the struggle in this
theatre a character unique in military
history. At certain places in the "line"
32 parallel lines of German trenches
were discovered by reconnoissance. The
trench systems of this front were esti-
mated, after including communication
trenches, to be 25,000 miles long.
Frontal attack became a necessity,
since flanks there were none, and yet
these attacks all proved failures, for
the experience gained under the new
conditions had not as yet led to such a
disposition of forces and resources as
to carry them through to a decision.
The most desperate efforts were made,
first by one and then by the other side,
to raise the siege, so to say, by a con-
centration at some selected point, and
thus break through and end a situa-
tion that only a few years ago would
have been deemed intolerable.
The war was finally won as a result
of a series of brilliant flank attacks
after the failure of major German
frontal attacks.
On the other fronts the phenomena
of what may well now be called old-
fashioned warfare were more or less
reproduced, but even in their case a
marked tendency to approximate to the
39
40
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
conditions in France manifested itself
— indeed may be said to have estab-
lished itself on a part of the Russian
lines and to a certain extent on the
Italian. A marked feature of this war
was the so-called mobilization of in-
dustries. So great was the draft made
on the industrial resources of the coun-
tries involved that the struggle, other
conditions equal, may be said to have
resolved itself into a competition by
each side to outstrip the other in sup-
plies and munitions.
Mobilization and Concentration.
When it became evident that the gen-
eral European situation was becoming
more and more serious, covering troops
{troupes de couierture) were sent by
the French government to the eastern
frontier. These troops, five corps in
all, or 200,000 men, with cavalry, began
their movement on July 31 at 9 p. m.,
and had completed it on August 3 at
noon. They were not to cross a zone
8 kilometers wide along the frontier, in
order to prevent any clash with the
Germans, so long as war was unde-
clared. On the German side the Em-
peror, on July 31, decreed the Kriegs-
gefahrzustand, or a sort of state of
martial law, under which certain mili-
tary measures could be adopted on the
frontier, and the telegraph and railway
services taken over by the military au-
thorities.
Mobilization proper, however, began
in both Germany and in France on
August 2, in France at midnight. It
was asserted that in Germany the op-
eration was set afoot well before the
formal date given above. In both coun-
tries it was carried on with the preci-
sion that the whole world had learned
to expect of Germany, but of which, as
regards France, it was somewhat doubt-
ful. The purpose of mobilization, it
may be recalled here, is to pass from
peace to war footing. Each man liable
to service reports on a given date at a
specified point, draws his arms, uni-
form, and equipment, and joins a
designated organization. Companies,
battalions, regiments, etc., are thus
brought up to war strength; transport
material is requisitioned and train ser-
vice prepared. The French mobiliza-
tion, in two periods of ten and six days
respectively, closed on August 18; the
German, according to the French, on
the 16th. German authorities, how-
ever, give the closing date as the 20th.
Mobilization was followed by concen-
tration.
The French armies began their con-
centration in the east of France from
Belfort to the Belgian frontier, thus
respecting the neutrality of Belgium
and of Luxemburg. By this course the
French, incidentally, gave the Germans
choice of ground and freedom of man-
oeuvre. It should be recollected, how-
ever, that the exact intentions of the
German general staff were unknown;
they might attack either on the right or
the left bank of the Meuse, or attempt
a demonstration by the Oise, or even
risk a break from Nancy on to Verdun.
Further, the possibility of the offensive
had. to be kept in view, and the offen-
sive, for the French, was possible only
in Alsace and Lorraine. In other
words, the concentration of the French
w r as both offensive and defensive ; while
guarding the approaches on the east,
they would be ready to face in any di-
rection. As a matter of fact, the plan
of concentration could not be fully car-
ried out ; it had to be modified because
of the German advance through Bel-
gium. Hence, in general terms, the
French armies were stretched out from
Belfort north and then northwest
towards the Sambre, to join hands, if
possible, with the English and Belgians.
MILITARY OPERATIONS
41
Certain corps even pushed their way
into Belgium itself.
The German problem of concentra-
tion was simpler, if, as there is reason
to believe, their intention from the first
was to smash their way through Bel-
gium. They contented themselves with
merely observing the strong eastern
(French) frontier, and disposed their
other armies northward through Treves,
etc., to Aix-la-Chapelle, in position to
inaugurate and carry through a vast
sweeping movement through Belgium.
They crossed the frontier of this coun-
try without waiting for either mobiliza-
tion or concentration, using for this
purpose troops kept immediately avail-
able near the frontier.
On the periods of mobilization and
concentration of the other combatants
it is not necessary to dwell. In Aus-
tria-Hungary the operation was merely
a repetition of the German process,
and, like that, carried out with prompt-
ness and accuracy. Russia was ex-
pected to be slow, but on the contrary
was so energetic as to suggest a belief
that she began before the formal dec-
laration of war. England had no army
to mobilize, but she prepared her "ex-
peditionary force," crossed it over to
the Continent, and got into position op-
posite the German right in time to
offer a resistance that was invaluable
to the Allied cause.
General Strategy and Resources.
The War of the Nations originated as
a struggle on the part of Austria-Hun-
gary and Germany against the "Slavic
Peril" — against the huge Slav empire
of Russia and the small Slav kingdoms
of Serbia and Montenegro. But from
the very beginning of the conflict, de-
fense against Russia was of minor in-
terest as compared with the attack on
Belgium, Britain, and France. The
reason was quite simple. The German
General Staff * had planned, so said
the military experts, that the bulk of
the German army should be hurled first
against France, and then, having
crushed France, be transferred to the
east to turn back the tide of Russia's
slow-mobilizing multitudes. For Rus-
sia, with all her 171 millions of inhabi-
tants in Europe and in Asia, was spread
over so vast an area, and was so defi-
cient in railways that 10 of her 36 army
corps (an army corps may be counted
as 50,000 men) could not be expected
to arrive on the scene in the first month,
and the remaining 26 could not begin
a serious attack within the first few
weeks of the war. Germany could
leave 5 of her 25 army corps to coop-
erate with 12 Austrian corps in hold-
ing back the Russian advance guard,
while 2 Austrian corps "punished"
Serbia, and the remaining 2 Austrian
and 19 German corps crushed France.
The German armies in the west would
isweep across Belgium — with its net-
work of convenient railways and smooth
highways — turning the flank of the
strong line of French fortifications
along the Franco-German frontier, and
swoop down upon Paris with irresistible
might. The French army annihilated,
the German troops could be shifted
from the west to the east (it is only a
little more than 500 miles from Bel-
gium to Russia, that is, twice the dis-
* At the outbreak of the war, the Chief of the
German General Staff was Helmuth von
Moltke, who was born in Mecklenburg-
Schwerin in 1848, served in the Franco-Prus-
sian War of 1870-1871, was attached to the
General Staff as adjutant under his famous
uncle, Field Marshal von Moltke, and was ap-
pointed Chief of the General Staff and general
of infantry in 1906. During the course of
the War of the Nations, he was superseded in
chief command of the German forces by
General Erich von Falkenhayn, who was
born at Burg Belchau in 1861, served in China
several years, acted as chief of staff of the
16th, and later of the 4th Army Corps, and
was appointed minister of war in 1913.
42
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
tance from Albany to Buffalo) and
reserves could be brought up to defeat
the advancing Russians. The attack
on France and Belgium, however, met
with such fierce resistance that al-
though 13 reserve corps were sent into
France on the heels of 21 active corps,
in August, followed by 4 substitute re-
serve corps at the end of August, 8
Landwehr corps in September, and 5
semi-corps of reserves in October, in
addition to 10 cavalry divisions, the
German forces in France and Belgium
had to fall back after their first swift
stroke and could then do little more
than hold a long intrenched battle line
against the enemy. This delay in the
west ffave the dreaded "Russian hordes"
time to mass in Poland for an invasion
of Austria-Hungary and Germany.
The Austro-Hungarian armies, more-
over, began to show alarming weakness,
and were unable either to conquer the
Serbs in the south or to hold back the
Russians in the north of the Hapsburg
Empire. Germany was now compelled
to fight the war on two fronts, shifting
her troops back and forth as occasion
required, and finding her magnificent
strategic railways of incalculable value.
Skillful distribution of forces, able gen-
eralship, and superior equipment en-
abled the Germans, with Austrian as-
sistance, to hold back the Russian in-
vaders, and even to take up an advance
position in Russian Poland. After five
months of the war, Germany was cer-
tainly holding her own. Most of Bel-
gium, Northeastern France, and part
of Russian Poland were occupied by
German troops, whereas only a small
corner of Alsace and a bit of East
Prussia had been lost to French or
Russians. The prospect of ultimate
victory for the German arms was, how-
ever, becoming rather uncertain. To
be sure, the danger of a Russian "tidal
wave" sweeping over Germany from the
east was no longer feared ; but in a long
war, where endurance rather than speed
of mobilization wins the victory, Ger-
many would labor under great difficul-
ties. Germany, with a total population
of 65,000,000, Austria-Hungary with
less than 50,000,000, and later Turkey
with about 21,000,000 and Bulgaria
with 5,000,000, aggregating 141,-
000,000, were confronted by a coali-
tion representing 252,000,000 of Euro-
peans, not to speak of Russia's
20,000,000 in Siberia and the vast
transmaritime empires of Great Britain
and France and later the 110,000,000
inhabitants of the United States. Ac-
cording to the best information ob-
tainable, Germany had placed between
4 and 5 million men in the field by the
end of 1914, that is, for every 16 Ger-
mans there was 1 soldier. Germany still
had second-rate fighting men and fresh-
ly matured 3 T ouths to call upon, but ob-
viously the number was limited. France
likewise was limited ; an army of 5,000,-
000 would be one-eighth the population.
But Russia boasted, in addition to 5^-
000,000 trained warriors, a reserve of
population which could furnish 5,-
000,000 more if they could be mus-
tered, trained, and equipped. Great
Britain, with a population of over 45,-
000,000 to draw upon, was already
drilling 1,000,000 or more recruits to
take part in the battles of France.
From the 15,000,000 white inhabitants
of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and
South Africa, 100,000 or more sol-
diers might be sent to the battlefields
of western Europe. The contingents
of "native" soldiers brought from Af-
rica by Great Britain and France, and
the British Indians, were picturesque,
but hardly numerous enough to exert
an appreciable influence on the final
issue. In short, the allies appeared to
MILITARY OPERATIONS
43
possess superior resources of men and
munitions for the conduct of a pro-
tracted war. If joined by Italy, or by
one of the Balkan States, the Allies
would enjoy a still more marked ad-
vantage. Or again, if Austria-Hun-
gary should be rent by internal dissen-
sions, Germany would be left to fight
against overwhelming odds. On the
other hand, one of the Allies might con-
ceivably refuse to make further sacri-
fices, and either make peace or carry
on the war in a half-hearted fashion.
Or German generalship might win a
brilliant victory and destroy part of
the Allied army. Into any forecast to
the war's outcome, these and similar
considerations were bound to inject a
considerable amount of uncertainty.
The possibility that the Allies would
capitulate separately, however, ap-
peared very slight indeed after the
agreement signed in London, September
5, by Russia, France, and Great Brit-
ain, binding themselves not to make
terms with Germany until they could
do so jointly.
Equipment of the Armies. No less
perfect than the organization of the
enormous armies was the equipment
with which they fought. The War of
the Nations was a battle of machines,
waged with the help of every deadly
device science could invent. The fea-
ture of the conflict in the Franco-Bel-
gian theatre was the new Krupp 11-inch
howitzer. (A "gun" throws its pro-
jectile in almost a straight line; a
"howitzer" discharges its shell at an
angle of elevation varying from 15° to
45°; a "mortar" is fired at a still
greater angle of elevation, the object
being to drop a shell on the top of a
fortification or behind the earth-works
of the enemy.) The new Krupp how-
itzer, weighing nearly 40 tons, was
hauled by powerful motors on two
heavy motor trucks whose "caterpillar"
wheels were shod with great flapping
feet so as not to sink in soft ground.
Arriving at the scene of action, two
trucks were backed up together and
the howitzer was ready to throw 11 -inch
shells at any object within a radius of
six miles. The heaviest portable
French siege piece had been the 10.7-
inch howitzer, drawn in four parts, and
difficult to move, assemble, and mount.
Still more formidable than the Krupp
"11" was the Austrian 12-inch howit-
zer, built at the Skoda works. But the
surpassing achievement of the Krupp
gun factory at Essen was the produc-
tion of a 16-inch (42-centimeter) siege
piece which could be transported by
rail and readily emplaced on a concrete
foundation. From this gun, discharged
by electricity, a shell one meter in
length, weighing almost a ton, and filled
with high explosive, could be hurled
some 15 miles. Skilled mechanics from
the Essen works accompanied each of
the 7 or 8 of these 16-inch pieces which
Germany was said to have put in the
field. Two of these gigantic howitzers,
stationed 10 miles from the inner forts
of Antwerp, rendered the elaborate de-
fenses of that city worthless. Even the
smaller German howitzers were capable
of demolishing the forts at Liege and
Namur and wrecking the steel-domed
cupolas which had been the pride of
Belgium's forts. In the field, much
smaller guns were ordinarily used. The
German army employed a 3-inch gun
capable of throwing 20 15-pound shells
per minute at an enemy three miles
away. The shell was timed to explode
just before striking, and would scatter
250 steel bullets in the ranks of the
enemy. Gun and carriage together
weighed about a ton. Aeroplanes,
whose value in warfare had long been
discussed, now rendered service in lo-
44
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
eating the enemy, so that the artillery
officers could instruct their gunners at
what angle to fire at the unseen enemy.
The French field gun was of slightly
smaller bore than the German, but of
greater power and weight. Machine
guns or mitrailleuses were also used
with telling effect. A machine gun is
light enough to be packed on the back
of a horse or drawn on a light carriage
by a pair of dogs (as in the Belgian
army) and even by the individual sol-
dier ; it fires from 400 to 500 ordinary
rifle bullets per minute. The regular
arm of the infantry was the rifle, tipped
with the bayonet -for hand-to-hand en-
counters. England used the excellent
Lee-Enfield rifle, France the Lebel, Rus-
sia the Nagant, Belgium the Mauser,
Germany the Mauser, and Austria the
Mannlicher; of these various makes,
the German Mauser possessed the
greatest muzzle velocity, although the
French had the longest effective range.
Almost as important as artillery or
fire-arms was the automobile. Motor
cars encased in steel and armed with
rapid-fire guns accompanied Von
Kluck's cavalry on its swift advance.
Speedy automobiles and motorcycles
were invaluable for reconnoissance and
communication where telephone, wire-
less telegraph, or aeroplane was not
available. Monster searchlights
mounted on motor cars illuminated the
field of battle by night. The greatest
service of the motor, however, was be-
hind the firing lines. An army cannot
fight unless it is fed. To feed the mil-
lions of fighting men, many thousands
of motor trucks were ceaselessly em-
ployed in conveying incalculable quan-
tities of foodstuffs. Finally, some of
the most brilliant successes of the Ger-
mans were won by hurrying troops in
motor trucks to the most effective point
on the battle line. Other new devices
invented and used during the war will
be treated in the subsequent military
history.
II. Western Theatre. The German
armies, by a surprise thrust through
Belgium in August, 1914, sought to
paralyze the French army. This op-
eration failed at the Marne (Septem-
ber).
Trench warfare resulted in the West,
and from the North Sea to the Swiss
border the line remained substantially
unchanged to July, 1916, the battle of
Verdun and the joint Allied offensive
(July, 1916) forming the high-water
marks of this fighting until the cam-
paigns carried out on a grand scale in
1918.
The detailed account of military op-
erations on this front has seven main
steps: (1) The fortunes of the Belgian
army up to its escape from Antwerp
and safe retreat to the Yser Canal; (2)
The relative dispositions of the rival
armies of the French and German high
commands up to and including the
battle of the Marne; (3) The race to
the seacoast which resulted in the es-
tablishment of the intrenched lines from
Dixmude to Belfort ; (4) The attempts
of either side to break the intrenched
line, including the battles of Ypres,
Lille, Lens, and the Champagne drive
inaugurated by Joff re to aid the hardly
pressed Russians; (5) The battle for
Verdun, in which the Germans sought
a decision hoping not so much to shat-
ter the French line as to shatter the
morale of the French people and make
a breach in Allied solidarity; (6) The
Allied offensive in Picardy, in conjunc-
tion with the Russian and Italian ac-
tivities in the East and South. (7)
The final attempt made by the Ger-
mans to break through in 1918 and the
successful Allied counter attack. It
seems clear that Germany's plan of ac-
MILITARY OPERATIONS
45
tion was first to crush France and then
to fall upon Russia. What was the
shortest road to France? The frontier
was heavily fortified; but even other-
wise it would have left too narrow a
front for the overwhelming armies
which Germany intended to set in the
field. Hence the shortest road lay
through Luxemburg and Belgium. Of
natural obstacles there were none; the
three fortresses, Liege, Namur, and
Maubeuge, were not in supporting re-
lation to one another, the Belgian fron-
tier was only 120 miles from Paris, and
the way lay through the easy valleys
of the Oise and of the Meuse.
Accordingly the Germans, violat-
ing the neutrality of Luxemburg and
Belgium, undertook a vast sweeping
movement, with its pivot at Mont
Donon and its marching flank flung be-
yond the Sambre and the Oise. The
French, on the other hand, respecting
the neutrality of the countries just
mentioned, had planned to attack the
Franco-German frontier directly, under
the following distribution of armies:
first army (Dubail) * from the Swiss
frontier to Donon; second (de Castel-
nau) f from Donon towards Metz;
third (Ruffey) in the Woevre, facing
the Metz-Thionville frontier region ;
* Augustin Yvon Edmond Dubail, born
(1851) at Belfort; educated at Saint-Cyr,
served in Franco-Prussian War, and later at-
tended the Ecole de Guerre; general of brigade
(1904); at Saint-Cyr was adjunct professor of
geography (1874-76) and of military art and
history (1880-85) and then commandant; wrote
on his specialties; Commander of the Legion
of Honor and possessor of various decorations;
Military Governor of Paris during European
War.
f Edottard de Curieres de Castelnau, born
in 1851; served in Franco-Prussian War; col-
onel attached to general staff (1896); served
in Cochin-China and Algeria; commander of
"Iron Division" at Nancy (1899); early in Eu-
ropean War commanded Second Army of Lor-
raine and came to be known as the "savior of
Nancy"; after battle of the Marne took com-
mand of the Army of the Somme; chief of the
general staff (December, 1915); went to Greece
and helped plan defenses of Saloniki.
fourth and fifth (Langle de Cary and
Lanrezac) on the Belgian frontier.
Germany placed in line the following
armies: first (Von Kluck) the march-
ing flank; second (Von Biilow) ; third
(Von Hausen) ; fourth (Duke of Wiirt-
temberg) ; j fifth (Crown Prince of
Prussia) ; sixth (Rupprecht, Crown
Prince of Bavaria) ; § seventh (Von
Heeringen) ; eighth (Von Deimling),
to remain on the defensive in Alsace.
What may be counted as a ninth army,
under Von Emmich, made up of ele-
ments in immediate readiness, was to
act as advance guard to the right wing,
and carry Liege, on the expiration of
the ultimatum addressed to the Belgian
government.
As has been implied, Belgium declined
to agree to the demand made by Ger-
many to allow German troops to cross
Belgian territory to the French fron-
tier. August 3 and 4, all doubt as to
German intentions having been re-
moved, the Belgian authorities ordered
bridges destroyed on all probable lines
of advance, and the Belgian forces to
move forward as follows : the first di-
vision from Ghent to Tirlemont; the
second, Antwerp to Louvain ; the fifth,
t Albrecht, Duke of Wiirttemberg, born
(1865) in Vienna, son of Duke Philip of
Wiirttemberg and heir presumptive to the
throne of the Kingdom; married (1893) the
Archduchess Margareta Sophia of Austria;
held commands in regiments of Uhlans, Grena-
diers, Dragoons, cavalry, and infantry, rising
to be general in command of the Thirteenth
Army Corps; in command of German forces
in Belgium (October, 1914) after its invasion
and temporarily took over command of Crown
Prince's army (February, 1916); received
Order Pour le Merite from the Kaiser.
§ Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria, born
(1869) in Munich, eldest son of Ludwig
(Louis) III, who became King in 1913; mar-
ried the Duchess Marie Gabriele of Bavaria
(1900); had a university education and mili-
tary training in the Kriegsakademie; traveled
extensively in India, Japan, China, etc. (1902-
03); general, commanding the First Army
Corps (1906); led Bavarian army in Euro-
pean War and received from the Kaiser the
Order Pour le Merite.
46
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
Mons to Perwez; the sixth, Brussels to
Wavre. The fourth was to remain at
Naraur, and the third in its position,
Hasselt-Liege-Verviers. These move-
ments were covered by the cavalry di-
vision (Waremme), by a mixed brigade
at Tongres, and by another at Huy.
The strength of this army was about
117,000 men, increased later by 18,500
volunteers, with the King in command.
It was, if opposed by superior numbers,
to hold good defensive positions barring
the enemy's advance, and to await in
these positions the arrival of troops
from the British and French armies.
But if this junction were impossible,
then the Belgian army was not to run
the risk of severe loss, but was to guard
against being enveloped, and act so
as to secure its communications, for
the purpose ultimately of joining hands
with the Allies. Opposed by equal num-
bers, it was to attack, if conditions were
favorable. In any case, Liege, Namur,
and Antwerp were to be defended.
Invasion of Belgium. — On August 4
two cavalry divisions crossed the fron-
tier, advanced upon Vise, and there
found the bridge destroyed. Behind the
cavalry forces came an army composed
of the seventh, eighth, ninth, and elev-
enth corps. At the same time two
other corps were concentrated at and
near St. Vith — thus making a force of
about 300,000 men on the roads lead-
ing into Belgium and converging on
Liege. On the 5th a demand was made
on the governor of the fortress of Liege,
General Leman, to allow an unopposed
passage to the German army. This de-
mand refused, the forts east and north-
east of the town were attacked, but the
Germans were repulsed. On the night
of August 5 and 6 an attempt was made
to break the Belgian line between the
Meuse and the Ourthe, and succeeded
in forcing the troops between the in-
tervals of the forts to fall back. The
mobile troops of the defense were now
withdrawn to join the main army, leav-
ing their garrisons in the forts. On
the 12th large calibre fire was opened
on the forts of the right bank, and by
the 17th the last one had fallen to the
Germans. During this time the main
Belgian army had taken up a position
on the Gette. On the 12th this stream
was forced at Hselen, but an attempt to
pass on was repulsed. Fresh troops
came up and threatened to turn the
Belgian left ; on the south they occu-
pied Tirlemont; on the 18th the Bel-
gian position was critical. Hence but
one course was open to the Belgians:
they retired on the 18th at dusk to
take a position on the left bank of the
Dyle. But the Germans advanced so
rapidly that the Belgians could not
safely stop, and were forced instead to
continue their way to Antwerp, which
they reached on the 20th. The Ger-
mans entered Louvain on the 10th,
Brussels on the 20th, and crossed the
French frontier on the 24th.
Namur was taken under fire on the
20th and 21st of August; on the 25th
the last fort, Suarlee, fell. Here, as
at Liege, heavy calibres were used. The
commander of the 4th (Belgian) di-
vision withdrew his forces on the night
of the 23d and 24th of August, and
succeeded 10 days later in entering Ant-
werp.
A new part now fell to the Belgian
army. August 20 it had taken up a
position resting on the forts of Antwerp
with a detachment at Termonde. Its
business now was to detain as large a
force as possible, to take the offensive
whenever an important engagement,
took place elsewhere, and to attack in
the neighborhood of Antwerp whenever
there was any chance of success. Ac-
cordingly a sortie was made August 25
MILITARY OPERATIONS
47
and 26 ; on September 4 a German force
that had driven its garrison out of Ter-
monde crossed the Scheldt, but on the
appearance of Belgian forces on the left
bank crossed back, leaving Termonde
once more in Belgian hands. After this
date all hostile efforts to cross the river
were checked and the line of retreat to
the west kept open. Other operations
took place, as on September 9, when the
Belgians got as far as Louvain and
forced the recall of a division from
France to Antwerp. One effect of these
operations was to delay for two days
the march southward of a German
corps, at the time when the retreat from
the Marne had begun.
The fall of Antwerp was, however,
only a question of time ; the siege began
on September 28, and in a very short
time it became clear that the place
could no more resist the German ar-
tillery than had Liege and Namur. A
delicate question then presented itself:
to hold Antwerp as long as possible
without compromising the retreat. Day
by day the Germans continued their
work of demolishing the detached forts
of the place and drew closer and closer.
On October 5 Lierre was occupied and
the river crossed below the town. On
the 3d and 6th of October they tried
without success to cross the Scheldt.
Furthermore, in France, the German
right was steadily approaching the sea ;
if they could reach it before the Bel-
gians had made good their retreat these
latter might be entirely cut off. The
better to secure this retreat Ghent was
occupied on the 9th by the French and
British (7th division). The retreat,
however, began on the evening of the
6th, and by the morning of the next day
the entire Belgian army was across the
river. The Germans had indeed crossed
the Scheldt themselves, on the 6th at
Schoonasrde, but were unable to inter-
rupt the retreat. On October 10 Ant-
werp capitulated, and on the 15th the
Belgian army took its stand on the
Yser, 82,000 strong. The subsequent
fortunes of this army are bound up with
those of the Franco-British forces on
this front.
Invasion of France. — When it be-
came evident that France was to be in-
vaded from Belgium, the 3d (French)
army moved up (August 10) to
Longwy, with the 4th army taking a
position further west, and the 5th sta-
tioning itself between the Sambre and
the Meuse. General French (August
23) stood between the Sambre and the
Scheldt, on the line Conde-Binche, with
so much of the British expeditionary
force, two corps and a cavalry division,
as had crossed to the Continent. The
German armies that had concentrated
on the line Aix-la-Chapelle-Malmedy-
Treves-Metz-Strassburg now moved
out, Von Kluck through Belgium, Von
Bulow to the Sambre (Namur-Char-
leroi) ; Von Hausen and the Duke of
Wiirttemberg across the Ardennes on
Dinant and Neufchateau. The Crown
Prince crossed Luxemburg. The Crown
Prince of Bavaria marched against de
Castelnau and in this region the general
action opened on August 20, with the
driving back of de Castelnau (invasion
of Lorraine), who, however, brought up
firm before Nancy, September 7. As
early as August 15 some French troops
had crossed the Belgian frontier and
had engaged the Germans in minor af-
fairs (e.g., Dinant). On the 22d
Charleroi was taken by the Germans,
who on the 23d attacked the French at
this place and the British at Mons.
As the 3d and 4th (French) armies
were compelled to withdraw before an
attack coming from Belgian Luxem-
burg, the right flank of the fifth army
extending almost up to Namur was ex-
48
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
posed, and that army withdrew. This
in turn compelled the withdrawal of the
English from Mons, and so the whole
Allied army now retreated, vigorously
pursued by the Germans, on the line
Paris-Verdun. In spite of one or two
checks suffered in the advance, as at
Guise, it may be said that on the whole
this movement was up to a certain point
irresistible. That point was reached
when the Allies turned on crossing the
river Marne, and not only defeated the
Germans, but forced them to retreat to
the Aisne. The French generalissimo,
Joffre, had constantly kept before him
the plan of so turning in the retreat
from the Belgian frontier, and had se-
lected the line Paris-Marne-Verdun as
the proper place, and Sept. 6, 1914, as
the proper date.
On Aug. 20, 1914, General Joffre *
assumed command of the Allied armies
in France. He had before him the in-
finitely grave problem of developing
suitable powers of resistance, mostly
out of beaten and retreating armies,
and of selecting the time, place, and
manner of applying these powers, which
he did at the Marne (to be described
later). After that battle the Allied
armies under his command successfully
held off the Germans, thus upsetting
their plans of crushing France before
proceeding to conquests elsewhere.
The Approach to Paris. — During the
retreat two new armies had been
formed: one under General Foch f (the
* Joffre, Joseph Jacques Cesaire. Born
(1852) in Rivesaltes, Pyrenees. Student of
military engineering at Ecole Polytechnique.
Entered active service (1870) in Franco-Prus-
sian War after which returned to Polytechnique.
Became captain (1874) ; fought in Tonkin
(1883-84); in Dahomey (1893). Professor in
Higher War School for a time and then pro-
moted brigadier general of division. Became
chief of general staff (1911). Helped pass
the three years' military service law.
f Ferdinand Foch, born (1851) at Tarbes,
Hautes Pyrenees, of a Basque family; served
in the Franco-Prussian War as a subaltern;
ninth), which took position between
d'Esperey's (formerly Lanrezac's) and
Langle de Cary's ; and another (the
sixth) under Manoury from Paris. This
last army was to rest on the intrenched
camp of the capital, face east on the
right bank of the Ourcq, and attack
Von Kluck's right. It is a sound prin-
ciple of warfare that victory may be
obtained only by beating the hostile
army. When therefore the Allied
armies passed into the Paris-Verdun
gap, Von Kluck, sweeping down on
Paris from the north, properly turned
south-eastward after the enemy. But
he had not reckoned upon the formation
of the sixth army sent out from Paris,
in motor vehicles of every description
to take its place on the battle front.
Before, however, taking up the Battle
of the Marne, we must very briefly de-
scribe what had in the meantime been
taking place in eastern France ; the
pressure in this quarter, indeed, cul-
minated in conflicts contemporaneous
with and forming a part of the great
battle of September 6. Before the sud-
den swerve of Von Kluck from Paris on
September 4, it seemed as if the predic-
tion that the Germans would be in Paris
six weeks from the outbreak of war was
about to be fulfilled. General Gallieni
had begun to prepare the city for a
siege. The noise of the battle could be
heard by the Parisians.
Events before the Marne. — After the
declaration of war the French invaded
both Alsace and Lorraine. These in-
vasions came to grief. The French
twice occupied Mulhausen ; the first time
artillery captain at 26; professor of tactics in
the Ecole de Guerre for five years and later, as
general of brigade, its director; in command of
various divisions before European War; during
war commander of northern armies in France,
gaining victories of the Marne and Ypres;
known internationally as a strategist and au-
thor of Principles of War and Conduct of War,
published in French, English, Italian and Ger-
man; received British G.C.B.
MILITARY OPERATIONS
49
they were driven out, the second they
retired of their own accord. They had
also reached Saarburg and Saarbruck-
en. These invasions undoubtedly had a
political end in view, conditioned of
course by the possibility of military
success. Incidentally, the Alsace op-
erations were to contain troops that
otherwise might have been used to re-
sist the invasion of Lorraine. This in-
vasion opened well enough: the French
occupied Dieuze, Morhange, Chateau-
Salins, across the frontier. But it came
to naught at Morhange, in which the
French, completely beaten, were driven
back across the frontier, and were
forced to settle down to the real busi-
ness of protecting their eastern fron-
tier. The Germans, early in August,
occupied Cirey, Badonviller, and Bac-
carat. Farther north the army of Metz
got to within 15 miles of Verdun. Still,
farther north the army of the Crown
Prince, which had on August 22 crossed
the frontier near Longwy (occupied the
27th), drove back the French, and
finally took up a position between Bar-
le-Duc and the Ardennes, facing east-
ward, and opposed by General Sarrail's
army. To the west of the Crown Prince
the Duke of Wurttemberg, who had
crossed the Meuse near Mezieres,
formed up, facing south between the
Crown Prince's army and Epernay.
The first French army (Dubail) in
front of Epinal faced the east; on its
left General de Castelnau continued the
line east and north of Nancy, along the
Meuse, until it rested on the defenses of
Verdun. The garrison of Verdun car-
ried it on east, north, and west of the
position until it joined with Sarrail's
army.
With the armies in these positions
Nancy was attacked; its main natural
defense in the chain of hills known as
the Grand Couronne de Nancy. The
Germans occupied various towns in the
east, e.g., St. Die, but not without some
heavy fighting in the Vosges. On the
north they pushed the French back to
the Grand Couronne, but never got be-
yond it. The main army marched from
Chateau-Salins and engaged the French
in a series of stiff fights around the
Forest of Champenoux. At the same
time a part of the army of Metz, with
its left resting on Pont-a-Mousson,
joined in the attack. Six miles north-
east of the city, on the plateau of
Amance, de Castelnau had assembled
his artillery. Before the troops from
the north could cooperate with those
from the east in attacking this position,
Ste. Genevieve, 10 miles or so northwest
of Amance, had to be occupied. Here
Foch (August 22), with a modest force,
defeated the Germans with fearful
slaughter. The attack on Nancy from
the east through Amance was equally
unsuccessful. After much fighting
along the entire position the bombard-
ment of Amance began on August 30,
31 and lasted for more than a week.
The contest over the entire line in-
creased in intensity; indeed, from the
German point of view, it could do no
less, for now (September 7-8) their
armies were being pushed back from
the Marne, and it was vital to their
success that they should break through.
The Emperor himself was present at
the great assaults, six in number, made
on Amance, and all driven back with
loss. Checked before Nancy, the Ger-
mans on September 10 evacuated Pont-
a-Mousson, and on the 12th, Luneville,
St. Die, and some smaller places. They
now concentrated their efforts between
Toul and Verdun, with the purpose of
surrounding the latter place. To this
end they bombarded Fort de Troyon on
the Meuse south of Verdun and several
times attempted to take it by assault.
50
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
But the fort made an extremely gallant
defense, and although almost reduced
to extremities, managed to hold out.
The final assault was delivered on the
13th of September. On the 20th a
fresh advance was made on the for-
tresses from the east to cross the Meuse
south of Verdun. The garrisons of
Verdun and Toul respectively pushed
out attacks on the German flanks, while
the Germans themselves advanced in
the centre and captured the point of
St. Mihiel on the Meuse (September
25).
Grip on St. Mihiel. — The Germans
crossed the river on the 26th and began
to march northward towards the Aire
valley. A situation was then developed
that might have proved of the utmost
consequence to the French. To meet
it, Sarrail came down from the north,
and the twentieth corps was hurried up
from near Champenoux. At 5 p. m.
of the 26th the advance guard of the
corps, which had crossed at Lironville,
got contact with the enemy. After
some extremely heavy fighting the Ger-
mans fell back to the Meuse and in-
trenched at St. Mihiel, keeping their
footing across the river at Camp des
Romains.
While these operations were taking
place on the east and south, the other
German armies had proceeded south-
ward in pursuit of the retreating
French and English (as related else-
where). On September 6, the Crown
Prince's army stretched from a point
southwest of Verdun to the neighbor-
hood of Bar-le-Duc. Verdun was thus
almost completely surrounded. But
the tide turned with the German defeat
of the Marne; they retreated north-
ward and divided right and left at the
forest of Argonne. This rocky, hilly
forested ridge, about 30 miles long
north and south and 8 miles wide, then
became the scene of incessant close
fighting all through the autumn and
winter. In the northern part of the
Argonne Forest the Aire runs west to
fall into the Aisne. This pass, called
the Gap of Grand Pre, pierced as it
was by a railway, would have been
useful to the French, and so was one
objective kept constantly in view by
them in the operations of this region.
These now took on the character that
prevailed farther in the west, trench
warfare, with the French pressing the
Germans slowly back. Farther south
there was much fighting on both sides
of the St. Mihiel wedge, and in the
Bois le Pretre to the eastward.
In Alsace, after the second evacua-
tion of Mulhausen, the French took up
and held an intrenched position in front
of Belfort from Thann to Moos until
winter, when they fell back a little
nearer to Belfort. Trench conditions
developed here also, except that there
were desperate struggles to take and
hold Hartmannsweilerkopf, a mountain
about 2900 feet high some miles to the
north of Thann, which changed hands
several times. Apart from various
thrusts and points at German territory,
the main purpose of the French was to
cover the great position of Belfort. In
this they succeeded.
The Battle of the Marne. — Between
the close of the retreat and the battle
about to be described air reconnois-
sances, etc., had revealed the fact that
Von Kluck had changed direction to the
southeast. The Battle of the Marne
opened on Sunday, September 6. On
the 3d the British had fallen back of
that river and later had taken up a
position behind the Seine. About this
time (September 4) Joffre had resolved
to take the offensive, wheeling up the
left flank of the sixth army, pivoting it
on the Marne, to move on the Ourcq.
MILITARY OPERATIONS
51
The British were to fill the gap between
the sixth and fifth French armies. Ger-
man troops had been reported moving
southeast along the left bank of the
Ourcq on the 4th and were now halted
and facing that river. Heads of
columns were also seen crossing at
Changis, La Ferte, Nogent, Chateau-
Thierry, and Mezy. The Allies' line
on the 6th reached from Ermenonville,
in front of the left flank of the sixth
army, through Lizy on the Marne,
Mauperthuis, to Esternay and Charle-
ville, the left of the ninth army under
Foch, and so along the front of the
ninth, fourth, and third French armies
to a point north of Verdun.
Recollecting, then, that the first and
second French armies based on Belfort-
Verdun were facing the German seventh
and sixth, the French order of battle
on September 6 was : the third army
(Sarrail) Verdun-Bar-le-Duc, opposed
by the German third (Crown Prince) ;
the fourth (de Langle de Cary) across
the plain of Champagne, south of Vitry-
le-Francois, facing north, and opposed
to the German fourth (Prince of Wiirt-
temberg) ; the ninth (Foch) Mailly-
Sezanne, opposed to the German second
(Von Biilow); the fifth (d'Esperey)
Esterney-Courtacon, with Conneau's
cavalry on his left. The sixth army
(Manoury) held a line north and south,
with its right at Meaux and its left
near Betz. The fifth and sixth armies
were to engage Von Kluck. The gap
between the fifth and sixth (French)
armies was held by the British five divi-
sions and five cavalry brigades, Ville-
neuve-le-Comte to Jouy-le-Chateau.
Von Kluck left two corps (II and
IV) on the east bank of the Ourcq to
hold the sixth army, while he proceeded
with III, IV, and VII to Coulommiers,
Rebais, and La Ferte Gaucher to at-
tack the left and centre of the fifth
(French) army. He had pushed for-
ward two cavalry divisions towards
Coulommiers and Crecy to give notice
of any attack possibly coming from
that quarter, and had occupied the
villages on the west bank of the
Ourcq. , :|
The battle began at daylight Sep-
tember 6 by the advance of the sixth
army against the villages just men-
tioned, and became general over the
whole line from Paris to Verdun. In
this struggle the British at once took
a hand, and moving northeast, drove
back Von Kluck's cavalry and advance
guards. In the words of Sir John
French, it must have been at about
noon "that the enemy realized the pow-
erful threat that was being made
against the flank of his columns moving
southeast." By night the British had
reached the line Dagny-Coulommiers.
This retreat of the Germans uncover-
ing the west flank of the troops oper-
ating against the fifth army forced
these to withdraw and enabled the fifth
to reach the Grand Morin between Es-
ternay and La Ferte Gaucher. In the
meantime the struggle further east had
been most serious. Foch was heavily
engaged with Von Biilow, and on his
right with Von Hausen. On the whole,
the centre had all it could do to hold
its own, while the right even fell back a
little. The day closed with the balance
leaning a little in favor of the Germans,
except on their left, when Von Kluck
began to realize that he must look to
his right as well as to his front. Sep-
tember 7 was a day of desperate
struggle, with the Allies progressing in
the west, but not elsewhere. On the
8th the German right was definitely
turned, and began to retreat. On this
day, d'Esperey carried Montmirail,
and thus made an opening on Von
Bulow's right. Into this opening Foch
52
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
pushed his left, and he is reported to
have discovered a gap between Von
Biilow and Von Hausen, of which he
also took advantage. The third and
fourth armies on this same day held
on only by the most devoted courage
in face of the equally devoted attacks
made upon them. September 9 saw the
scale turn in favor of the Allies. The
line of the Ourcq was taken ; French
and d'Esperey joined hands at Cha-
teau-Thierry in the evening. Foch
drove a part of Von Bulow's right into
the marshes of Saint-Gond and attacked
his left with success, while the Saxons
on Von Billow's left, after heavy losses,
were pushed back towards Chalons. The
third army still held. By the 10th
there could be no doubt that the Allies
had won a victory: the Germans re-
treated, and in good order, to the Aisne,
where they occupied a line said to have
been prepared in advance.
The Battle of the Marne must be re-
garded as a significant defeat for the
German army. Flushed with success,
having the initiative, opposed to troops
supposedly dispirited by defeat after
defeat during a long and exhausting re-
treat, the Germans found this check as
unexpected as the French found it wel-
come. On the French side moral forces
were developed whose intensity con-
tinued undiminished. The Germans,
although not disabled, were neverthe-
less compelled radically to change all
their plans of operation.
The German position on the Aisne
extended from a point on the Heights
of the Meuse north of Verdun, west
across the Argonne country and the
plain of Champagne to Rheims, north-
west across the Aisne, west along the
Heights of the Aisne to the Foret de
PAigle, north of Compiegne. This po-
sition was of great strength, carefully
intrenched and thoroughly supplied.
The Allied armies followed the Germans
in their retreat. On the morning of the
13th the British advanced, and in spite
of the resistance of the Germans passed
the Aisne on pontoon bridges, a re-
markable military achievement. The
Allied lines, September 21, reached
from the extreme south of Alsace
through St. Die, Luneville, Pont-a-
Mousson, Consenvoye, Grande Pre,
Souain, Craonne, Noyon, to Le Catelet.
Strong German forces held St. Quen-
tin. In the east the Germans had
pushed their way along the promontory
of Hatton Chatel towards St. Mihiel
and were shelling the forts of Camp
des Romains and des Parodies. On the
26th they crossed the Meuse near St.
Mihiel. Ypres was occupied on Octo-
ber 14 by the British seventh division,
which had assisted the withdrawal of
the Allied troops from Antwerp. A
period of deadlock now followed on the
Aisne, during which each adversary
made the most determined efforts to
outflank the other on the west.
From the Aisne to Flanders. — These
efforts were logical for both sides. An
attack on the German left, even if suc-
cessful, would not interfere with their
communications through northern
France with Belgium and Germany. A
frontal attack would have called for
resources not then in the possession of
the Allies. To turn their right, how-
ever, might result in eutting some of
the communications, might even save
Antwerp. It would in any case assist
the retreat of the Belgians and British
from that city. Moreover, it was not
impossible that the Germans might
strike at Calais and Boulogne; it was
not inconceivable that they might even
push their way as far southwest as
Abbeville. Accordingly about Septem-
ber 20 an army was formed west of
Compiegne, and its command given to
MILITARY OPERATIONS
53
de Castelnau, who was to fill the gap
between the Oise and the Somme, and to
push his lines north of the Somme; as
objectives he had St. Quentin and La
Fere. On the 21st de Castelnau's right
had moved as far as Noyon ; there was
violent fighting around Lassigny. From
Lassigny the French right moved
towards Roye, while their left momen-
tarily occupied Peronne. The Germans
in the meantime concentrated a large
force in the region, formed in part of
troops drawn from the centre on the
Aisne, and from Lorraine and the
Vosges. On the 25th the French near
Noyon were pushed back on that day
and the next two, and the whole line as
far as the Vosges was engaged. De Cas-
telnau was driven from Lassigny, but
during the next few days managed to
hold his own. There was now some dan-
ger that the Germans would themselves
outflank the French; to meet this pos-
sibility a new army (tenth, Maud'huy)
was formed. De Castelnau was now
merely to hold his position. Maud'huy's
line ran from the Ancre through Arras
and Lens to Lille, and his plan would be
to move on Valenciennes. The Germans,
who were in force in the region of Cam-
brai and Douai, planned to take Lille,
turn on and force back Maud'huy; at
the same time other forces would ad-
vance on Boulogne, Calais, and Dun-
kirk.
The battle opened October 1, and by
the 4th the French had been pushed
back west of Lens, and were beginning
to retire to the hills behind Arras. On
the 6th the Germans shelled Arras, and
later attempted to take the town, in
which they failed. They had succeeded,
however, in repelling Maud'huy's of-
fensive, and had prevented the turning
of their flank. It was now decided to
move the British force from their
trenches on the Aisne to the left of
Maud'huy, who now, like de Castelnau
before him, would remain on the defen-
sive. The situation of the Allies was
critical. Antwerp was about to fall,
the Lys had been crossed by the Ger-
mans and Ypres occupied by them (Oc-
tober 3). The channel ports as well as
Lille were in danger. The presence of
Germans in the region about Haze-
brouck and Ypres implied an attempt
either to intercept the British and Bel-
gians retreating from Antwerp, or to
turn Maud'huy's left in the region of
Lens. Joffre therefore decided to con-
centrate still another army between
Lens and Dunkirk, which, with the Brit-
ish, was to form the extreme left of the
Allies. This army was to be com-
manded by General d'Urbal, while Foch
was to take general charge of the four
armies — de Castelnau's, Maud'huy's,
French's, and d'UrbaPs. The transfer
of the British forces was successfully
accomplished; they were to take posi-
tion north of the line Bethune-Lille, at-
tack the enemy opposing Maud'huy's
left wing west of La Bassee, and at-
tempt to defend or recover Lille, as the
case might be.
The country in which the operations
of many months on the left of the Allies
were to take place consists essentially
of the plain of the Scheldt. This plain
is broken by no natural obstacles but
is intersected by many canals. The
Scheldt bisects it roughly and receives
the Lys at Ghent. On the western boun-
dary of the plain rises the higher land
running from Calais southeast to
Peronne, at the base of which runs a
series of waterways, mostly canals,
forming as it were a wet ditch to the ta-
bleland to the westward. The ditch was
held by the French. The Germans oc-
cupied Ghent, Bruges, and Ostend, and
succeeded in capturing Lille, but were
driven east of Ypres by the British.
54
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
Further south, the Allies pushed the
Germans back towards Lille between
the Lys and the Bethune-Lille Canal.
While these movements were going 1 on
the other French armies still further to
the south were in conflict with the Ger-
mans from Bethune to Compiegne.
This period is signalized by Joffre's
third attempt to turn the German right.
Lille, although held by the French, was
in danger of being cut off by the ad-
vance of the Germans west of the city
south of the Lys, and the possibility
was still strong that the Germans might
make a rush for Calais and Dunkirk, or
else try to crush the British and Bel-
gians in retreat from Antwerp. Hence
Lille was to be saved, if possible, and at
any rate the other purposes of the Ger-
mans were to be negatived at any cost.
-The offensive was taken up by d'Ur-
bal's army, the British Seventh Divi-
sion, and the main forces of the British
coming up from the Aisne. On Octo-
ber 11 the Allies engaged the Ger-
mans in a position extending from
Mont-des-Cats southwest of Ypres
through La Bassee to Vermelles. Part
of this position was carried, but the
main purpose, to drive the Germans
out of La Bassee and to save Lille,
failed. On the 10th this city had been
bombarded; on the 13th it was sur-
rendered. To the north the Allies had
met with some success, driving the
enemy from Ypres as their comrades
were entering Lille. On the 17th the
Allies lay approximately north and
south from the Forest of Houthulst,
holding the villages of Langemarck,
Poelcapelle, Passchendaele, and east
from Ypres to Zonnebeke and south to
Wytschaete and Nieppe.
Battle of the Yser.— On October 16
the Germans attacked Dixmude and
opened the Battle of the Yser. The left
wing of the Allies now stretched from
Compiegne through Arras, Ypres, and
Dixmude to Nieuport. With the com-
mand of the sea in the hands of the
Allies, the efforts of the Germans were
necessarily confined to the fronts Nieu-
port-Bethune and Bethune-Compiegne.
The nature of the ground north of Be-
thune greatly influenced the character
of the operations, at first rolling, and
then, as the sea is approached, flat and
open, filled with dikes and ditches. From
Nieuport to Dixmude the line was held
by the Belgians and French colonial in-
fantry. Then from Dixmude past Zon-
nebeke came French Territorials and
cavalry, then British, who continued on
to Bethune. From Dixmude to Nieu-
port the Yser is canalized, and 15-20
feet above the ground to the west,
across which runs the embanked rail-
road between the same points. As the
country could be flooded, the bridge
crossings were more than usually im-
portant. Off the roads the ground was
difficult to cross, by reason of ditches,
dikes, etc., and, moreover, was marshy,
so that artificial cover could not be
made. For eight days, by night as well
as by day, the Germans assaulted the
Belgian position only to be repulsed
and beaten back. The British monitor
fleet, mounting 6-inch rifles, did great
service shelling the German right and
rear, during which Knocke was partial-
ly destroyed. The conduct of the Bel-
gians and the French colonial infantry
during these eight days was beyond all
praise: they had held their position
against superior numbers backed by ar-
tillery under the most terrible and dis-
couraging circumstances, and had suc-
cessfully prevented the desperate ef-
forts of the Germans to break through
across the position to Dunkirk and
Calais.
The plan of the Allies had been to
fight a defensive battle on the Yser, and
MILITARY OPERATIONS
55
to attack with their centre and right in
front of Ypres and south of the Lys re-
spectively. French's specific objective
was the capture of Menin on the Lys,
halfway between Roulers and Lille, as
necessary to an offensive that should
take Bruges and thus cut the German
communications. To hold the road
Menin-Roulers-Ostend was essential to
German success, because from it ran out
westward all the roads leading to the
Allied line between Ypres and the sea.
Heavily reenforced on the 19th, the
Germans themselves took the offensive,
captured Roulers, most of the Roulers-
Dixmude road, and all of the Menin-
Roulers-Dixmude-Ostend road and rail-
road.
The Menin operation failed. The
plan assigned to Sir Douglas Haig,* to
push through and if possible to cap-
ture Bruges, became impossible of ac-
complishment, for the Germans, in spite
of the most determined resistance, in
spite of frightful losses, were gaining,
and it became evident that the best the
Allies could hope for was to hold on
until reinforcements could come up. By
the night of the 22d the Germans had
crossed the Yser Canal at Tervaete,
and north of Ypres had pierced the
Allied lines. South of that city there
was only a thin line, and the right of
the Allies was withdrawing from the
Givenchy-Radinghem ridge. But on
the 23d the Allied prospect brightened.
* Sir Douglas Haig, born (1861) in Fife-
shire; educated at Brasenose College, Oxford;
served with distinction in the Sudan and in
South Africa; later held important posts of
India, being chief of staff (1909-1912); was
general officer in command at Aldershot (1912-
14) ; general in command in the First Army
from landing of expeditionary force in Euro-
pean War (1914); distinguished himself in the
retreat from Mons, at the Aisne, at Ypres, and
Neuve Chapelle; succeeded Sir John French
as commander in chief of British forces in
France and Belgium (December, 1915); G.C.B.
and Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor of
France; author of Cavalry Studies (1907).
The Forty-second French Division
(Grossetti) with howitzers had reached
Furnes and relieved the Belgians in
Nieuport. On the night of October 23-
24, 14 assaults were made on Dixmude
and all repulsed. North of Ypres, Brit-
ish reinforcements had come up, moved
on the enemy, captured their trenches,
and beat back five attempts at recap-
ture, and in the evening of this day a
division of the French Ninth Corps was
moved into the line.
So far the Germans had failed to
break through. On the 24th the French
on the left stormed Lombartzyde and
moved on Westende, thus menacing the
German right. To prevent this the
Germans opened a determined attack
on Nieuport, and along the Yser Canal
as far south as Dixmude. These at-
tacks failed. The next day the battle
was renewed ; guns were mounted on the
dunes to beat off the fleet. So tremen-
dous was the effort made that JofFre,
October 25, resolved to flood the coun-
try. But the water was slow to spread
over the meadow's. In the meantime the
Germans continued their attack, and on
the 26th seemed to be in a fair way to
reach Pervyse, halfway between Nieu-
port and Dixmude. On the 28th they
attacked all along the line. But in the
meantime JofFre was hurrying up re-
enforcements, and the water was rising.
The next day attack after attack was
made on Pervyse-Ramscapelle, and the
latter place was captured that night.
The 30th found the British fleet reen-
forced by five destroyers, the Germans
in Ramscapelle and along the railroad,
but between it. and the canal embank-
ment the water was mounting. All day
the struggle continued for Ramscapelle,
the embankment, and Pervyse. The
31st saw the Germans driven back
across the railroad and the inundated
region east of the canal.
56
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
Battle around Ypres. — The Battle of
Ypres is not a separate event from the
Battle of the Yser. They really over-
lapped, and are indeed only periods of
increased intensity of combat distin-
guished by the prominence of a special
objective on the part of the Germans,
and of a special effort by the Allies to
prevent the realization of that objec-
tive. Both of these battles are by the
French denominated the battles in Flan-
ders, a better name than Yser and
YPRES BATTLE FRONT
Ypres. However this may be, opera-
tions on the Yser proper were checked
by the inundation spoken of above and
by the expulsion of the Germans from
Ramscapelle. The scene now shifts to
the southward, to the attempts made by
the Germans to capture Ypres in the
pursuit of the objective still held by
them, to wit, to break through the Al-
lied lines to the French channel ports.
On October 24 the Allies lines ran in
a great arc from Dixmude through
Langemarck, Gheluvelt, through the
woods southeast of Ypres, along the
eastern ridge of the Mont-des-Cats,
across the Lys, to La Bassee. This
position was energetically attacked on
this day by the Germans, who very
nearly succeeded in taking possession
of Gheluvelt. Attacks on Mont-des--
Cats were beaten off. At various other
points likewise the Allies held. On the
23d a French division had entered
Ypres, and for the first time East In-
dian troops entered the trenches to do
battle for the Empire — Gurkhas, Sikhs,
etc. They were afterward withdrawn,
for climatic reasons, it was said. Fight-
ing continued through the 25th, and
on the 26th many attempts were made
against the Nieuport-Dixmude line.
The advantage this day lay on the
whole with the Germans, who had moved
up the Menin- Ypres road, capturing
Gheluvelt, and, south of the Lys, had
got hold of part of Neuve Chapelle. On
the 28th Gheluvelt was recaptured by
the British, who also drove the enemy
to the edge of Neuve Chapelle. Return-
ing to the attack, the Germans recap-
tured the entire village, only to be driv-
en out again, this time by a force com-
posed in part of East Indian troops.
Passing over the fighting of the next
day or two, on the 28th a wireless was
intercepted, saying that the Germans
would attack next morning. On that
day (the 29th) the French south of
Bethune took the offensive so as to keep
as large a force as possible of the enemy
from joining in the struggle around
Ypres. On the 30th and 31st French
reinforcements continued to arrive.
The Allied position on the morning of
the 31st ran from Zonnebeke on the
north to Festubert on the southwest.
The eastern ridges of Mont-des-Cats
were still held by the Allies ; south of
this the line extended to the Lys, cross-
ing it and curving around Armentieres
to Neuve Chapelle and thence to Festu-
bert. The German plan was to hold on
MILITARY OPERATIONS
57
the flanks and to make their main at-
tack on the centre to Ypres : if the cen-
tre could be broken, and the ridge of
Mont-des-Cats captured, the Allied
forces would be cut in two, and permit
either an advance on Boulogne or an at-
tack south of the Lys against the Al-
lies intrenched there, or indeed both. At
daybreak the Germans opened an in-
tense fire on the lines southeast of Ypres
and drove the British back into their re-
serve trenches. An equally violent at-
tack was made across the Ypres-Com-
ines Canal, which also drove back the
British. At one or two points the lines
were momentarily broken. In general
the Germans had advanced in the cen-
tre and were within a few miles of
Ypres. In the north the French had
taken Bixschoote and reached Passchen-
daele. On the Yser, at Ramscapelle,
the Germans were hurled across the ca-
nal, and farther south the French
pushed their offensive in the direction of
Roulers. But in the centre a tremen-
dous effort was made to crumple up the
British line and capture the ridge of
Mont-des-Cats and Ypres. The defense
made by the British, outnumbered and
outgunned, against the successive at-
tacks of the Germans will ever remain
remarkable in their annals. These at-
tacks came very near succeeding; the
thin British lines, worn out by their
efforts to hold, exposed to artillery fire,
began to fall back, and the guns were
even withdrawn to Ypres. The roads
behind the Germans were filled with mo-
tor vehicles ready to take the troops to
any point of the field. But at this mo-
ment the British stood their ground.
The Germans coming up the Menin-
Ypres road were stopped, and were
driven out of the woods east and south-
east of Ypres. To the south the de-
fense was equally spirited, keeping the
Germans from reaching the ridge of
Mont-des-Cats. November 1 the Ger-
mans took Wytschaete and Messines,
villages at the foot of the ridge, but
failed to make the ridge itself. The
struggle continued during the whole of
this day ; the Germans were driven out
of Wytschaete, but the village was
abandoned. On the 2d Neuve Chapelle
was carried, but the attempt on Armen-
tieres failed. North of the Lys re-
newed efforts to gain possession of the
ridge of Mont-des-Cats proved unsuc-
cessful. On the 3d the French took the
offensive from Dixmude-Nordschoote ;
the effect of this was to hold back forces
that otherwise would have moved
against the lines farther south.
And so it went day after day. The
Germans made another great effort on
November 10, when they shelled Dix-
mude more heavily than ever before,
blew up the French trenches and ad-
vanced against the town. After a ter-
rible hand-to-hand fight the French
withdrew to the west of the Yser. On
the remainder of the front artillery
played and assaults were made. The
11th opened with tremendous artillery
fire from both sides of the Menin-Ypres
road, lasting three hours. Immediate-
ly afterward 15 battalions of the Prus-
sian Guard advanced from the east,
while at the same time charges were un-
dertaken by other troops. Everywhere
north of the Lys the Allied front was
attacked. Everything failed except the
effort of the Prussian Guard, who got
up to within a few yards of the trenches
only to recoil and finally to retreat be-
fore the blasting fire that greeted them.
The Battle of Ypres was over, after
having lasted one month, with stag-
gering losses on both sides. It must be
accounted a German defeat.
The conclusion of the battles of Flan-
ders, November 11, 1914, marks the be-
ginning of what may be called the long
58
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
siege of the armies over the whole line
from the sea to the Swiss frontier. It
was a time of ceaseless watching, of
hardship and trial, of continuous fight-
ing with neither side able to advance at
the expense of the other. Local advan-
tages gained first by one and then by
the other adversary in no way affected
the issue, and indeed, as measured by
the ground gained, could not be repre-
sented on an ordinary map. A word
is perhaps not out of place in respect of
the nature of the contest that now be-
came the rule over the entire western
front. Trench warfare over this front
took the place of what may now be
called old-fashioned operations in the
open. Mining and countermining be-
came the rule: the lines in reality were
areas of parallel trenches protected by
networks of barbed wire so thickly in-
terlaid and interwoven that only long-
sustained artillery fire proved equal to
breaking them down in clearing the way
for assault. The troops lived in and
under the ground, so that the shrapnel,
the ideal man-killing projectile against
troops in the open, proved nearly use-
less, and was replaced by the high ex-
plosive shell, able to pierce overhead
shelter and overwhelm the occupants.
Operations degenerated into a struggle
of wear and tear. So close did the lines
draw to each other that antiquated
methods and weapons sprang into new
life: hand grenades, knives, and even
clubs for close work. Trench mortars
came into existence. Asphyxiating
gases, in violation of The Hague Con-
vention, were used. Artillery took a po-
sition of first importance, as was but
natural, seeing that a state of siege
warfare had developed. The reason of
this state of affairs is to be found, in
part at least, in the air service, making
surprise well-nigh impossible, and allow-
ing time for the threatened side to make
ample preparations to resist any im-
pending movement. It also greatly in-
creased the efficiency of artillery by en-
abling batteries to correct their fire,
and by discovering and assigning tar-
gets invisible from the batteries them-
selves. In this tremendous struggle
some few encounters deserve passing no-
tice before going on to the serious at-
tempts made by the Allies to break
through the German lines. Thus the
French took Vermelles on December 7 ;
later in the month there was some ex-
tremely heavy fighting in and near
Givenchy, followed a few days after-
ward by the capture of St. Georges by
the Allies (French and Belgians). Jan.
3-4, 1915, was marked by a French vic-
tory at Steinbach in Alsace. Soissons,
too, became the scene of great activity.
North of this city the French on Janu-
ary 8 captured Hill 132, and pushed
their way eastward. The German coun-
ter attack, made in force, drove the
French in from the east, and finally re-
captured Hill 132. The French were
compelled to cross the river. Under
any other circumstances this action
would have constituted a considerable
affair; in reality it was only an inci-
dent.
The next action standing above the
general level was that in the region of
La Bassee. On January 25 a German
demonstration was made along the
whole front, from Festubert to Vermel-
les and as far north as Ypres. Bethune
was shelled. This contest lasted sev-
eral days and ended in the repulse of
the Germans. The French won some
success in Champagne during this
period, in the neighborhood of Perthes
(February 16), and on the whole had
rather the better of it until the month
of March.
Battle of Neuve Chapelle. — The
event of this period is, however, the
MILITARY OPERATIONS
59
Battle of Neuve Chapelle, an operation
carried out by the British. The imme-
diate purpose of the Allies was to carry
this village, as the first step in an ef-
fort to pass on and capture the ridge
Aubers-Illies, held by the Germans, and
curving westward between these two
points. If this ridge could be taken, it
was not impossible that the attack
might even result in the capture of
Lille, an event that would have been of
the first importance to the Allies, as
menacing the German position north-
ward to the sea. Neuve Chapelle itself
sits in the easterly angle of a lozenge
formed by the roads breaking off* from
the main road La Bassee-Estaires.
The village itself, with the eastern side
of the lozenge, was held by the Ger-
mans ; the western side by the British.
Strongly reenforced, the British at 7.30
a.m. on the 10th of March opened a
bombardment said to surpass in inten-
sity anything ever heard before. It was
effective everywhere except at the ex-
treme north point of the front of at-
tack, where it failed to break down the
wire entanglement. After 35 minutes
the fire was shifted to Neuve Chapelle,
and the British infantry advanced. In
the village and south of it the attack
succeeded, but to the northeast was held
up by wire entanglement just men-
tioned. It held off the advance until
the artillery succeeded in breaking it
up. By 11 a.m. the whole village and
wood leading from it northeast and
southwest had been taken. So well di-
rected was the artillery fire that the at-
tempt of the Germans to bring up
troops was completely stopped. The
British, however, made no further prog-
ress.
The German fire had cut all or nearly
all the telephone wires and communica-
tion with the rear became almost impos-
sible. Furthermore the orchard north
of the village had remained in German
hands and so threatened the flank of
the advance towards the Aubers-Illies
ridge. There thus arose a delay of
four and a half hours, which the Ger-
mans took full advantage of to repair
their lines, organize fresh defenses in
rear, and bring up reinforcements.
When the British advanced again, they
were stopped both north and south by
machine-gun fire.
The next day found the British east
of Neuve Chapelle, but the remainder of
their plan had miscarried. On the 12th
the arrival of German reinforcements
put the British on the defensive. That
night the British set to work to con-
solidate the positions won, some 1200
yards on a front of 4000. The 13th
was taken up in beating off a few Ger-
man counter attacks. On the 14th the
battle died down on both sides. The
British casualties were extremely se-
vere, over 12,000 killed and wounded;
so also were the German. The net re-
sult of the battle was undeniably a Brit-
ish defeat, in that they had failed to
carry through their plans. But it is
also undeniable that they had managed
to break the enemy lines ; whether the
price paid was worth it, is doubtful.
After Ypres and Neuve Chapelle. —
In the next month, April, 1915, the Ger-
mans made another great effort on a
large scale to break through the Allied
lines on the north and so gain the chan-
nel ports. In anticipation of their ad-
vance the British took the offensive
themselves on April 17, with the result
that, as before in the same region, the
German plan was frustrated. The Al-
lies were posted along an arc running
from Steenstraate on the Yperlee Ca-
nal east, southeast, southwest, through
Langemarck, through Broodsende-
Becelaere, from which last point the
line curved round to Hill 50 and to
60
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
the Ypres-Comines Canal. The chord
of this arc was formed by the Yperlee
Canal to a point about a mile southeast
of Hill 60. From this position the Al-
lies were driven back to a line close to
Ypres, with especially heavy righting in
and near St. Julien, where the Canadian
contingent distinguished itself. The
Germans even got across the canal at
Steenstraate, and for a time the posi-
tion of the Allies was precarious. In
this particular battle of Ypres the
Germans made use of deadly gases. By
means of these the French troops de-
fending the northern part of the arc
were driven out ; these gases were later
again and again discharged against the
British. Until respirators were fur-
nished later, there was no living in the
fumes let loose on the trenches under at-
tack. Day after day the contest went
on, the Germans attacking and the Al-
lies resisting, with the utmost despera-
tion. On the 30th a vigorous attack
by the French pushed back the enemy
on the north of the line. On May 8
a concentrated effort — one of many —
was made to reach Ypres. Allied (Brit-
ish) attempts to push back the enemy
coming up on both sides of the Ypres-
Roulers road were unsuccessful. On
the 9th, fresh but unsuccessful at-
tempts were made on Ypres. On this
day the French were successful at La
Bassee (Carency), the English unsuc-
cessful south of the Lys. On the 11th,
Ypres was severely shelled. On the
13th, the British met with some suc-
cess on the Ypres-Roulers railway, as
well as towards the north. The French
on May 15 recaptured Steenstraate and
got up to the canal; by the 17th they
were masters of the left bank.
In its entirety this battle of a month's
duration must be regarded as a defeat
for the Germans. Setting out to take
Ypres and break through, they had, in
spite of many local successes, largely
at least at the outset due to their use
of poisonous gases, failed to carry out
their plan. They had lost many thou-
sands in killed, wounded, and prisoners.
During the later part of the struggle
around Ypres the British made a second
attempt to carry the Aubers ridge with
the capture of Lille as the principal ob-
jective. The battle opened May 9 and
lasted until May 20. The net result
ARTOIS BATTLEGROUND
was that the Allied lines were ad-
vanced some 600 yards over a front of
four miles. This battle comprised two
actions known as Aubers Ridge and
Festubert.
Battle of Artois. — Before the contest
before Ypres, just described, had
closed, the French began the tremen-
dous Battle of Artois, on the plateau
of Notre Dame de Lorette and south of
it, or the line La Bassee-Arras.
If this operation could be carried
through German communications be-
MILITARY OPERATIONS
61
hind it would be threatened and there
might be a chance of taking Lille. The
German positions on this front were
of the strongest.
They held the high ground around
Loos, the ridges north of the Souchez
stream, and most of the plateau run-
ning south of Lens to the banks of the
Scarpe. Upon this position had been
expended every effort of modern mili-
tary science to make it secure. Be-
tween Souchez and Arras was a network
of trenches known as the Labyrinth
(underground), about 2 miles square.
The ridge of Notre Dame breaks off
abruptly to the south in spurs, the
eastern one of which, the Souchez spur,
commands Ablain St. Nazaire and a
sugar refinery between Ablain and
Souchez, held by the Germans. From
one of these spurs trenches had been
constructed across to the Arras-Be-
thune road. South of Ablain are the
heights of Carency, connected by
trenches with Ablain and Souchez, and
by another series, the "White Works"
(white chalk), with La Targette on
the Souchez-Arras road. East of La
Targette is Neuville St. Vaast, like the
Labyrinth, an underground fortress. In
other words, not only was the surface
of the ground admirably fortified by
elaborate trenches and redoubts, sup-
plied with ammunition, etc., but sub-
terranean areas had been excavated to
house troops and supplies, where, safe
from aerial observation and overhead
fire, they could be kept until needed, to
rejiel the enemy already exhausted and
reduced by his advance.
General d'Urbal was in immediate
command, assisted by Foch and Joffre,
but to General Petain, later to distin-
guish himself at Verdun, belongs the
credit of the reduction of the Labyrinth.
Seven corps were engaged, and over
1100 guns of all calibres had been con-
centrated for the preparation. For
months the French sappers had been
occupied in mining the German defenses.
The battle opened at 6 a.m. on Sunday,
May 9, by the fire of the 1100 French
guns. Three-quarters of an hour later
the Carency mines were blown up, as
were others on the Notre Dame ridge.
The bombardment lasted three hours
and at 10 the infantry moved out. All
day the battle raged. Three of the
five trenches on Notre Dame plateau
were carried ; when night fell the French
dug themselves in. South of Notre
Dame, at the same time, the French at-
tacked Carency, took the trenches, but
failed to take a work on the east. They
nevertheless pushed on to Souchez. La
Targette was taken, as was part of the
White Works. Passing on, a part of
Neuville St. Vaast was then captured.
On the 10th the fighting continued. On
the 11th the attack on Neuville St.
Vaast reduced the cemetery, but the
Labyrinth still held out. The next day
Notre Dame de Lorette fell, as did
Carency. From Carency the French
pushed on to Ablain St. Nazaire. But
the Germans still held on to a spur of
the Notre Dame ridge, the spur of the
"White Way." On the 21st, however,
the spur was carried, as was most of
Ablain. A few Germans, however, still
held the cemetery, only to be dislodged
on the 28th. Three days later the
French took the Souchez refinery and in
June captured the Labyrinth. Indeed,
fighting went on in this region until the
autumn. Each side is estimated to have
lost 60,000 men in this tremendous bat-
tle. Having regard to the ultimate
purpose of the French in taking the of-
fensive, it must be admitted that they
failed : they had not broken through the
German lines. Lille was still in posses-
sion of the enemy whose communications
were still open. In all probability,
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A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
however, the Germans had been kept so
busy as to have no troops to spare for
the attempt on Ypres previously de-
scribed. And it was further proved
that with sufficient preparation by ar-
tillery and mining German positions
could be carried to a considerable
depth.
Simultaneously with the Battle of
Artois, there was considerable activity
further east in the Argonne region and
on the St. Mihiel salient, on the western
front of which the French succeeded in
capturing Les Eparges. They also met
with some success on the southern face,
on the edge of the Forest of Apremont.
Southeast of Luneville in the Vosges the
Germans took the Ban de Sapt on June
22. In July it was recaptured by the
French, who also made some small ad-
vances in Alsace.
Battle of Champagne. — The French
check in the Artois country was fol-
lowed by fighting chiefly in the Vosges,
mostly of a local character. This con-
tinued until September, when the
French opened an offensive for which
they had long been making prepara-
tions. Apart from the advantage that
would accrue if this offensive should
succeed, there -were reasons of a politi-
cal order that called for something more
from the Allies than mere nibbling at
the German lines. The German cam-
paign in the east was meeting with suc-
cess. To counterbalance this success,
and at the same time to relieve the pres-
sure on the Russians, it was regarded as
necessary to deal the common enemy a
mighty blow in the west. To keep him
ignorant of the precise point at which
the blow was to fall, for weeks previous
substantially the entire German posi-
tion was subjected to intense bombard-
ment. Beginning in the middle of Au-
gust, this bombardment was especially
heavy on the Belgian front in the
Souchez region, before Arras and Roye,
along the Aisne, in Champagne, and fin-
ally in the Argonne and Woevre dis-
tricts, and in Lorraine. As the time
drew near for the infantry work, the
bombardment increased in intensity over
the front selected for attack. That
front was in Champagne, between Au-
berive on the west and Ville-sur-Tourbe
on the east, a distance of some 15 or 16
miles. The centre of the French line
was defended by the 6th, 5th, and 4th
armies. The front held by the 4th
(Langle de Cary) was the one selected
from which to deliver the offensive.
Some 4 or 5 miles behind the corre-
sponding German position and roughly
parallel to it, runs the Bazancourt-
Challerange railway. If the French of-
fensive could reach this railway a mis-
chief would be done to the enemy, for
this road communicated with Metz on
the east. But the natural strength of
the German position had been increased
by the arts of the engineer. From Au-
berive this position followed the crest of
the low ridge north of the Suippes Riv-
er, rising, as it passed though Souain,
then by Perthes, with Tahure behind
(north of) it, and terminated at Mas-
siges. To say that this whole position
was intrenched is scarcely to do justice
to the effort spent on its defensive or-
ganization ; not only were there the
usual trenches (lines) facing the enemy
position, but cross trenches had been
dug over the entire area, from which
flanking fire could be delivered upon the
enemy if he should succeed in passing
the first and subsequent lines. There
were really two positions, two miles or
so apart, the first immediately in front
of the French, the second on the re-
verse of the ridge. The area between
them was a network of trenches and en-
tanglements.
On September 22 the bombardment
MILITARY OPERATIONS
63
increased in intensity and was kept up
until the 25th, when the French infan-
try broke out of its own trenches and
gained practically the first line posi-
tions of the enemy by 12 o'clock noon.
At some points, however, the Germans
held, and the work therefore became in
some sort a series of isolated and de-
tached actions. On the left the attack
was exposed to the German artillery
fire from the plateau of Moronvillers,
in front it came up against the salients
of the ridge. The first line was carried,
however, and the right of this attack
held all day, and later pushed on deep-
er and deeper into the German network.
To the right of the St. Hilaire-St.
Souplet road, much the same thing
happened, the French left being stopped
while the right managed to advance and
took all four lines of trenches. Fur-
ther east the enemy trenches were pene-
trated to a depth of about 500 yards,
but machine guns stopped the advance.
North of Souain the French met with
pronounced success, carrying trench
after trench almost to the Navarin
Farm. Between Souain and Perthes
the German position had been most sol-
idly organized, but in its eastern por-
tion the defenses were comparatively
weak. Here the French delivered their
main attack in this part of the front,
the remainder (the left) playing a sec-
ondary part. The attack carried the
French advance as far as the Souain-
Tahure road. In the Mesnil sector
(east of Perthes) the greatest difficul-
ties were encountered, but still further
east, north of Beausejour, the French
had better fortune, pushing north as
far as Maison de Champagne. On the
extreme right (Massiges) the colonial
troops reached the top of the plateau
in an incredibly short time, but could
not advance, because of the effective
machine-gun fire here developed. The
first day's fighting therefore had pushed
back the enemy lines in the centre : the
flanks had not been driven in, but the
French managed to secure the ground
gained. In the west, on the 27th, the
French got up to the Epine de Vede-
grange, but no farther. On the next
day the fighting died down in this sector
of the battlefield. In the Souain sector
the French on the 28th made contact
with the second German position in
these parts. Between Souain and Ta-
hure, in front of Perthes, contact with
this second position was also establish-
ed, but here the French remained, dig-
ging themselves in, until October 6.
While all these events were occurring
in the centre and left, the most desper-
ate struggle of all was going on to the
north of Massiges. From the plateau
three long spurs ran down like fingers,
whence the name given to them and to
the plateau from which they spring, La
Main de Massiges. These were strong-
ly held by the Germans. The French
accordingly attacked across the back
of the hand, and got up on the pla-
teau.
The general result of this battle, the
local and separate contests of which
were not over before October 4, was
that the French gained the Massiges
plateau, the Tahure ridge, and various
points in the German second position.
The elaborate intrenchments and work
of the first positions were taken. The
total number of prisoners officially giv-
en was over 23,000; many guns and
much war material fell into the hands
of the French. But as in all the other
cases of real battles, as distinguished
from the daily local strife, on the long
front, the German lines were not brok-
en ; they were merely pushed back. Al-
though, therefore, the Germans had suf-
fered a defeat in that they had been
driven out of their positions, yet it must
64
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
be admitted, on the other hand, that
the French had been disappointed of
their purpose. This apart, there can
be no question as to the thoroughness
of the German defeat. The French staff
estimated the German loss in killed,
wounded, and missing at 1-10,000.
Battle of Loos. — While this great
battle was going on in Champagne, the
Allies were renewing their offensive in
Artois, the British in the Battle of
Loos, the French in that of Vimy. As
before in this region, the objective was
to push into the plain of the Scheldt.
Reinforcements both of men and of
guns had given the British the necessary
elements to undertake the offensive.
Thanks to this increased strength, they
had extended their trenches southward
to Grenay, opposite to Loos and Lens.
It is apparent, therefore, that in the
month of September theAllies undertook
a general offensive, for in addition to
their two mighty efforts in Champagne
and Artois, the Germans were kept busy
in other regions of the front, by dem-
onstrations on the extreme left, in which
the navy took a part, in front of Ypres
and also in the Vosges.
In spite of the Battle of Artois, the
Germans still held the eastern slopes
of Notre Dame de Lorette ; from this
point their lines stretched north in
front of (west of) the Loos-Hulluch-
Haisnes ridge to the canal near La Bas-
see ; south, they curved through Angres
and Lievin to Souchez, thench eastward
of the high road from Bethune to Arras.
Between Haisnes and Hulluch lay the
powerful Hohenzollern redoubt, a work
more or less like the Labyrinth. Their
general position thus formed a sort of
salient oriented southwestward on the
axis Souchez-Lens. The plan contem-
plated that the British should drive at
the northern side of the salient (Loos-
Hulluch-Haisnes), the French at the
southern (Vimy Heights). The capture
of either of these positions would force
the evacuation of Lens. The terrain
over which the British were to advance
was covered with villages, pits, gal-
leries, slag heaps, and mine works gen-
erally, all connected by trenches. More-
over, the industrial pits and galleries
had been taken over and extended by
the Germans for war purposes. The
entire area had been defensively organ-
ized, and equipped with machine guns,
artillery, and small works and trenches
generally. In front of the French po-
sition, northeast of Neuville St. Vaast,
lay the wooded heights of Vimy running
northwest to Givenchy with hills 140
and 119 as conspicuous elevations.
Preparations for the great offensive
were completed by September 21.
Specifically the British were to capture
Auchy, Haisnes, Pit No. 8, and the
LTohenzollern Redoubt; further south
the ridge between Hulluch was to be the
objective, involving the capture of
Loos, and Hill 70 to the east of the
town. The French, as stated, were to
attack the Vimy Heights. Amply pro-
vided with artillery, the British besides
were to employ, for the first time, a gas
that stupefied but did not kill. The
action opened with artillery prepara-
tion on the 21th. During this day the
entire German position within range
was taken under fire by both the French
and the British artillery. On the 25th
this fire was renewed very early in the
morning, and suspended two hours later
in order to allow the infantry to ad-
vance. This they did at 6.30 a.m. The
French, however, continued the artil-
lery preparation until noon. On the
extreme left, between the canal and Pit
No. 8, the British met with a serious
repulse. Part of the Hohenzollern Re-
doubt was carried, so was Pit No. 8.
Haisnes was taken as early as 8 a.m.,
MILITARY OPERATIONS
65
but had to be abandoned by 5 p.m.
Loos, after a terrible struggle, fell to
the English, as did Hill No. 70. A
counter-attack by the Germans recov-
ered most of Hill 70. As night fell, the
British line ran around the south of
Loos to the western part of Hill 70,
past the west of Hulluch quarries to Pit
No. 8, then east of Hohenzollern Re-
doubt, and so back to the original posi-
tion. The fighting was renewed the
next day with no material results on
either side. By night the line ran back
from Hill 70 to the Loos-La Bassee
road, then north along this road, then
northeast of Hulluch. The remainder
of the line was unchanged. On the 27th
the Germans recaptured Pit. No. 8 and
forced their enemies back to the eastern
part of Hohenzollern Redoubt. The
next few days were filled with desperate
fighting, more or less localized. The
net result, so far as the British were
concerned, was the capture of Loos and
a portion of Hill 70.
The French, on their side, advancing
a little after 12 o'clock noon, had made
but slight progress. They took the
Souchez cemetery, but lost it later, and
reached the lower slopes of Hill 119.
The German garrison of Souchez re-
tired to Hill 119. On the 28th Vimy
Heights were attacked; the western
slopes and a large part of the wood of
Givenchy were taken.
This battle must be regarded as a
failure on the part of the Allies. It
would seem that the British had no re-
serves available to clinch the results ob-
tained in their advance. The Germans
thus had time to rally and counterat-
tack. It would seem too that the
French perhaps made a mistake in de-
laying their advance on the 25th by
six hours. Had they moved out at the
same time, the French left and the Brit-
ish right might have joined hands. The
Allies' losses were very heavy. The
British alone lost 50,000 men in this
battle. Disappointed, however, as were
the Allies in respect of the main pur-
pose they had in view, both in Cham-
pagne and in Artois, they had, never-
theless, made some real gains. In the
latter regions they were gradually
pushing the Germans to the rim of the
plain of the Scheldt. The British gain
had, as it were, pushed a salient in be-
tween La Bassee on the north and Lens
on the south, thus creating in some
sort two German salients.
After the battle the French relieved
the British from the French left up to
and including the village of Loos and a
part of Hill 70. The position of the
Allies in this new salient of Loos was
none too secure. But apart from this,
it was clearly incumbent on the Ger-
mans to try to recover the terrain they
had just lost. They accordingly, on
September 29, attacked the northwest
face of the British salient, but were
beaten off. The French on their side
advanced to Hill 140. The next day
the German attempts on the northwest
face were renewed. October 1 the
French made more progress on Vimy
Heights. October 3 was marked by a
fresh attack on the northwestern face,
and most of the Hohenzollern Redoubt
was recaptured. On the 8th a counter-
attack was made on the British posi-
tion. It was repulsed with loss, as were
the attempts made on the French near
Neuville St. Vaast. Later, October 13,
these attempts on the French were re-
newed with very much the same results.
On this day the British themselves took
the offensive in an effort to extend the
northern face of their salient. This ef-
fort very nearly succeeded in gaining
the Hohenzollern Redoubt for the Eng-
lish, a part of which only was held, how-
ever. October 19 the British line ran
66
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
from Auchez-Hohenzollern, St. Elie,
and then, so as to encircle Loos on the
east and south, back to the old trenches.
The close of the year 1915 saw the
adversaries confronting one another on
this as on other portions of the front.
But in respect of the northern region it
must be remarked that unsuccessful as
the Anglo-French efforts to break
through had proved, yet they had suc-
ceeded in pushing back the Germans to
the last ridge of hills separating the
area of conflict from the plain of the
Scheldt. One more drive like the Sep-
tember one, and the Germans might be
pushed into the plain and so lose this
part of France. Hence they reenforced
their hold by reinforcements estimated
at 600,000, and throughout the winter
obtained a few minor successes.
Verdun. — But these, as well as all
the other events, gave way in February,
1916, to the most determined attempt
yet made by any of the combatants on
any front to win a decision. On the
21st of this month the Germans opened
their assault on Verdun. But this place
had changed its character since the
opening days of the war. Warned by
the fate of Liege, Namur, and Mau-
beuge, it had passed from the condi-
tion of fortress pure and simple to that
of fortress related to an army in the
field. Hence its reduction was no long-
er a matter of sufficient pounding by
42-centimeter guns. General Petain *
was summoned to conduct the of-
fense.
* Henri Philippe Petain, born in 1857; de-
livered notable lectures at the Eeole de Guerre,
for which he was decorated by King Ferdinand
of Bulgaria; at beginning of European War
was colonel of the Thirty-third Regiment of
Infantry at Arras; distinguished himself in
the retreat from Charleroi to the Marne; pro-
moted general of division; in command of an
army corps took Carency, breaking through the
German front; in 1915 was in command of part
of the "Iron Division" of Colonials in Artois
and Champagne; given command of armies
around Verdun.
The first German drive was delivered
against the point of the Verdun salient
by heavy columns, over a 7-mile front,
from Consenvoye to Azannes. After a
prolonged bombardment of heavy artil-
lery — it is estimated that during the
first four days no fewer than 2,000,000
shells were fired — these columns struck
the French advanced lines, and at the
end of a week had advanced 4 miles
towards Verdun. The right, advancing
along the Meuse, had reached Champ-
neuville ; the centre, after taking Beau-
mont, faced the ridge known as the Cote
de Poivre; while the left, after captur-
ing Ornes, threw itself against Fort
Douaumont, the most northerly of the
permanent forts of Verdun. After sev-
eral costly repulses this fort was storm-
ed and held by the 21
francs per ton, Ger-
many consenting to a rebate of 40
francs a ton for the 60,000 tons which
represented domestic consumption.
Each party was to be permitted to ex-
port products of exchange in the pro-
NEUTRAL NATIONS AT BEGINNING OF WAR 267
portionate quantity. Switzerland ac-
cepted a system of control, under the
so-called Switzerland Fiduciary Office,
which was to go into operation July 15,
1918, and which was to be responsible
solely to the Federal Council. It was
agreed in principle that Switzerland
might freely make use of German coal
in manufactures which might be ex-
ported, but the merchandise manufac-
tured from German coal could not be
sent into countries at war with it unless
it was shown that an equal amount of
non-German coal had been employed in
that enterprise. The Germans delayed
the negotiations and increased their de-
mands, but when France informed
Switzerland that the Allies were
ready to supply her with 85,000 tons
of coal a month, Germany hastened to
conclude the convention.
On September 13, 1918, the French
government abrogated the French-Swiss
commercial convention of 1906. This
was in accordance with the policy of
the Entente Allies to put an end to all
treaties containing the most favored
nation clause.
South American Countries. All of
the South American countries were
seriously affected by the outbreak of
the European War. A large amount
of the business in these countries was
carried on by European credit and the
dislocation of the European financial
markets seriously crippled the business
interests in South America. Moreover,
a large part of the export trade of these
countries was cut off and emergency
measures had to be adopted to relieve
the situation. In Chile a moratorium
was declared, and the President was
empowered to extend government aid
to the nitrate industry, the most impor-
tant in the country. Argentina floated
two loans, one of $15,000,000 and the
other of $25,000,000, in the United
States. This was the first time a South
American country had negotiated a
loan directly in the United States.
Chile became involved in a dispute
with the belligerents when, on April 2,
1915, the German cruiser Dresden,
which had entered Chilean waters and
had been ordered interned, was sunk by
a British squadron. Chile demanded an
apology from Great Britain for this
violation of her sovereignty and this de-
mand was conceded. Germany sent a
sharply worded note protesting against
the acceptance of this apology, and
Chile replied by demanding an apology
from Germany for overstepping the
bounds of international law in interven-
ing in a question which involved Chile's
relations with another Power. After
some discussion the matter was ad-
justed peaceably.
Reception of the Barred Zone Note.
— The issuance of the barred sea zone
note on Jan. 31, 1917, created a pro-
found impression in all the South Amer-
ican republics. None of them, however,
seemed ready to take the step adopted
by the United States government and
sever diplomatic relations. Brazil re-
plied in part: "... The unexpected
communication we have just received
announcing a blockade of wide extent
of countries with which Brazil is con-
tinually in economic relations by foreign
and Brazilian shipping has produced a
justified and profound impression
through the imminent menace which it
contains of the unjust sacrifice of lives,
the destruction of property, and the
wholesale disturbance of commercial
transactions. . . . For these reasons
the Brazilian government, in spite of
its sincere and keen desire to avoid any
disagreement with the nations at war,
with whom it is on friendly terms, be-
lieves it to be its duty to protest against
this blockade and consequently to leave
268
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
entirely with the Imperial German gov-
ernment the responsibility for all acts
which will involve Brazilian citizens,
merchandise, or ships and which are
proved to have been committed in dis-
regard of the recognized principles of
international law and the conventions
signed by Brazil and Germany."
Chile refused outright to recognize
the legality of the German attempt to
establish barred zones and "conse-
quently reserves liberty of action to
protect all her rights in the event of
any hostile acts against her ships."
Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, Bolivia,
Panama, and Cuba all took similar ac-
tion. The keynote of their replies was
that any act on the part of Germany
against their rights as neutrals would
be considered unfriendly.
During 1918 the attitude of Chile
toward the war was a subject of much
comment, for it was not understood why
she was so firm against taking any part
in the war. This seemed to be the re-
sult in the first place of a belief that
German military power could never be
conquered. Then there was no clear
perception of the economic consequences
of the war in case of a German victory.
Nor did the fear of German imperial
ambition count for much, for what was
said on that subject by the Entente
Allies was attributed to propaganda.
Finally, there was no faith whatever in
the military strength of the United
States.
Soon after the declaration of war be-
tween the United States and Germany,
Brazil issued a proclamation of neu-
trality as between those two nations,
although there was a strong party in
the country which favored a declara-
tion of war based on the grounds laid
down by President Wilson of the United
States. She kept this attitude of neu-
trality until June 4, 1917, when the
Brazilian Ambassador handed to the
State Department at Washington a
note which read in part, "Brazil ever
was and now is free from warlike ambi-
tions, and, while it always refrained
from showing any impartiality in the
European conflict, it could no longer
stand unconcerned when the struggle
involved the United States, actuated by
no interest whatever but solely for the
sake of international judicial order, and
when Germany included us and the
other neutral powers in the most violent
acts of war." Brazil seized about 150,-
000 tons of German merchant vessels
in her harbors and ordered her fleet to
cooperate in the patrol work in the
southern Atlantic.
Brazil declared war on Germany on
Oct. 26, 1917, and immediately took
steps against her large German popu-
lation. She annulled all contracts en-
tered into for public works with Ger-
mans, forbade land cessions to Ger-
mans, took over the control of German
banks, and interned all German sub-
jects. Disorder immediately broke out
in the large German settlements in
southern Brazil, and an army had to be
sent to restore order. Shortly after
her declaration of war Secretary of
State Lansing (United States) pub-
lished two telegrams from Count Lux-
burg, the German Charge d'Affaires at
Buenos Aires, to Berlin through the
Swedish legation, stating that the situ-
ation in Brazil was serious, but that a
visit of a submarine squadron would
materially relieve the situation. Brazil
had knowledge of these before she de-
clared war.
By the end of 1917 the situation in
Argentina was very acute. On Sept.
8, 1917, Secretary of State Lansing
published telegrams that had been sent
to Berlin in cipher through the inter-
mediary of the Swedish foreign office.
NEUTRAL NATIONS AT BEGINNING OF WAR 269
The first one under the date of May
19, 1917, states that in the future Ger-
many had better adopt one of two poli-
cies with regard to Argentine ships.
They must either let them alone or sink
them without leaving a trace of their
sinking (spurlos versenkt). In a tele-
gram dated July 9, he reiterated the
same sentiments. The publication of
these created a profound impression on
the country. Mobs gathered in the
streets of the capital, German houses
were wrecked and burned. Troops had
to be called out to quell the riots.
Count Luxburg was handed his pass-
ports and the Argentine Senate passed
a resolution asking for the breaking off
of relations with Germany. President
Irigoyen refused to sanction the reso-
lution even after it had been passed by
both houses. He announced that Ar-
gentina would maintain her neutrality
as long as Germany lived up to the
pledge given in October, 1917, "to rec-
ognize the Argentine flag and respect
the nation and people." The country
was almost in a state of civil war over
the question of whether the country
should go to war or not. A big strike
on the railroads helped to mix up mat-
ters further and to put the state in a
serious plight.
Costa Rica severed diplomatic rela-
tions with Germany on Sept. 21, 1917.
On October 6 the Peruvian government
handed his passports to the German
minister. On October 10, the govern-
ment announced that the harbors of
Peru were opened to the warships of
the Allies. On October 8, Ecuador an-
nounced that the minister from Peru
who was also minister to Ecuador would
not be received in that country. In
December, 1917, she broke off diplo-
matic relations with Germany entirely.
Uruguay broke off relations with Ger-
many on October 7. The President in
his address to the Parliament stated
that Uruguay had not received any
harsh treatment at the hands of Ger-
many but that the country should join
hands with those fighting for justice
and democracy. She seized almost 50,-
000 tons of German shipping in her
harbors. Paraguay had also broken
off relations with Germany soon after
the publication of the "barred sea"
note.
In December, 1917, the State De-
partment at Washington published sev-
eral more telegrams sent to Berlin by
way of the Swedish legation. The pur-
port of most of them was to unify the
German population of South America,
which was very great, and organize
them against the South American re-
publics. They spoke very sneeringly
of the people of South America, re-
ferring to them one time as Indians with
a slight veneer over them.
Central American Countries. The
addition of the United States to the
belligerents profoundly influenced other
neutral states, especially the South and
Central American republics. Some had
suffered from the German submarine
campaign and were encouraged to fol-
low the lead of the United States in
breaking with Germany. Others who
had not suffered material damage were
influenced by the close ties which bound
them to the United States. Of the lat-
ter group were Cuba and Panama.
On April 7, 1917, the day after the
declaration of war by the United States,
a war resolution passed both houses of
the Cuban Congress and signed by the
President. This declared that a state
of war existed between Cuba and Ger-
many from that date and the Presi-
dent was authorized to use the military
and naval forces in any manner he
thought necessary. Four German and
one Austrian vessel were seized in Cuban
270
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
waters. Toward the end of the month
a mission was appointed to visit the
United States and confer with the
American government on Cuba's part
in the war. The President authorized
the issuance of $13,000,000 of bonds as
a war loan beginning July 1 to bear in-
terest at not more than six per cent.
On May 26, 1917, several revenue meas-
ures were announced, including taxes
on sugar and the net income of mining
and engineering companies. On August
3, 1918, the Congress passed a law au-
thorizing obligatory military service
applying to all male Cubans not espe-
cially exempted. The age limit was
twenty-one to twenty-eight years. The
army was to be composed of 17,000 men
and the necessary officers. A reserve
force was also created, the number to
be determined later. A custodian of
enemy property was created on Sep-
tember 18, 1918. Foreign enemies were
defined as nations of an enemy coun-
try ; nationals of a neutral power if
they violate Cuban laws with intent of
aiding country with which Cuba is at
war; persons, societies, etc., domiciled
in enemy territory and maintaining
commercial relations with it ; persons,
societies, etc., regardless of domicile
whom the national safety or war neces-
sities require to be included in the list
of enemies.
Panama also followed the lead of the
United States and declared war against
Germany April 7, 1917, the day after
the American declaration.
Toward the end of May, 1917, al-
leged proof of conspiracies between
German agents and former President
Gonzales were made public in Costa
Rica. Meanwhile on April 12 the Costa
Rican government had placed its waters
and ports at the disposal of the United
States for war purposes. On April 26
it cancelled the letters patent of all
Germans in its consular service. By
this time a guard service had been or-
ganized along the coasts and boundaries
as a protection against German activi-
ties. On May 23, 1918, it formally
declared war against Germany.
On April 28, 1917, martial law was
declared in Guatemala because of dis-
turbances along the frontier supposed
to be of German origin. On April 18,
1917, diplomatic relations were broken
off with Germany and on April 22,
1918, war was formally declared
against her.
Haiti declared war against Germany
on July 20, 1918, because of the tor-
pedoing of a French steamer causing
the loss of eight Haitians. Nicaragua
formally declared war against Germany
on May 7, 1918. Honduras declared
war against Germany on July 19, 1918.
China and Siam. On resumption of
unrestricted submarine warfare China
issued a protest on February 9, 1917,
saying that diplomatic relations would
be broken off if the protest was not
regarded. On the breaking of diplo-
matic relations between the United
States and Germany, China began dis-
cussing similar action and on March
14 handed the German Ambassador his
passports. China demanded of the En-
tente Allies and the United States the
suspension of the Boxer indemnities
amounting to $30,000,000 a year and
would last till 1940 ; consent of the
Powers to raise her import duties ;
their consent to the posting of troops
at Tientsin and on the Tientsin railway
and in the neighborhood of thelegations.
The Allies, anxious to have China enter
the war, not so much to take part in
the fighting, but to provide a reserve
of men, had already promised part of
these concessions. China had already
supplied 100,000 laborers and farm
hands to the Entente man-power, for
NEUTRAL NATIONS AT BEGINNING OF WAR 271
the most part in France, and the drown-
ing of some of them on their way over
on the Athos and other boats led to the
first protest from China against Ger-
man methods.
Difficulties accompanied the breaking
of relations with Germany. On March
4, 1917, when the cabinet decided to
follow the example of the United States,
the president refused approval and the
prime minister and several of the other
ministers resigned. Parliament and the
vice-president supported the cabinet.
The president later yielded and the
prime minister returned to office. The
German reply to the Chinese was con-
sidered unsatisfactory and on the same
day (March 10) the House voted to
break off relations. The Senate took the
same action on the following day. All
merchant ships in Shanghai were seized
and guards placed on them. Evidence
of intent to destroy them was found.
The question of declaring war was
now debated and an extended discussion
in Parliament went on. A special com-
mission for international affairs was
appointed to report on the subject.
The commission decided in favor of en-
try into the war. A secret session of
Parliament was held on May 9, 1917,
and a resolution declaring war was re-
ferred to a standing committee. The
Prime Minister urged its passage and a
heated debate followed. After a stormy
session the House of Representatives
refused to pass the resolution on May
11 on the ground mainly that the war
ought not be entered into until the cabi-
net was reorganized. A mob gathered
around the Parliament building and
threatened violence and had to be dis-
persed by troops. On May 19 the
House decided not to consider any
war measures until the resignation of
the prime minister and the reorganiza-
tion of the cabinet. A deadlock in the
House and Senate on the war question
followed. There was a strong demand
in and out of Parliament for the resig-
nation of the prime minister, who it
was feared, in case of war, might vio-
late the constitution and place the
power in the hands of the Conservative
Military Party. On the other hand the
military governors objected to his dis-
missal.
On May 29 it was announced that the
military governors of several provinces
had declared their independence of the
Central government. The president
was forced to flee and the Manchu
dynasty was declared reestablished.
However, the government recovered
strength and the emperor was forced
to abdicate and the new imperial gov-
ernment overthrown July 8-12. It was
claimed that the Germans were respon-
sible for the counter-revolution, but this
was not established. What seems more
certain is that the revolution was con-
nected with international affairs, espe-
cially with the relations between the
United States and Japan and the Rus-
sian revolution. The Chinese declara-
tion of war checked by the constitu-
tional crisis and by the attempt to
restore the monarchy was unanimously
decided upon by the cabinet and ap-
proved by the president on August 5,
1917.
China continued sending laborers to
Europe, about two-thirds going to
England and one-third to France. By
the close of August, 1918, it was esti-
mated that from 4,000 to 5,000 work-
ingmen a month were transported to
France by way of the Suez Canal and
that 150,000 were at work on French
territory, being employed in munition
plants, in quartermaster's and engineer-
ing branches of the army. A bureau of
immigration was established to look
after these workingmen. Two special
272
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
delegates were sent to England and
France to watch over them and
straighten difficulties that might pos-
sibly arise between them and their em-
ployers.
China took little part in the war. It
was thought that with the suspension
of the Boxer indemnity and the increase
in import duties China would develop
industries and supply the Allies with
raw materials. Instead the Allies com-
plained the resources were squandered
in civil war. The Chinese army was not
properly organized and did not take
part in the war. The appointment of
a Chinese ambassador to the Papal See
indicated a desire to embarrass the
Allies. China did not deal effectively
with German intrigue and did not prop-
erly supervise enemy property. The
Chinese enemy trading act though
promulgated was not enforced. She
was informed that a speedy and com-
plete execution of the agreement was
necessary to her enjoying equal privi-
leges with the Allies at the peace con-
ference.
Siam declared war against Germany
and Austria on July 27, 1917, interning
the subjects of those countries and seiz-
ing the enemy ships. For a long time
past the Entente made demands on her.
After the war broke out numbers of
Germans in the Indo-Chinese posses-
sions of France and the Indian terri-
tories of England sought refuge in
Siam. They recruited bands among the
natives and organized movements
against the Allies and the government
looked on apparently indifferent.
France demanded that she choose be-
tween the Entente Allies and their ene-
mies, and Great Britain, which before
the war had great influence, presented
an ultimatum to the Siamese govern-
ment. The break with Germany fol-
lowed. This restored order to the
French and British possessions in the
East.
Liberia. The trade of this country
was conducted almost wholly by Ger-
man residents who controlled both im-
ports and exports, but since the war
began operations were at first restricted
and later almost stopped by British
war measures and Liberia was nearing
starvation, according to official dis-
patches received at Washington Febru-
ary 4, 1917. Relations with Germany
were broken off on May 8. This was
important because many cables had
their points of landing in Liberia and
had been used by German} 7 as a base
against the British. War was declared
on August 4, 1917. Compulsory mili-
tary service during the war was set up
and some hundreds of laborers were
sent to France for war work. Vigorous
action was taken against German
citizens.
X. PEACE PROPOSALS AND STATEMENTS OF WAR AIMS
The most important move towards
peace occurred in December, 1916. On
the 12th of that month, Germany, Aus-
tria-Hungary, Turkey, and Bulgaria
submitted practically identical notes
to the diplomatic representatives of the
United States, Switzerland, and other
neutral countries as well as to the Vati-
can. No terms were mentioned but the
Allies were asked "to enter forthwith
into peace negotiations." The notes
were forwarded to the Allies without
comment. Russia immediately refused
to open any negotiations whatever.
Italy and France made similar declara-
tions. Lloyd George, the new premier
of England, declared that little could be
expected of the peace move now and
that "the very appeal for peace was de-
livered ostentatiously from the triumph-
al chariot of Prussian militarism."
Rather unexpectedly the United
States, on December 18, sent a note to
the belligerent nations asking them "the
precise objects which would, if attained,
satisfy them and their people that the
war had been fought out." Germany
replied on December 26 that the only
thing she was willing to consider was a
meeting of representatives of the bel-
ligerent nations while the war was con-
tinued.
The Allied reply was received on
January 12, 1917. It was a compila-
tion of the views of all the Entente
Powers and demanded (1) restoration
of Belgium, Serbia, and Montenegro
with indemnities; (2) evacuation of in-
vaded territories of France, Russia, and
Rumania with reparation; (3) reor-
ganization of Europe under guarantees
to insure to all nations respect and lib-
erty of development; (4) restitution of
territories wrested in the past from the
Allies by force or against the people's
will; (5) liberation of Slavs, Ruman-
ians, Italians, and Czecho-Slovaks from
foreign domination; (6) enfranchise-
ment of population subject to Turkey;
(7) expulsion from Europe of the Ot-
toman Empire. This note effectively
stopped for the time being all attempts
to bring about peace, inasmuch as the
world realized that the demands of the
Allies could be gained only on the bat-
tlefield and not in a conference.
Pope Benedict's Peace Appeal. — In
August, 1917, Pope Benedict * sent an
identical note to all the belligerent pow-
ers on the subject of peace. The note
as translated by the State Department
at Washington was published in the
American newspapers on August 16.
The first paragraphs stated that the
Pontificate has made every effort to re-
main absolutely impartial and thus
espouse the cause of no one group of
belligerents. It relates the unsuccessful
attempts to mediate at the end of the
first year of the war and then states the
"base of a just and lasting peace." . . .
First, the fundamental point must be
* Benedict XV (Giacomo deixa Chiesa).
260th Pope, elected September 3, 1914. Born
(1854) in Pagli, diocese of Genoa. Took de-
gree in jurisprudence at University of Genoa.
Ordained a priest in 18T8. In 1883 appointed
secretary to the Nunciature at Madrid. On re-
turn to Rome made permanent Under Secre-
tary of the Secretariat of State. Made pre-
late (1900), consultor of Holy Office (1901),
Archbishop of Bologna (1907), and Cardinal
(May, 1914). Known as man of diplomacy,
cool and level-headed. Keen reverence for all
traditions of the Vatican and foe of Modern-
ism in Church.
273
274
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
that the material force of arms shall
give way to the moral force of right,
whence shall proceed a just agreement
of all upon the simultaneous and recip-
rocal decrease of armaments, accord-
ing to rules and guarantees to be estab-
lished, in the necessary and suffi-
cient measure for the maintenance of
public order in every State ; then tak-
ing the place of arms, the institution of
arbitration, with its high pacifying
function, according to rule to be drawn
in concert and under sanctions to be de-
termined against any State which would
decline either to refer international
questions to arbitration or to accept its
awards."
The Pope then takes up the question
of the war, and suggests absolute free-
dom of the seas. He also asks for mu-
tual restitution of all territory that has
changed hands during the war. "As re-
gards territorial questions, as, for in-
stance, those that are disputed by Italy
and Austria, by Germany and France,
there is reason to hope that, in con-
sideration of the immense advantages of
durable peace with disarmament, the
contending parties will examine them in
a conciliatory spirit, taking into ac-
count, as far as is just and possible,
as we have said formerly, the aspira-
tions of the population, and, if occasion
arises, adjusting private opinions to the
general good of the great human so-
ciety." He suggested that the ques-
tions of the Balkan States, Poland, and
Armenia might be settled on the same
principles.
The press in Entente countries se-
verely criticized the Pope's appeal on
the grounds that it made no condemna-
tion of Germany's atrocities, the inva-
sion of Belgium and the submarine war-
fare. The Pope replied to this by stat-
ing that he was acting as a peacemaker
and not as a judge and that if he at-
tempted to decide which set of bel-
ligerents was right his peace attempt
was certain to be a failure.
On August n, 1917, President Wil-
son replied to the Pope's note through
Secretary of State Lansing. It stated
that, "Our response must be based upon
the stern facts and upon nothing else."
After reviewing the methods suggested
in the Pope's note, the President's re-
ply states : "It is manifest that no part
of this programme can be successfully
carried out unless the restitution of the
status quo ante furnishes a firm and
satisfactory basis for it. The object
of this war is to deliver the free peo-
ples of the world from the menace and
the actual power of a vast military es-
tablishment controlled by an irrespon-
sible government which, having secretly
planned to dominate the world, proceed-
ed to carry out the plan without re-
gard either to the sacred obligations of
treaty or the long-established practices
and long-cherished principles of inter-
national action and honor ; which choso
its own time for the war ; delivered its
blow fiercely and suddenly ; stopped at
no barrier either of law or of mercy ;
swept a whole continent within the tide
of blood — not the blood of soldiers only,
but the blood of innocent women and
children also and of the helpless poor;
and now stands balked but not defeated,
the enemy of four-fifths of the world.
This power is not the German people.
It is the ruthless master of the German
people. . . . They (the American peo-
ple) believe that peace should rest upon
the rights of peoples, not the rights
of governments — the rights of peoples
great and small, weak or powerful —
their equal right to freedom and secur-
ity and self-government and to a par-
ticipation upon fair terms in the eco-
nomic opportunities of the world, the
German people of course included if
PEACE PROPOSALS AND WAR AIMS
275
they will accept equality and not seek
domination. . . . We cannot take the
word of the present rulers of Germany
as a guarantee of anything that is to
endure, unless explicitly supported by
such conclusive evidence of the will and
purpose of the German people them-
selves as the other peoples of the world
would be justified in accepting. With-
out such guarantees treaties of settle-
ment, agreements for disarmament,
covenants to set up arbitration in the
place of force, territorial adjustments,
reconstitutions of small nations, if
made with the German government, no
man, no nation can now depend on."
President Wilson's reply to Pope
Benedict received the hearty approval
of the press of the United States. Even
the German papers printed in that
country seemed to favor the note. The
Allies of the United States, through
their statesmen and press, endorsed the
stand taken and the more enthusiastic
of them hailed Mr. Wilson as the
spokesman of the Entente. In Germany
the government and pan-German or-
gans bitterly attacked the President's
note, claiming that it was nonsense to
say that the German people were op-
pressed by an irresponsible government.
They cited the fact that the entire Ger-
man people had time and time again re-
peated that they stand firmly behind the
government. The Socialist newspaper,
Vorwarts, stated editorially, "The gov-
ernment of a country at war with us has
a perfect right to demand that for the
conditions under which peace is to be
concluded the people themselves shall be
the guarantee." Semi-official organs in
France, Great Britain, Italy, and Rus-
sia announced to the world that the re-
ply of President Wilson represented
their own attitude toward the peace
proposal.
The official replies of the German and
Austro-Hungarian Empires were made
public on September 22, 1917. The
main theme of both notes was identical.
It was that both empires agreed with
the Pope's desire to have the right of
might give way to moral force. Both
stated that arbitration with efficient
guarantees should follow an immediate
disarmament by all the nations of the
world. Freedom of the seas and the
right of independent economic progress
was inalienable to all nations. The
press of the Entente countries passion-
ately attacked the replies, not so much
because of what was contained therein,
but because of what was not said. Noth-
ing was said of the evacuation, restitu-
tion, and indemnification of Belgium,
nothing of Alsace-Lorraine, nothing of
Poland, Armenia, Trentino, etc. Sub-
sequent statements by German diplo-
mats refused absolutely to debate the
question of Alsace-Lorraine.
British Statement of War Aims. —
At the beginning of 1918 a compre-
hensive statement of British Labor war
aims, passed by official representatives
of the trade unions and the Labor par-
ty, was made public. Its effect upon
the governments of Great Britain and
the other Allies was immediately per-
ceptible and it continued to influence
them in the formulation of war pur-
poses throughout the year. It declared
that "whatever may have been the ob-
jects for which the war was begun, the
fundamental purpose of the British la-
bor movement is that the world may
(henceforth be made safe for democ-
racy." It opposed any attempt to turn
the war into a war of conquest and de-
clared that it should not be prolonged
for a single day after the conditions for
permanent peace could be obtained, but
it held that certain reparations and res-
titutions were necessary. These should
be based on the principle of self-deter-
276
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
mination of all the peoples concerned
and should seek to remove the causes of
future conflict. They included: Ger-
man restoration of Belgium to complete
independence, and reparation, under
the direction of an international com-
mission, of the wrong done; the right
of the people of Alsace-Lorraine under
the protection of a supernational au-
thority, or League of Nations, to decide
their own future political status ; the
support of the claim of the people of
Italian blood for union with their kins-
folk, but the condemnation of Italian
aims of conquest or imperialism; the
settlement of other cases in dispute,
such as those of Luxemburg, the Poles,
and others, on the principle of self-
determination by the peoples; the
granting to the Jews of all lands the
same rights of tolerance, freedom of
residence, and equal citizenship that
ought to be accorded to all the inhabi-
tants of every nation. It recommended
that Palestine be freed from Turkish
domination and set up as an indepen-
dent state, under international guaran-
tee, to which Jews might return if they
desired ; the neutralization of Constan-
tinople and the placing of it along with
a part or possibly all of Asia Minor
under an impartial administration ; and
the reorganization of the Balkans by a
special commission or an international
conference on the principles of: (1)
Self-determination by the peoples with-
out regard to Austria, Turkish, or oth-
er alien control; (2) independent sov-
ereignty of the predominant nationali-
ties ; (3) universal adoption of reli-
gious freedom, and equal citizenship of
all races, and of local self-government ;
(4) a customs union of all the Balkan
states; (5) a federation of all national
Balkan states for the joint voluntary
arrangement of matters of common
concern. It urged the abandonment
by all the belligerents of all dreams of
African Empire, and the transfer
of the present colonies to a super-
national authority or League of Na-
tions. As to plans for an economic
war after peace was secured, the Labor
movement declared squarely against
them. It favored government control
of indispensable commodities for some
time after the war in order to meet the
needs of the whole community ; and it
held that homes, factories, and farms
destroyed by the war should be restored
immediately upon the return of peace.
It demanded a complete judicial inves-
tigation of the charges that particular
governments had ordered and particu-
lar officers had committed acts of
cruelty, violence, theft, and other of-
fenses unjustified in the common usage
of war ; and it recommended that a
court of claims arid accusations should
be set up in the interest of the non-
combatant victims of such inhumanity
and ruthlessness. The memorandum
declared emphatically against imperi-
alism in all countries ; and favored the
complete democratization of all govern-
ments, the universal abolition of com-
pulsory military service, and the crea-
tion of a supernational authority, or
League of Nations, endowed with law-
making authority and with power to en-
force its decrees.
In response to the continued demands
that the Allies' war aims be distinctly
declared, Mr. Lloyd George made a
statement in regard to them in an ad-
dress to the delegates of the trade
unions on January 5. He said that the
war aims of the Allies had been dis-
cussed by him, the leaders of the La-
bor party, with Mr. Asquith, Viscount
Grey, and representatives of the Do-
minions. He declared in the first place,
that the Allies were not fighting against
the German people, and were not seek-
PEACE PROPOSALS AND WAR AIMS
277
ing and had never sought to destroy
or disrupt the German people or Ger-
many, or to destroy Austria-Hungary,
or to seize Constantinople, or to de-
prive Turkey of those lands which are
occupied by people mainly of Turkish
race. He then outlined the purposes
for which the Allies were fighting. They
may be summarized as follows :
1. — Europe. Complete restoration,
political, territorial, and economic, of
the independence of Belgium and such
reparation as can be made for the de-
vastation of its towns and provinces.
Restoration of Serbia, Montenegro,
and the occupied parts of France, Italy,
and Rumania.
Complete withdrawal of the alien
armies and reparation for the injuries
inflicted.
Support of the French democracy in
their demand for a reconsideration of
the great wrong of 1871, when, with-
out regard to the wishes of the popu-
lation, two French provinces were torn
from the side of France and incorpo-
rated in the German Empire.
An independent Poland, comprising
all those genuinely Polish elements who
desire to form part of it, an urgent ne-
cessity for the stability of western
Europe.
Genuine self-government on true
democratic principles to those Austro-
Hungarian nationalities who have long
desired it.
Satisfaction of the legitimate claims
of the Italians for union with those of
their own race and tongue.
Justice to men of Rumanian blood
and speech in their legitimate aspira-
tions.
II. — Asia, and Africa. Constanti-
nople to remain Turkish capital.
Passage between the Mediterranean
and the Black Sea to be international-
ized.
Arabia, Armenia, Mesopotamia,
Syria, and Palestine entitled to recog-
nition of their separate national con-
ditions.
German colonies held at the disposal
of a conference whose decision must
have primary regard to the wishes and
interests of the native inhabitants of
such colonies.
III. — In General. Reparation for
injuries done in violation of internation-
al law, especially as regards British
seamen.
The establishment of some interna-
tional organization of an alternative
to war as a means of settling interna-
tional disputes.
Sanctity of treaties to be reestab-
lished.
A territorial settlement to be secured
based on the right of self-determination
or the consent of the governed.
The creation of some international
organization to limit the burden of ar-
maments and diminish the probability
of war.
President Wilson's" Fourteen Points"
Message. — Soon after Lloyd George
had made this brief and general state-
ment of war aims, President Wilson
sent to Congress (January 8) an im-
portant message which set forth his
peace programme in considerable de-
tail, summing up the essentials of a final
settlement in fourteen points, which be-
came the subject of extensive discussion
in the closing months of the year. The
fourteen points he stated as follows :
I. Open covenants of peace, openly arrived
at; after which there shall be no private in-
ternational understandings of any kind, but
diplomacy shall proceed always frankly and
in the public view.
II. Absolute freedom of navigation upon
the seas, outside territorial waters, alike in
peace and in war, except as the seas may be
closed in whole or in part by international
action for the enforcement of international
covenants.
278
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
III. The removal, so far as possible, of all
economic barriers and the establishment of
an equality of trade conditions among all the
nations consenting to the peace and associating
themselves for its maintenance.
IV. Adequate guarantees given and taken
that national armaments will be reduced to the
lowest point consistent with domestic safety.
V. A free, open-minded, and absolutely im-
partial adjustment of all colonial claims, based
upon a strict observance of the principle that
in determining all such questions of sover-
eignty the interests of the populations con-
cerned must have equal weight with the equi-
table claims of the Government whose title
is to be determined.
VI. The evacuation of all Russian territory,
and such a settlement of all questions affecting
Russia as will secure the best and freest co-
operation of the other nations of the world
in obtaining for her an unhampered and un-
embarrassed opportunity for the independent
determination of»her own political development
and national policy, and assure her of a sin-
cere welcome into the society of free nations
under institutions of her own choosing; and,
more than a welcome, assistance also of every
kind that she may need and may herself de-
sire. The treatment accorded Russia by her
sister nations in the months to come will be
the acid test of their good will, of their com-
prehension of her needs as distinguished from
their own interests, and of their intelligent
and unselfish sympathy.
VII. Belgium, the whole world will agree,
must be evacuated and restored without any
attempt to limit the sovereignty which she en-
joys in common with all other free nations.
No other single act will serve as this will serve
to restore confidence among the nations in
the laws which they have themselves set and
determined for the government of their rela-
tions with one another. Without this healing
act the whole structure and validity of inter-
national law is forever impaired.
VIII. All French territory should be freed
and the invaded portions restored; and the
wrong done to France by Prussia in 1871 in the
matter of Alsace-Lorraine, which has unset-
tled the peace of the world for nearly fifty
years, should be righted, in order that peace
may once more be made secure in the inter-
est of all.
IX. A readjustment of the frontiers of
Italy should be effected along clearly recog-
nizable lines of nationality.
X. The peoples of Austria-Hungary, whose
place among the nations we wish to see safe-
guarded and assured, should be accorded the
freest opportunity of autonomous development.
XI. Roumania, Serbia and Montenegro
should be evacuated; occupied territories re-
stored; Serbia accorded free and secure access
to the sea, and the relations of the several
Balkan states to one another determined by
friendly counsel along historically established
lines of allegiance and nationality; and inter-
national guarantees of the political and eco-
nomic independence and territorial integrity
of the several Balkan states should be entered
into.
XII. The Turkish portions of the present
Ottoman Empire should be assured a secure
sovereignty, but the other nationalities which
are now under Turkish rule should be assured
an undoubted security of life and an absolute-
ly unmolested opportunity of autonomous de-
velopment, and the Dardanelles should be per-
manently opened as a free passage to the
ships and commerce of all nations under in-
ternational guarantees.
XIII. An independent Polish state should
be erected which should include the territories
inhabited by indisputably Polish populations,
which should be assured a free and secure ac-
cess to the sea, and whose political and eco-
nomic independence and territorial integrity
shoidd be guaranteed by international cove-
nant.
XIV. A general association of nations must
be formed, under specific covenants, for the
purpose of affording mutual guarantees of po-
litical independence and territorial integrity
to great and small states alike.
The President's statement was sup-
ported by Congress and the American
press with surprising unanimity. Hard-
ly any criticism of it appeared at the
time. In Great Britain it was received
with enthusiasm, as definitely stamping
the Allied war aims with American ap-
proval. It was declared to present es-
sentially the same conditions as those
laid down by Lloyd George. British
labor organizations promptly en-
dorsed and declared their unqualified
support of a continuance of the war
for these purposes. In the French press
it was accepted by leading journals as
an expression of French aims. Lloyd
George answered in an Anglo-French
declaration published a day or two later
accepting its principles. Italy appar-
ently supported it, though there were
some suggestions that Italian aspira-
tions in the Adriatic were not sufficient-
PEACE PROPOSALS AND WAR AIMS
279
ly emphasized. In Russia the official
Bolshevik organ denounced the Presi-
dent as the representative of capitalism
and threw suspicion on his words of
good-will toward Russia.
The Central Powers on War Aims. — •
On January 25, 1918, Count von Her-
tling, imperial chancellor of Germany,
and Count Czernin, Austro-Hungarian
foreign minister, made their answers to
the statements of Mr. Lloyd George and
President Wilson. The principal points
in Count von Hertling's reply were as
follows : The Central Powers had been
the first to favor extensive publicity of
diplomatic agreements. The defensive
alliance between Germany and Austria
had been public ever since 1889, where-
as the offensive agreements of the Al-
lies were disclosed only through the
present war and chiefly by Russia's
publication of her secret documents.
The Central Powers had again shown
their adherence to the principle by the
complete publicity which had been given
to the peace negotiations of Brest-
Litovsk. Mr. Wilson's principle of ab-
solute freedom of navigation in peace
and war was accepted by Germany,
who, however, dissented from his quali-
fication that this rule would not apply
when the seas should be closed by in-
ternational action. Germany also fully
concurred in the demand that there
should be no economic war. As to the
reducing of armaments, the German
government considered it entirely suit-
able to discussion. In regard to the
impartial adjustment of colonial claims
in which the interests of the peoples con-
cerned should have due weight, Ger-
many believed there would be some dif-
ficulty in applying this principle, but
that for the present Great Britain
should come to an understanding with
her ally as to the nature of the pro-
posal. Germany demanded uncondi-
tionally the reconstruction of the co-
lonial possessions of the world. To the
demand that all the Russian territory
be evacuated, and that Russia have full
opportunity for self-development, he re-
plied that since the Allies had not ac-
cepted the proposal to take part in
the Brest-Litovsk conference, the ques-
tion concerned only Russia and the Cen-
tral Powers. He declared in regard to
Belgium that annexation was not part
of the German plan but declined to dis-
cuss the Belgian question so long as the
Allies refused to admit that the only
possible basis for peace negotiation
was the integrity of the territory of the
Central Powers. In regard to Alsace-
Lorraine, he said that forcible annexa-
tion was no part of the plan of Ger-
many, but that Germany and France
must settle the question between them-
selves and that Germany would never
consent to being robbed of the prov-
inces. The invaded portions of France
were a "valuable pawn" in the hands of
Germany. The demand of President
Wilson that the non-Turkish popula-
tion in the Turkish Empire should be
assured of self-government and that the
Dardanelles should be permanently
opened, he dismissed by saying that
that point must be left to the Turkish
statesmen. To the demand for an in-
dependent Poland he replied that it was
the Central Powers that had rescued
Poland from Russia's despotism, that
therefore it was the business of the Cen-
tral Powers to settle the future of Po-
land, and that this task had already
well advanced. Finally, in regard to
the League of Nations, he said that
after all other questions had been set-
tled the imperial government would be
glad to investigate the principle of such
an organization.
Count Czernin's reply went further
than von Hertling's toward meeting the
280
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
American demands and the inconsist-
ency between the two gave rise to much
comment in the press, especially as the
German foreign minister had declared
that he completely agreed with the
views of his Austro-Hungarian col-
league. The main points in Count
Czernin's reply were as follows : He
had no objection to make to the plan for
open diplomacy, although he did not see
how it could be executed. He was en-
tirely in accord with the President on
the principle of absolute freedom of
navigation. He approved as just and
reasonable the removal of economic bar-
riers. He approved heartily the Presi-
dent's words in regard to reduction of
armaments. As to Russian territory,
Austria did not desire for herself any
of the Russian land and said that be-
tween the diverging views of the Rus-
sian and German delegates in regard to
the western provinces and Poland a mid-
dle solution must be found. He made
no specific reference to Belgium fur-
ther than to say that Austria would de-
fend the possessions of her ally as she
would her own. He declared that Italy
had neglected her opportunity to ex-
pand before the war without any sac-
rifice of life and that she had gone into
the war simply with a view to her own
advantage. He refused to discuss the
demand that the peoples of Austria-
Hungary should have an opportunity
for self-development, saying that he
could not accept advice as to the con-
duct of the internal administration of
Austria-Hungary. In regard to read-
justment in the Balkans on lines of
nationality, he said that he refused to
make a one-sided concession to the en-
emy. He dismissed the question of
Turkey's status with the same general
remark that he had applied to Belgium,
namely, that Austria would defend the
possessions of her war ally. He agreed
to the proposal for a Polish indepen-
dent state, saying that Austria-Hun-
gary also desired it, and wished Poland
to have a free decision. Finally he
said that the idea of a League of Na-
tions would probably meet with no op-
position in Austria.
President Wilson's Reply to the Cen-
tral Poxmers. — In an address to Con-
gress, February 11, 1918, President
Wilson after traversing the arguments
of Count von Hertling and Count Czer-
nin, set forth four principles upon the
acceptance of which a discussion of the
terms of peace would be possible. These
were, in brief: (1) Each part of the
final settlement to be based on the es-
sential justice of that particular case.
(2) Peoples and provinces not to be
bartered from one sovereignty to an-
other as if they were chattels. (3)
Every territorial settlement to be made
in the interest of the populations con-
cerned. (4) National aspirations to be
satisfied to the utmost without intro-
duction or perpetuating elements of dis-
cord.
The Sixtus Letter. — As noted above,
Count Czernin informed the city coun-
cil of Vienna that he agreed to the four
principles laid down by Mr. Wilson in
his address of February 11, and that
only Alsace-Lorraine stood in the way
of peace with France and thereupon
Premier Clemenceau replied that such
discussion as had taken place had been
only at Austria's instance. M. Cle-
menceau published later the celebrated
"Sixtus Letter," dated March 31, 1917.
This had been sent and received on the
condition that it should be regarded as
confidential. It was addressed by the
Emperor Charles to Prince Sixtus of
Bourbon, whom it requested to commu-
nicate to specified French officials the
Austrian emperor's desire for peace and
his readiness to use his influence to
PEACE PROPOSALS AND WAR AIMS
281
bring it about, and to assure the grant-
ing of the just claims of France in re-
gard to Alsace-Lorraine and the resto-
ration of Belgium and Serbia. It ap-
pears to have been discussed by Presi-
dent Poincare and Premier Clcmenceau
together with a committee of French
deputies and also by King George and
the British premier, Lloyd George, but
to have been dismissed as insincere.
These points were brought out in the
British parliament on May 16 in a re-
ply of the British foreign minister, Mr.
A. J. Balfour, to the questions raised
by certain members of parliament who
were identified with the policy of peace
by negotiations. In the course of the
discussion at that time, Mr. Balfour
said that the government was ready to
listen to peace proposals if they were
brought forward by representatives of a
country with which England was at
war.
German War Aims. — To the message
of President Wilson on February 11 set-
ting forth the four points upon which
the negotiations might be based, the
German chancellor, von Hertling, had
replied that the four points were ac-
ceptable but must be agreed to squarely
by all the belligerents. The inde-
pendence of Belgium was conceded, but
under limitations to safeguard the in-
terests of Germany. He said that the
subject of Alsace-Lorraine was not de-
batable and he declared that the only
obstacle to peace was British imperial-
ism. The attitude of the German gov-
ernment was further illustrated by the
address of the chancellor in the German
parliament toward the end of June. He
said that the proposal of the Society
of Nations after the war would be in-
jurious to Germany. He said that he
had favored the four principles dis-
cussed by President Wilson, but that
from the views of the Allies as expressed
since then, it was manifest that a peace
based upon a league of nations would
not be one that Germany could accept,
for Germany's enemies would dominate
it and isolate her. By their commer-
cial rivalry and economic pressure they
would stifle the economic life of Ger-
many. On June 24 the Foreign Min-
ister von Kiihlmann in the course of an
address on Germany's war aims said in
effect that the war could not be won by
arms alone and that peace could only
be had by negotiations. This aroused
a storm of protest from the Pan-Ger-
mans and Germans and was criticized
from other points of view. By a part
of the Allied press it was regarded as
an attempt to make the enemies of Ger-
many believe that favorable terms could
be had at that time, whereas later Ger-
many might not be willing to accord
them. Von Kiihlmann afterwards ex-
plained his words as meaning that while
Germany intended to persevere until she
was successful in a military sense, diplo-
matic arrangements would have to fol-
low, and he hoped the Entente Allies
would offer terms appropriate to the
situation and satisfactory to Ger-
many's vital needs. The chancellor de-
fended von Kiihlmann from the attacks
that were made upon him, but neverthe-
less it cost him his post and he resigned
on July 9, being succeeded by Admiral
von Hintzc. In spite of the distrust of
von Kiihlmann's sincerity and in spite
of the attacks made upon him in Ger-
many, it appeared from subsequent
events that the hopelessness of military
victory was felt by a large and increas-
ing number of Germans. Persons con-
versant with German affairs reported
later that they had observed distinctly
as early as July the growing conviction
that Germany was in a military sense
beaten. In the debate that followed von
Kiihlmann's speech, the leader of the
282
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
minority Socialists made a bitter attack
upon the government, blaming it for its
ruthlessness in the matter of Belgium,
its aggressive course, its imperialism, its
constant misrepresentations as to the
war, its atrocious conduct in Ukraine,
etc. He pointed to one instance after
another in which the government had
cheated the people by the hope of suc-
cess as in the case of the repeated as-
surance that the submarine campaign
would lead to victory and the frequent
assertion that the United States would
not enter the war.
Other Peace Discussions in July,
1918.— On July 16 the Austro-Hun-
garian foreign minister, Baron Burian,
who had succeeded Count Czernin, de-
clared his approval in the main to the
"four new points" which President Wil-
son had stated in his Mount Vernon
speech on July 4 and his readiness to
discuss everything except what applied
to the territory of the Dual Monarchy.
He said the territorial claims of the Al-
lies were inadmissible but that they
alone stood in the way of a settlement.
Austro-Hungarian internal affairs con-
cerned Austria-Hungary alone, and
their discussion by the Allies was "an
offensive of irritation." On July 3,
Lloyd George in a speech to the Na-
tional Union of Manufacturers said the
longer the war continued, the more se-
vere would be the economic terms of
the peace; that the fullest possible eco-
nomic agreement between the Allies was
necessary ; and that Great Britain must
come to a complete understanding with
her Allies and with her own Dominions
in regard to the problem of raw ma-
terials and transport. He declared for
trade preference within the empire. On
July 19, the French National Congress
of Socialists passed a resolution calling
upon the government to revise its war
aims, denouncing imperialism, and de-
claring for a Wilson peace. It also
passed a resolution demanding immedi-
ate negotiations for a League of Na-
tions. At the same time Lord Lans-
downe gave out his views, which attract-
ed wide attention and caused sharp
criticism as tending toward a policy of
weakness. He said that the world was
drained of men and money ; that the
birth rate was falling off; that the de-
sire for peace was widespread ; and that
nevertheless the spokesmen of the bel-
ligerent powers applied themselves
merely to recrimination. He believed
that now was the time for peace since
the moment had come when the Allies
were showing that they could hold their
own in the conflict and he believed any
reasonable proposal should be consid-
ered.
Alsace-Lorraine Question. — Early in
June there was a demonstration in
Switzerland on the part of the Alsace-
Lorraine residents. Delegates from all
of the Alsace-Lorraine organizations in
Switzerland met in assembly in Berne.
The committee on investigation pre-
sented a report urging the final aban-
donment of any idea of neutralization
and declared for unconditional re-ab-
sorption of Alsace-Lorraine in France.
Among the Alsatians in Switzerland
were many who had fought on the Ger-
man side during the war and there were
others who had lived in Switzerland a
long time and become citizens. They
unanimously expressed the wish to re-
turn to France not only for reasons of
sentiment but because they could not
see any other guarantee for the peace-
ful development of Europe in the fu-
ture. Those who had formerly believed
in neutralization seemed to have come
over to this view. Swiss sentiment in
general was on the same side. The
question of a popular decision in Al-
sace-Lorraine was much discussed dur-
PEACE PROPOSALS AND WAR AIMS
283
ing the year. The objections raised
against the plebiscite were as follows:
The proper field for the action of uni-
versal suffrage was in the election to
legislative bodies or the direct vote on
measures submitted to the people by
parliament as in the referendum. These
decisions might be changed as popu-
lar opinion varied, but when a popular
vote decides the question of nationality
that decision must be regarded as final.
Yet such a vote could be very easily
tampered with, and perhaps controlled
in the interest of one side. The plebi-
scite was generally opposed both by the
French and the Alsace-Lorrainers.
Since 1871 an inhabitant of Alsace-
Lorraine had not been free to express
his national preference and even now in
voting he would be haunted by the mem-
ory of all that he had suffered under
the military dictatorship during the
war, and he would think with dread of
the revenge which Germany would take
upon the minority if the decision were
favorable to her. Secrecy of the bal-
lot would do no good, for during many
years the German authorities had spied
upon and ascertained the views of all
the natives. In these circumstances the
weak and timid would all vote against
their convictions and their real senti-
ments. A good many of them would
reason thus : If I displease the En-
tente I can always get out of the diffi-
culty without damage, but if I rouse
the anger of Germany, woe betide me.
In favor of the plebiscite it was said
that it would bring Germany to terms
and that she would renounce all fur-
ther claims. Hence, it would consoli-
date the peace. To this it was replied
that Germany would never submit to a
vote that was adverse to her. The lead-
ers of Germany do not admit the right
of peoples to dispose of themselves and
they are opposed to a genuine plebi-
scite. The reason why they consent to
a consultation of the people is because
they hope to bring pressure to bear
upon the vote and more especially be-
cause they expect as a result of that
concession to obtain a peace which will
leave them enough power to resume
their schemes for dominating the
world.
In a debate in the German parlia-
ment in the latter part of June the Ger-
man view was indicated. One of the
Socialist deputies said we must not be
surprised if the population in Alsace-
Lorraine is to-day full of hatred and
the desire for revenge against Germany.
Unless Alsace-Lorraine becomes a self-
governing member of the state we shall
lose the good-will of the people, even
though retaining the country. If one
were to organize to-day a plebiscite,
four-fifths of the people would choose
for France if only to get rid of our
oppressive rule. A deputy on the op-
posite side expressed the hope that
these ideas were false, but he added that
the pro-German tendency in Alsace-
Lorraine had wholly disappeared,
doubtless because the conviction ob-
tained among the people that the En-
tente would come out victorious in the
war. In England at about the same
time reference was made to the attempt
of the Germans to give the impression
that the war had been imposed upon
them by France because France wished
to reconquer Alsace-Lorraine and that
the claim of France to those provinces
was the only thing that stood in the
way of a reasonable peace. This was
characterized in England as elsewhere
among the Allies as merely the attempt
of Germany to cause discord among
the members of the Entente. As soon
as the armistice was signed (November
11), the French government began to
take the necessary measures for the for-
284
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
mal recovery of the provinces, and
three commissioners were appointed to
act for the government in their three
respective divisions, namely, Alsace,
Upper Alsace, and Lorraine. Mean-
while the armies of the Allies had al-
ready occupied parts of the provinces
in their advance toward Germany. See
above under Military Operations.
Dissensions Among the Central Pow-
ers. — During 1918 there was much
discussion in the press of the clash
between the respective ambitions of
the Turkish and Bulgarian govern-
ments. It was evident that Ferdinand
of Bulgaria aimed at leadership in the
Balkans and that he had not consoled
himself for the check of 1913, when he
hoped to find the way open to Con-
stantinople. But the ambitions of the
Turks were awakened by the downfall
of Russia. They wished to control
Russian Armenia and to gain a foot-
hold in the Caucasus and were believed
to be coveting the Crimea, with the ap-
parent aim of turning the Black Sea
into a Turkish lake. These designs
alarmed Bulgaria and the conflict in
aims between the two governments was
brought in the affair of the Maritza
on one hand and the affair of the Do-
bruja on the other. The treaty of
Bucharest (see above) had given ab-
solute possession to Bulgaria of only
the northern part of the Dobruja and
this was far from satisfying her. The
least she expected was the annexation
of the whole Dobruja. This, however,
was opposed by the Turks ; and the
German government, failing to bring
the two rivals into harmony, adopted
the policy of joint control for north-
ern Dobruja. The Bulgarians, on the
other hand, refused to yield to the
Turks in the affair of the Maritza. On
the right bank of this river the Central
Powers, in order to win the Bulgarians
to their side, had obliged the Turks to
cede to Bulgaria the station of Adria-
nople in 1915, and the main line to
Constantinople was thus left at the
mercy of the Bulgarians — a situation
highly objectionable to the Turks, who
therefore demanded the revision of that
agreement. In this demand they were
supported by the Germans. The Bul-
garians sharply refused and in one of
their papers, on June 19, a writer re-
marked that Bulgaria was surprised at
the attitude of the Turks, who seemed
to assume that agreements between al-
lies were merely scraps of paper. The
German government apparently was
having difficulty in keeping the peace
with them. Her policy inclined toward
Turkey and this was explained in the
press of the Entente Allies on the
ground that Germany wished to con-
solidate her power all the way from
Constantinople to Bagdad. Bulgaria's
attitude, on the other hand, was dis-
turbing and her czar showed little in-
clination to work for the King of Prus-
sia. The design of a greater Bulgaria
threatened Germany's plan for the con-
trol of the routes to the east. That is
why she hesitated to surrender the whole
of the Dobruja and encourage Turkey
to claim Adrianople.
The German government had given
Bulgaria the right to annex eastern
Serbia, but the Bulgarian government
was apparently not satisfied with that
so long as the status of the Dobruja
was not determined in its favor. Tur-
key had insisted that the question of
the Dobruja should form part of the
whole subject of the Turkish-Bulgarian
frontier and the German government
for the present consented to this. The
Turks opposed the granting of the
Dobruja to Bulgaria so long as the lat-
ter did not offer any compensation.
While the Turkish-Bulgarian dispute
PEACE PROPOSALS AND WAR AIMS
285
continued the German government took
the stand that it could not settle these
questions and it would not make good
its alleged promises to give Bulgaria
the Greek towns of Calvalla, Drama,
and Seres. At this time the Czar Ferdi-
nand was reported in the press to have
taken a long journey in foreign parts
and this was supposed to mean that he
had gone to Berlin to press his claim.
At the same time the Bulgarian prime
minister, M. Radoslavoff, who was
friendly to Germany, resigned and was
succeeded by an anti-German, M. Mali-
noff. This was attributed to resent-
ment at Germany's attitude and at her
niggardliness in provisioning Bulgaria,
where the food situation had become
critical. Now that von Hintze had
succeeded to von Kiihlmann, there
seemed a better chance for Bulgaria be-
cause von Hintze had from the begin-
ning shown sympathy with the Pan-
German element and the Pan-Germans
heartily supported Bulgaria's claim
both to the Dobruja and to the Greek
cities. They favored the plan for the
greater Bulgaria of the future which
should include even Saloniki.
As to the difficulty between Germany
and Turkey, it was regarded at the
beginning of August to be so acute as
to threaten a rupture. This, however,
seemed improbable, for the Young
Turks who were in power were not like-
ly to come to any agreement with the
Entente Allies. The Allies could not
recognize a government which was
founded upon the crimes of Enver, Ta-
laat and Djemal and which still held
under its tyranny the Armenians and
Syrians. The Allies would have to in-
sist upon the liberation of those peo-
ples and to this the Young Turk gov-
ernment would never consent. Compro-
mise seemed out of the question. Never-
theless the relations between Germany
and Turkey appeared to be far from
harmonious. Germany had large de-
signs in the East and hoped to realize
them by the treaty of Brest-Litovsk,
to which Turkey had agreed in return
for certain concessions in the Caucasus.
But now that Turkey virtually demand-
ed the sole control of the Black Sea,
which would eventually bar the way of
Germany toward the East, there was
much indignation in Germany, where
the press bitterly denounced what they
characterized as Ottoman chauvinism.
The Turk retorted with the same ar-
guments for their course in the Cau-
casus as the Germans had employed on
behalf of an independent Flanders, that
is to say, Turkey argued that just as
the Germans had undertaken to create
an independent state in that part of
Belgium which was akin to them in race,
so the Turks wished to recognize the
movement for independence on the part
of their own kinsmen in the Caucasus.
At other points the Turks were said to
have ambitions inconsistent with the
purposes of Germany: For example,
Germany wished the Turks to drive the
British from occupied territory, espe-
cially in Mesopotamia, but the Turks
realized that the task was too great and
sought objects less difficult to attain in
the Caucasus, Persia, and in the Black
Sea. The German press reproached
the Turks bitterly for this policy, say-
ing that instead of trying to encroach
in the direction of the Caspian and
Baku, they should turn their efforts
toward Bagdad. Turkey was accused
even of coveting the Crimea and its
ports in order that the Ukraine should
not become a Black Sea power and of
aiming to secure in the Caucasus a bar-
rier against Russia in the East in or-
der to protect Turkish communications
with Persia. In short, a portion of the
German press believed that Turkey was
286
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
aiming to turn the Black Sea into a
Turkish lake and thereby choke off all
trade from European Russia.
The chief difficulty between Germany
and Austria-Hungary arose from the
question of Poland. The Germans had
thought that von Burian would be less
insistent in regard to Poland than his
predecessor, Czernin, but to their sur-
prise he had declared that the incor-
poration of the Polish kingdom in the
Austro-Hungarian monarchy was a
vital necessity. In the German press it
was said squarely that German interests
were superior to Austrian interests ;
that the Germans would consider the
Polish question from the German point
of view, which required that there
should be a strong strategic frontier.
The safety of Germany was the first
consideration. The Germans had not
won their victories in order to be en-
circled on the east by a Polish-Galician
state. Some Pan-German organs de-
manded that the Austro-Polish solu-
tion be rejected at once. They said
that after the arrangement following
the meeting of the two emperors the
German public had believed that this
Austro-Polish plan had been abandoned.
Seldom, they said, had a project been
rejected more unanimously by public
opinion, ■ and they complained of its
revival. The Austrian emperor by go-
ing to German military headquarters
(May 12) for his famous interview with
the kaiser had given the impression that
he had abandoned his Polish claim.
Shortly after he had returned to Vienna
the whole project reappeared. It
looked as if there was a real disagree-
ment between the governments and as
if Germany had been deceived. They
demanded that the two governments
promptly come to an agreement for the
definite settlement of Poland's status
so that the Entente Allies would be
brought face to face with it as an ac-
complished fact.
As time went on it became apparent
that the difficulties between Hungary
and Austria were growing more and
more serious. Hungary believed her-
self to be supported by Berlin. A Hun-
garian journal declared Hungary would
have the right even to interfere in the
internal affairs of Austria and added
significantly that perhaps even now the
time had come that Berlin and Buda-
pest would have to interfere and insist
that Austria should pursue a policy
faithful to the Allies. In Germany
there seemed from the newspapers to
be strong sympathy with Hungary,
though this was perhaps for the pur-
pose of stirring up enmity between the
two parts of the Dual Monarchy. For
example, a German newspaper declared
that it seemed extremely probable that
Austria would fall to pieces. The
Czechs, Poles, Southern Slavs, and
other races with very divergent aims
were all struggling for their complete
independence, and feeling themselves too
cramped within the Austrian state, they
were sure to separate sooner or later.
A German journal in Berlin declared
that the only salvation for Austria was
to transform herself into a Federal
state. With only 10,000,000 Germans,
it said, against 18,000,000 non-Ger-
mans there would necessarily always be
hostility on the part of the latter. The
state could not exist unless it were
transformed into a Federal organiza-
tion. Thus, part of the German press
sustained the same principle that Presi-
dent Wilson had advocated, but this was
interpreted by the press of the Allies as
a step to the ultimate organization of
the nations of Austria under the con-
trol of Germany. With Hungary on
her side, and with the Slav races pla-
cated, there would be a chance for Ger-
PEACE PROPOSALS AND WAR AIMS
287
many to work out a system of control.
Peace Discussions in August and
September. — Mr. Balfour, the British
foreign minister, reaffirmed British
aims in an address in the House of Com-
mons early in August. He announced
that Great Britain would not consent
to the return of the German colonies
and that Germany was dominated by
the moral doctrine of the mailed fist.
Dr. Solf, the German colonial secre-
tary, made an attack on the Allied at-
titude on August 20. He asked where
the blame lay. He said that the enemy
had renounced the ideal of a League
of Nations inasmuch as he had decided
upon an economic war against Ger-
many. He said that the German gov-
ernment had already declared that Bel-
gium would not be kept by Germany.
This, he said, disposed of the preten-
sion that Belgium was at present a
cause of the war. As to the attack on
Germany's eastern policy, he said that
the Brest-Litovsk peace was made by
agreement between the Russian and
German governments and that it per-
mitted the frontier peoples of Russia,
after centuries of oppression, to live
their own lives ; also, that the only dif-
ference between Russians and Germans
in regard to the peace had to do with
the ways and means of conferring in-
dependence upon these border peoples.
The Germans insisted upon safeguards
against anarchy. He declared that the
Brest-Litovsk peace was the framework
of a policy which in future would be car-
ried out. He came to the conclusion
that the enemy would not want peace
by negotiation and he declared that he
was waging a war for plunder and
glory and was carried away by arro-
gance. As to the extreme views of Ger-
many, he spoke of the Pan-Germans as
a small group without influence in poli-
tics and without influence in the gov-
ernment. Lord Robert Cecil on behalf
of England issued a statement in an-
swer to Dr. Solf. He denied that the
Pan-German element was without
power, pointing to the fact that only
a few weeks before von Kuhlmann was
dismissed for saying that Germans
could not have everything their own
way and Count von Hertling, the chan-
cellor, had to make an explanation. As
to Belgium, the chancellor had said he
looked upon it as a pledge, adding that
it would become closely related in com-
mercial association with Germany. As
to the Brest-Litovsk treaty, it was evi-
dent that those border peoples had been
so constituted as to have as little in-
dependence as possible. As to the Ger-
man colonies, he denied the moral right
of Germany to be a protector of the
colored colonies ; characterizing their
rule as brutal and callous. During
September there was a threefold peace
movement on the part of the Central
Powers, comprising three features:
First, a note from the Austro-Hunga-
rian government to all other govern-
ments proposing a conference to discuss
peace, but not in a binding manner ; sec-
ond, a definite offer of peace to Belgium
by Germany ; third, an offer to the Ger-
man minister in Finland to refrain from
attacking eastern Karelia on condition
that the Allies withdraw their troops
from that region and also from the
whole' Murmansk coast. The most im-
portant of these moves was the Austrian
note. This declared that in spite of
obstacles, the peace discussion had made
progress and that almost all the bel-
ligerents had again and again expressed
themselves on the conditions of peace.
The attitude had gradually changed
and the differences between the two
sides had diminished. It was manifest
that in both camps there was a growth
of the desire for peace. Remarks of
288
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
Mr. Balfour were cited to indicate that
the Entente Allies had abandoned their
demand for the dismemberment of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Cen-
tral Powers had made it clear that they
were waging a war of defense. Certain
general principles were practically ac-
cepted by both parties. In his messages
of February 11 and July 4 President
Wilson had asserted principles which
were not contradicted by his allies and
which were not likely to meet objection
from the Central Powers. Discussion
of the subject in public only embit-
tered opinion and served no practical
purpose. Statesmen who discussed it
publicly were obliged to exaggerate lest
they should endanger the interests of
their country in the prosecution of the
war. Therefore, it was suggested that
a discussion should take place between
the representatives of the governments
and only between them. Such a dis-
cussion was not to be binding and there
was to be no interruption of hostilities.
Such an exchange of views far from be-
ing harmful could only be useful to the
cause of peace. The reply of the United
States government to this overture was
as follows : "The government of the
United States has repeatedly and with
entire candor stated the terms upon
which the United States could consider
peace and can and will entertain no
proposal for a conference upon a mat-
ter concerning which it has made its
position and purpose so plain." The
German proposal to Belgium suggest-
ed that the political and economic inde-
pendence of Belgium should be re-
stored after the war on certain condi-
tions, namely, those set forth in the
memorandum as to Germany's pre-war
commercial treaties with Belgium and
the cooperation of Belgium in trying to
secure from the Allied governments the
restoration of the German colonies.
The Austrian note contained nothing
about restoration or reparation and it
produced no effect in the Allied coun-
tries. As to the German offer in re-
gard to eastern Karelia, it was pointed
out by the Allies that the Germans had
few, if any, troops there and that the
proposal really came to nothing. The
net result of this peace offensive was
practically negligible.
The Approach of Peace: The Ger-
man Crisis. — After the surrender of
Bulgaria (see military section above)
the demoralization of the Central Pow-
ers was soon manifested. On Septem-
ber 30 the German chancellor von
Hertling, and the foreign secretary,
von Hintze, resigned, and Prince Max
of Baden, who had been a moderate in
politics, was appointed chancellor two
days later. Dr. W. S. Solf, the colo-
nial secretary, was appointed foreign
secretary and a coalition ministry was
forced of which two Socialist deputies,
Scheidemann and Bauer, and two Cen-
trist deputies, Groeber and Erzberger,
were members. The news was followed
by details showing a radical change in
the German political system. The ma-
jority parties had gained control of
the parliament and their programme
was as follows : Adherence to the prin-
ciples set down in the government's re-
ply to the Pope's note of August 1,
1917; a declaration that Germany is
ready to join the league of nations if
it comprises all states and is based on
the idea of equality, etc. ; a plain decla-
ration as to the restoration of Bel-
gium and an agreement in regard to in-
demnity ; the peace treaties hitherto
concluded not to stand in the way of
a conclusion of general peace; Alsace-
Lorraine to be an independent Federal
state ; electoral reform to be carried out
immediately in Prussia ; strict observ-
ance of constitutional responsibility
PEACE PROPOSALS AND WAR AIMS
289
and the summoning of government rep-
resentatives from parliament ; the rules
as to a state of siege to be amended
in order to protect personal liberty,
right of meeting and freedom of the
press. In an address to the Reichstag,
the new chancellor set forth this pro-
gramme and declared that in conform-
ity with the imperial decree of Septem-
ber 30, the political leadership of the
empire had completely changed. He
addressed parliament in the belief that
he was speaking in accordance with the
will of the majority of the people.
Henceforth the people must take an
active part in deciding their destiny. In
other words, the majority of the freely
elected political leaders must be behind
the action of the government. He said :
"In the matter of international policies, I
have taken a clear stand through the manner
in which the formation of the government
was brought about. Upon my motion, leaders
of the majority parties were summoned for
direct advice. It was my conviction, gentle-
men, that unity of imperial leadership should
be assured not only through mere schismatic
party allegiance, but by the different members
of the government. I considered almost still
more important the unity of ideas. I proceeded
from this viewpoint and have, in making my
selections, laid greatest weight on the fact that
the members of the new imperial government
stand on a basis of a just peace of justice,
regardless of the war situation, and that they
have openly declared this to be their stand-
point at the time when we stood at the height
of our military successes. I am convinced that
the manner in which imperial leadership is now
constituted with cooperation of the Reichstag
is not something ephemeral, and that when
peace comes a government cannot again be
formed which does not find support in the
Reichstag and does not draw its leader there-
from."
At the same time he announced the
sending of a message of peace to Presi-
dent Wilson. He said he had appealed
to the President because in the latter's
message to Congress on January 8,
1918, and in his speech of September
27, he had proposals which Germany
could accept as a basis of negotiation.
German and American Peace Notes.
— On receipt of the note, October 5,
1918, the people throughout the United
States were greatly stirred by the re-
port that Germany had accepted the
terms of peace demanded by the Allies.
It was soon found that the rejoicing
was premature, but Germany had,
nevertheless, taken the first step which
led to the conclusion of hostilities. The
note requested the President of the
United States of America to take steps
for the restoration of peace, to notify
all belligerents of this request, and to
invite them to delegate plenipotentiaries
for the purpose of taking measures to
avoid further bloodshed. It declared
that the German government accepted
as a basis for peace negotiations the
programme laid down by the President
of the United States in his message to
Congress on January 8, 1918, and in
his later pronouncements, especially in
his address of September 27, 1918. It
asked the President of the United
States to bring about the immediate
conclusion of a general armistice on
land, on water, and in the air.
On October 8, the American secre-
tary of state returned the following an-
swer:
"Before making reply to the request of the
Imperial German Government, and in order
that that reply shall be as candid and straight-
forward as the momentous interests involved
require, the President of the United States
deems it necessary to assure himself of the
exact meaning of the note of the Imperial
Chancellor. Does the Imperial Chancellor mean
that the Imperial German Government accept
the terms laid down by the President in his
address to the Congress of the United States
on January last and in subsequent addresses,
and that its object in entering into discus-
sions would be only to agree upon the practical
details of their application?
"The President feels bound to say with re-
gard to the suggestion of an armistice that he
would not feel at liberty to propose a cessa-
tion of arms to the governments with which
290
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
the Government of the United States is asso-
ciated against the Central Powers so long as
the armies of those powers are upon their soil.
The good faith of any discussion would mani-
festly depend upon the consent of the Central
Powers immediately to withdraw their forces
everywhere from invaded territory. The Pres-
ident also feels that he is justified in asking
whether the Imperial Chancellor is speaking
merely for the constituted authorities of the
empire who have so far conducted the war.
He deems the answer to these questions vital
from every point of view."
In reply to these questions by Presi-
dent Wilson, Germany sent the follow-
ing message on October 12, signed by
Dr. Solf, state secretary of the foreign
office:
"In reply to the questions of the President
of the United States of America the German
Government hereby declares: The German
Government has accepted the terms laid down
by President Wilson in his address of Janu-
ary 8 and in his subsequent addresses on the
foundation of a permanent peace of justice.
Consequently its object in entering into dis-
cussions would be only to agree upon practi-
cal details of the application of these terms.
The German Government believes that the
Governments of the powers associated with the
Government of the United States also take the
position taken by President Wilson in his ad-
dress. The German Government, in accord-
ance with the Austro-Hungarian Government,
for the purpose of bringing about an armis-
tice, declares itself ready to comply with
the propositions of the President in regard to
evacuation.
"The German Government suggests that the
President may occasion the meeting of a mixed
commission for making the necessary arrange-
ments concerning the evacuation. The pres-
ent German Government, which has undertaken
the responsibility for this step toward peace,
has been formed by conferences and in agree-
ment with the great majority of the Reichstag.
The Chancellor, supported in all of his actions
by the will of this majority, speaks in the
name of the German Government and of the
German people."
The United States secretary of state,
under date of October 14, sent the fol-
lowing reply :
"The unqualified acceptance by the present
German Government and by a large majority
of the German Reichstag of the terms laid
down by the President of the United States of
America in his address to the Congress of the
United States on January 8, 1918, and in his
subsequent addresses, justifies the President
in making a frank and direct statement of his
decision with regard to the communications
of the German Government of October 8 and
12, 1918. It must be clearly understood that
the process of evacuation and the conditions
of an armistice are matters which must be left
to the judgment and advice of the military ad-
visers of the Government of the United States
and the Allied Governments, and the President
feels it his duty to say that no arrangement
can be accepted by the Government of the
United States which does not provide abso-
lutely satisfactory safeguards and guarantees
of the maintenance of the present military su-
premacy of the armies of the United States
and of the Allies in the field. He feels con-
fident that he can safely assume that this will
also be the j udgment and decision of the Allied
Governments.
"The President feels that it is also his duty
to add that neither the Government of the
United States nor, he is quite sure, the Govern-
ments with which the Government of the United
States is associated as a belligerent will con-
sent to consider an armistice so long as the
armed forces of Germany continue the illegal
and inhumane practices which they persist in.
At the very time that the German Govern-
ment approaches the Government of the United
States with proposals of peace, its submarines
are engaged in sinking passenger ships at sea,
and not the ships alone, but the very boats in
which their passengers and crews seek to make
their way to safety; and in their present en-
forced withdrawal from Flanders and France
the German armies are pursuing a course of
wanton destruction which has always been re-
garded as in direct violation of the rules and
practices of civilized warfare. Cities and vil-
lages, if not destroyed, are being stripped not
only of all they contain, but often of their very
inhabitants. The nations associated against
Germany cannot be expected to agree to a ces-
sation of arms while acts of inhumanity, spoli-
ation, and desolation are being continued which
they justly look upon with horror and with
burning hearts.
"It is necessary also; in order that there
may be no possibility of misunderstanding,
that the President should very solemnly call
the attention of the government of Germany
to the language and plain intent of one of
the terms of peace which the German govern-
ment has now accepted. It is contained in the
address of the President delivered at Mount
Vernon on July 4 last. It is as follows:
" 'The destruction of every arbitrary power
anywhere that can separately, secretly, and of
PEACE PROPOSALS AND WAR AIMS
291
its single choice disturb the peace of the world;
or, if it cannot be presently destroyed, at least
its reduction to virtual impotency.'
"The power which has hitherto controlled the
German nation is of the sort here described. It
is within the choice of the German nation to
alter it. The President's words just quoted
naturally constitute a condition precedent to
peace, if peace is to come by the action of the
German people themselves.
"The President feels bound to say that the
whole process of peace will, in his judgment,
depend upon the definiteness and satisfactory
character of the guarantees which can be
given in this fundamental matter. It is indis-
pensable that the governments associated
against Germany should know beyond a perad-
venture with whom they are dealing.
"The President will make a separate reply
to the royal and imperial government of Aus-
tria-Hungary."
Although there was some criticism
of this course in the United States dur-
ing the negotiations, the President's di-
plomacy appeared to meet with general
approval among the Allies and the above
note was received by the press of the
Allied countries with especial satisfac-
tion.
The German reply to the President's
note of October 11 was as follows:
"In accepting the proposal for an evacuation
for occupied territories the German Govern-
ment has started from the assumption that the
procedure of this evacuation and of the con-
ditions of an armistice should be left to the
judgment of the military advisers, and that
the actual standard of power on both sides
in the field has to form the basis for ar-
rangements safeguarding and guaranteeing
this standard. The German Government sug-
gests to the President that an opportunity
should be brought about for fixing the details.
It trusts that the President of the United
States will approve of no demand which would
be irreconcilable with the honor of the Ger-
man people and with opening a way to a peace
of justice.
"The German Government protests against
the reproach of illegal and inhumane actions
made against the German land and sea forces
and thereby against the German people. For
the covering of a retreat destructions will al-
ways be necessary, and they are carried out
in so far as is permitted by international law.
The German troops are under the most strict
instructions to spare private property and to
exercise care for the population to the best
of their ability. Where transgressions occur
in spite of these instructions the guilty are
being punished. The German Government fur-
ther denies that the German Navy in sinking
ships has ever purposely destroyed lifeboats
with their passengers. The German Govern-
ment proposes with regard to all those charges
that the facts be cleared up by neutral com-
missions.
"In order to avoid anything that might ham-
per the work of peace, the German Govern-
ment has caused orders to be despatched to all
submarine commanders precluding the torpedo-
ing of passenger ships, without, however, for
technical reasons, being able to guarantee that
these orders will reach every single submarine
at sea before its return. As a fundamental
condition for peace the President prescribes
the destruction of every arbitrary power that
can separately, secretly and of its own single
choice disturb the peace of the world. To
this the German Government replies: Hither-
to the representation of the people in the
German Empire has not been endowed with an
influence on the formation of the Govern-
ment. The Constitution did not provide for
a concurrence of representation of the peo-
ple in decisions of peace and war. These con-
ditions have just now undergone a funda-
mental change. A new Government has been
formed in complete accordance with the wishes
(principle) of the representation of the peo-
ple, based on equal, universal, secret, direct
franchise.
"The leaders of the great parties of the
Reichstag are members of this Government. In
the future no Government can take or con-
tinue in office without possessing the confidence
of a majority of the Reichstag. The responsi-
bility of the Chancellor of the empire to the
representation of the people is being legally
developed and safeguarded. The first act of
the new Government has been to lay before
the Reichstag a bill to alter the Constitution
of the empire so that the consent of the repre-
sentation of the people is required for de-
cisions on war and peace. The permanence of
the new system is, however, guaranteed not
only by constitutional safeguards but also by
the unshakable determination of the German
people, whose vast majority stands behind
these reforms and demands their energetic con-
tinuance.
"The question of the President — with whom
he and the Governments associated against
Germany are dealing — is therefore answered in
a clear, unequivocal manner by the statement
that the offer of peace and an armistice has
come from a Government which is free from
any arbitrary and irresponsible influence and
is supported by the approval of an overwhelm-
ing majority of the German people.
292
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
Prince Max, the chancellor, in a
speech to the Reichstag October 22 re-
ferred to the necessity of a "peace of
justice" and declared that it was Ger-
many's duty not to submit to a peace
of violence without a fight. At this
stage of the negotiations the American
public was alarmed lest peace should
come about by bargaining, and there
was a loud demand for "unconditional
surrender." Many public men, espe-
cially among the Republicans, expressed
suspicion of the President's course and
advocated a short, sharp reply saying
that the question of armistice should
be referred to the generals in the field.
The American government's reply to
the foregoing German note was as fol-
lows :
"Having received the solemn and explicit
assurance of the German Government that it
unreservedly accepts the terms of peace laid
down in his address to the Congress of the
United States on January 8, 1918, and the prin-
ciples of settlement enunciated in his subse-
quent addresses, particularly the address of
September 27, and that it desires to discuss the
details of their application, and that this wish
and purpose emanated, not from those who
have hitherto dictated German policy and con-
ducted the present war on German's behalf but
from Ministers who speak for the majority of
the Reichstag and for an overwhelming major-
ity of the German peoples; and having re-
ceived also the explicit promise of the present
German Government that the humane rules of
civilized warfare will be observed both on land
and sea by the German armed forces, the Pres-
ident of the United States feels that he cannot
decline to take up with the Governments with
which the Government of the United States is
associated the question of an armistice.
"He deems it his duty to say again, how-
ever, that the only armistice he would feel
justified in submitting for consideration would
be one which should leave the United States
and the powers associated with her in a posi-
tion to enforce any arrangements that may be
entered into and to make a renewal of hostil-
ities on the part of Germany impossible. The
President has, therefore, transmitted his cor-
respondence with the present German author-
ities to the Governments with which the Gov-
ernment of the United States is associated as
a belligerent, with the suggestion that, if those
Governments are disposed to effect peace upon
the terms and principles indicated, their mil-
itary advisers and the military advisers of the
United States be asked to submit to the Gov-
ernments associated against Germany the neces-
sary terms of such an armistice as will fully
protect the interests of the peoples involved
and insure to the associated Governments the
unrestricted power to safeguard and enforce
the details of the peace to which the German
Government has agreed, provided they deem
such an armistice possible from the military
point of view. Should such terms of armistice
be suggested, their acceptance by Germany will
afford the best concrete evidence of her un-
equivocal acceptance of the terms and princi-
ples of peace from which the whole action pro-
ceeds.
"The President would deem himself lacking
in candor did he not point out in the frankest
possible terms the reason why extraordinary
safeguards must be demanded. Significant and
important as the constitutional changes seem
to be which are spoken of by the German For-
eign Secretary in his note of October 20, it
does not appear that the principle of a Gov-
ernment responsible to the German people has
yet been fully worked out or that any guar-
antees either exist or are in contemplation that
the alterations of principle and of practice now
partially agreed upon will be permanent.
Moreover, it does not appear that the heart of
the present difficulty has been reached. It may
be that future war has been brought under the
control of the German people, but the present
war has not been, and it is with the present
war that we are dealing. It is evident that the
German people have no means of commanding
the acquiescence of the military authorities of
the empire in the popular will; that the power
of the King of Prussia to control the policy of
the empire is unimpaired; that the determinat-
ing initiative still remains with those who have
hitherto been the masters of Germany.
"Feeling that the whole peace of the world
depends now on plain speaking and straight-
forward action, the President deems it his duty
to say, without any attempt to soften, what
may seem harsh words, that the nations of the
world do not and cannot trust the word of
those who have hitherto been the masters of
German policy, and to point out once more
that in concluding peace and attempting to
undo the infinite injuries and injustices of this
war the government of the United States can-
not deal with any but veritable representatives
of the German people, who have been assured
a genuine constitutional standing as the real
rulers of Germany. If it must deal with the
military masters and the monarchical auto-
crats of Germany now, or if it is likely to
have to deal with them later in regard to the
international obligations of the German Em-
PEACE PROPOSALS AND WAR AIMS
293
pire, it must demand, not peace negotiations,
but surrender. Nothing can be gained by leav-
ing this essential thing unsaid.
On October 27 Germany requested
proposals for an armistice in the fol-
lowing note :
"The German Government has taken cogni-
zance of the answer of the President of the
United States. The President is aware of the
far-reaching changes which have been carried
out and are being carried out in the German
constitutional structure, and that peace nego-
tiations are being conducted by a people's Gov-
ernment in whose hands rests, both actually
and constitutionally, the power to make the
deciding conclusions. The military powers are
also subject to it. The German Government
now awaits proposals, for an armistice, which
shall be the first step toward a just peace as
the President has described it in his proclama-
tion."
To this the American government re-
plied on November 4 :
"In my note of October 23, 1918, I advised
you that the President had transmitted his cor-
respondence with the German authorities to the
Governments with which the Government of the
United States is associated as a belligerent,
with the suggestion that if those Governments
were disposed to accept peace upon the terms
and principles indicated, their military advisers
and the military advisers of the United States
be asked to submit to the Governments asso-
ciated against Germany the necessary terms of
tuch an armistice as would fully protect the
Interests of the peoples involved and insure to
the Associated Governments the unrestricted
power to safeguard and enforce the details of
the peace to which the German Government
had agreed, provided they deem such an armis-
tice possible from the military point of view.
The President is now in receipt of a memor-
andum of observations by the Allied Govern-
ments on this correspondence, which is as fol-
lows:
" 'The Allied Governments have given care-
ful consideration to the correspondence
which has passed between the President of
the United States and the German Govern-
ment. Subject to the qualifications which
follow, they declare their willingness to make
peace with the Government of Germany on
the terms of peace laid down in the Pres-
ident's address to Congress of January, 1918,
and the principles of settlement enunciated
in his subsequent addresses. They must point
out, however, that Clause 2, relating to what
is usually described as the freedom of the
seas, is open to various interpretations, some
of which they could not accept. They must,
therefore, reserve to themselves complete
freedom on this subject when they enter the
peace conference. Further, in the conditions
of peace laid down in his address to Con-
gress of January 8, 1918, the President de-
clared that invaded territories must be re-
stored as well as evacuated and freed. The
Allied Governments feel that no doubt ought
to be allowed to exist as to what this pro-
vision implies. By it they understand that
compensation will be made by Germany for
all damage done to the civilian population
of the Allies and their property by the ag-
gression of Germany by land, by sea and
from the air.'
"I am instructed by the President to say
that he is in agreement with the interpretation
set forth in the last paragraph of the mem-
orandum above quoted. I am further in-
structed by the President to request you to
notify the German Government that Marshal
Foch has been authorized by the Government
of the United States and the Allied Govern-
ments to receive properly accredited repre-
sentatives of the German Government and to
communicate to them terms of an armistice.
Accept, sir, the renewed assurances of my high-
est consideration. Robert Lansing."
Austrian Peace Move. — At the same
time that Prince Max sent the German
note of peace, the Swedish government
was requested by the Austro-Hungar-
ian goverment to submit to the Presi-
dent the following message (October 7,
1918):
"The Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, which has
waged war always and solely as a defensive
war, and repeatedly given documentary evi-
dence of its readiness to stop the shedding of
blood and to arrive at a just and honorable
peace, hereby addresses itself to His Lordship
the President of the United States of America,
and offers to conclude with him and his allies
an armistice on every front on land, at sea and
in the air, and to enter immediately upon nego-
tiations for a peace for which the fourteen
points in the message of President Wilson to
Congress of January 8, 1918, and the four
points contained in President Wilson's address
of February 12, 1918, should serve as a founda-
tion and in which the viewpoints declared by
President Wilson in his address of September
27, 1918, will also be taken into account."
294
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
To this the United States govern-
ment replied under date of October 18,
as follows:
"The President deems it his duty to say to
the Austro-Hungarian Government that he can-
not entertain the present suggestions of that
Government because of certain events of ut-
most importance which, occurring since the de-
livery of his address of the 8th of January last,
have necessarily altered the attitude and re-
sponsibility of the Government of the United
States. Among the fourteen terms of peace
which the President formulated at the time
occurred the following:
"10. The peoples of Austria-Hungary, whose
place among the nations we wish to see safe-
guarded and assured, should be accorded the
freest opportunity of autonomous develop-
ment.
"Since that sentence was written and uttered
to the Congress of the United States, the Gov-
ernment of the United States has recognized
that a state of belligerency exists between the
Czecho-Slovaks and the German and Austro-
Hungarian Empires, and that the Czecho-
slovak National Council is a de facto belliger-
ent Government clothed with proper authority
to direct the military and political affairs of
the Czecho-Slovaks. It has also recognized in
the fullest manner the justice of the national-
istic aspirations of the Jugo-Slavs for freedom.
"The President is therefore no longer at lib-
erty to accept the mere 'autonomy' of these
peoples as a basis of peace, but is obliged to
insist that they and not he shall be the judges
of what action on the part of the Austro-Hun-
garian Government will satisfy their aspira-
tions and their conception of their rights and
destiny as members of the family of nations.
Accept, sir, the renewed assurances of my
highest consideration. Robert Lansixg."
At the same time the Emperor
Charles issued a manifesto declaring
that the reconstruction of the country
must begin and that the wishes of the
Austrian people must be made to har-
monize. Austria, he said, would become
a Federal state in which every race
should form its own national state with-
in its national dominion. He also ad-
dressed a message to the army and fleet
referring to the plan for a Federal
state. In the Hungarian parliament
there was a declaration on the part of
the prime minister that peace must be
concluded and that after Austria was
organized on a Federal basis, the
Hungarian state would organize its in-
dependence, but would maintain a
personal union with Austria. Count Mi-
chael Karolyi attacked the prime min-
ister, demanding that peace negotia-
tions be opened at once. Soon after-
wards Count Tisza declared that the
country must admit that it had lost
the war and that he approved of the
government to make peace on President
Wilson's terms. Count Karolyi at-
tacked the government's foreign policy
from the beginning of the war, blaming
it for bringing on the war and speci-
fying how it might have avoided the
conflict.
On October 28 the Austro-Hunga-
rian foreign minister, Count Julius An-
drassy, transmitted through the Swe-
dish government the following reply :
"In reply to the note of the President, Mr.
Wilson, to the Austro-Hungarian Government,
dated October 18 of this year, and about the
decision of the President to take up, with Aus-
tria-Hungary separately, the question of armis-
tice and peace, the Austro-Hungarian Govern-
ment has the honor to declare that it adheres
both to the previous declarations of the Presi-
dent and his opinion of the rights of the peo-
ples of Austria-Hungary, notably those of the
Czecho-Slovaks and the Jugo-Slavs, contained in
his last note. Austria-Hungary having thereby
accepted all the conditions which the President
had put upon entering into negotiations on the
subject of armistice and peace, nothing, in the
opinion of the Austro-Hungarian Government,
longer stands in the way of beginning those ne-
gotiations. The Austro-Hungarian Government
therefore declares itself ready to enter, without
waiting for the outcome of other negotiations,
into negotiations for a peace betv/een Austria-
Hungary and the Entente States, and for an
immediate armistice on all the fronts of Aus-
tria-Hungary, and begs the President, Mr. Wil-
son, to take the necessary measures to that ef-
fect."
The Beginning of the Collapse. —
During the last ten days of October,
when the notes were passing between the
United States government and the for-
PEACE PROPOSALS AND WAR AIMS
295
eign offices of the two Germanic powers,
the following events rapidly succeeded
one another: In Germany the general
staff was divided on the question of the
peace offer, Ludendorff opposing and
Hindenburg favoring. Hindenburg pre-
vailed and on October 22 an order from
the German general headquarters which
had been captured by the French was
made public. In it Hindenburg de-
clared his approval of the government's
peace offer and called upon the army
not to interfere with it. Ludendorff re-
signed and on October 27 Gen. von Los-
sing, who had been chief of staff in the
battle of Arras in April, 1917, was an-
nounced as his successor. In the Reichs-
tag Dr. Solf, the foreign secretary, in
response to inquiries, declared it was
the government's intention to carry out
honestly the principles set forth by
President Wilson, including specifically
the Polish and Alsace-Lorraine ques-
tions. Meanwhile the power of the So-
cialists was steadily mounting. The
government released Herr Liebknecht
on October 22. The Independent So-
cialist leader, Haase, demanded in the
Reichstag on October 24 that the mon-
archy give way to a republic and there
was evidence that the working class
throughout the country was behind him.
In the Prussian house of deputies there
was sarcastic comment on the govern-
ment's sudden conversion to democracy,
which was characterized as a comedy
that foreign governments ought to see
through; militarism and imperialism
were declared to be as superfluous as
the dynasty. Mass meetings of the In-
dependent Socialist Democrats were re-
ported throughout all Germany.
In Austria-Hungary the Hussarek
ministry resigned, and on October 26
it was announced that Dr. Heinrich
Lammasch, an advocate of peace, would
form a cabinet. Meanwhile a movement
for a new German- Austrian state within
the empire had resulted in a so-called
Constituent German Assembly which
met at Vienna on October 21 and unani-
mously passed a resolution declaring it
to be the will of the German people in
Austria to determine their own destiny
and form an independent state. By the
end of October a condition of anarchy
was reported throughout the country.
A provisional government was set up
and a republic proclaimed. The em-
peror abdicated November 3. In Hun-
gary the movement to break away from
Austria proceeded rapidly and on Octo-
ber 17 the diet adopted a resolution de-
claring Hungary independent except
for the union in the person of the em-
peror. Soon afterwards Count Michael
Karolyi led a sharp attack upon the
ministry and demanded the resignation
of the prime minister, Dr. Wekherle.
The latter resigned on October 25 and
was succeeded by Count Apponyi. The
announcement of the emperor's inten-
tion to concede the independence of
Hungary produced no effect, and early
in November the diet, now styling itself
the national assembly, proclaimed Hun-
gary a republic with Count Michael
Karolyi as prime minister of foreign
affairs. Meanwhile the disintegration
through the Slav movements for separa-
tion was continuing. The Czecho-Slo-
vak provisional government sitting in
Paris issued a formal declaration of in-
dependence, asserting that the Czecho-
slovaks would no longer live under the
direct or indirect rule of the violators
of Belgium, that they repudiated the
Vienna government's promises of inde-
pendence, and that no one among them
would care to have anything to do with
those who had not wished to do justice
to them or to the Polish and Jugo-Slav
nations. There were violent scenes in
the diet as the result of the assertion
296
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
of a Rumanian deputy that henceforth
the Rumanians of Hungary were a na-
tion. The resignation of Dr. Wekherle
had followed the news that a Croatian
regiment at Fiume had disarmed the
Hungarian Honved (militia). This
movement was a sequel to several south-
ern Slav attempts at revolt in the army
and navy, notably the mutinies among
the sailors of the fleet in Italian wa-
ters in the latter part of 1917 at Se-
benico and Pola and in February, 1918,
at Pola and Cattaro. The Croatian
troops after the revolt at Fiume seized
the buildings of the city. All Croatia
meanwhile was in revolt. In the United
States a great Slavic demonstration
took place at Independence Hall, Phila-
delphia, October 27, comprising repre-
sentatives of eighteen Slav states of
Middle Europe with a population of
some fifty millions and representatives
of other nationalities under alien rule.
Among them were Poles, Czechoslo-
vaks, Jugo-Slavs, Ukrainians, Ukro-
Russians, Lithuanians, Rumanians,
Italian Irredentists, Unredeemed
Greeks, Zionists, and Albanians. Mean-
while preparations were made for an
Allied conference at Paris where Col.
House, as the personal representative
of the President, arrived on October 26
and was followed by the British prime
minister, Mr. Lloyd George, and Mr.
Arthur J. Balfour, secretary for for-
eign affairs. On November 11 the
armistice with Germany was signed.
See military section above.
Although the above evidences of dis-
ruption in Austria-Hungary and in
Germany were reported in the press,
prominent statesmen in the countries of
the Allies continued to profess the be-
lief that the peace move of the two
Central Powers was of the same order
as previous peace moves and could not
be regarded in any other light than as
an attempt to secure an advantage.
The belief that it was merely part of
Germany's and Austria's diplomatic
strategy continued down to the moment
of the conclusion of the armistice. The
complete internal disorganization of the
two Germanic powers during October
and the first week in November seemed
not to be in the least appreciated by
many of the leading statesmen in spite
of the numerous signs.
Dr. Solf's Appeal. — Shortly after
the signing of the armistice, an appeal
was addressed by Dr. Solf to the Allied
governments, comprising among others
the following points : The conditions
imposed by the armistice, he said,
threatened the economic security of the
left bank of the Rhine and its relations
with German territory on the right
bank. Unless those conditions were
modified, Germany could not exist, and,
moreover, the peaceful development
which was beginning in Germany would
be checked, with the result that a more
or less Bolshevist movement would take
shape. Hence it was urged that normal
intercourse between the left bank of the
Rhine and the rest of Germany and
with foreign countries should not be dis-
turbed even during military occupation.
Then followed a long list of economic
activities that Germany desired to re-
sume in relation to the left bank of the
Rhine, including permission to exploit
as hitherto the coal, potash, and ore
mines ; to transport the requisite coal,
ore, and potash ; to use completely the
Rhine for transports within the old
boundary of the German Empire ; to
have the right of free navigation via
Rotterdam and the coast for provision-
ing Germany ; to have free railway traf-
fic and the right to electric power : to
allow the civil and military organiza-
tions on the left bank of the Rhine to
continue to work, etc.
PEACE PROPOSALS AND WAR AIMS
297
At the same time, a special appeal
was made to the United States govern-
ment that the distress was urgent and
that the oppressive terms of the armis-
tice were making the situation unbear-
able ;. that anarchy could only be avoid-
ed if aid were quickly given. The gov-
ernment of the United States was im-
plored to save the German people from
starvation and anarchy by sending en-
voys to the Hague or some other place
to discuss with envoys from Germany
details as to how American aid could
be given. Still another appeal was
made to the United States government
requesting the President's intervention
on behalf of the German civilians in
Turkey who, by the 19th article of the
Anglo-Turkish armistice, were required
to leave the Turkish Empire — a re-
quirement that would cause severe hard-
ship especially to the poor people un-
der German care, etc.
France and Peace Terms. — On De-
cember 30 Premier Clemenceau made an
important address in the chamber of
deputies, in the course of which he re-
plied to various criticisms, especially
in regard to his not having kept the
chamber informed as to what was going
on. He said if he had told the cham-
ber all the details of the discussions in
regard to the various claims of the pow-
ers, he would have been the worst prime
minister in Europe. He declared that
while he was in accord with President
Wilson on some points, he disagreed
with him on others ; and he added this
statement, which was regarded as high-
ly significant since it indicated a di-
vergence of view between the French
government and the governments of the
United States and England. He said
France found itself in a particularly
difficult situation. It was the nearest
country to Germany. The United
States was at a distance and it took its
own time in entering the war. England
entered immediately upon the appeal of
Mr. Asquith. "We have suffered and
fought ; our men have been mowed down,
and our cities and villages destroyed.
There exists an old system of alliance
known as the balance of power. Every-
body seems to condemn it now, and
nevertheless if England, the United
States, France, and Italy had agreed
that whatever power would attack any
one of them, it would be equivalent to
a declaration of war upon the whole
world, this war would never have taken
place. This system, moreover, which I
have not renounced, will be my all-guid-
ing thought at the Peace Conference if
your confidence sends me there." He
demanded a vote of confidence saying
that if there were any doubt as to the
wisdom of leaving him in control, it
should be settled now. The vote of
confidence was accorded by an over-
whelming majority, namely, 398
against 93.
XI. RELIEF MEASURES
The outbreak of the European War Ambassador at Berlin and the American
very soon made it evident that millions
of innocent victims in the fighting areas
would be without independent means of
support on account of wholesale de-
struction of property, the confiscation
of food supplies, and the paralysis of
industry. This was first illustrated in
Belgium, where it was estimated that
by November, 1914, over 6,000,000 peo-
ple had been rendered homeless and
1,500,000 destitute. The prosecution
of the war, however, resulted in the
creation of a similar situation in Rus-
sian Poland, Galicia, and in Serbia.
The situation in Poland was even worse
than that in Belgium. Finally the un-
precedented butchery of the Armen-
ians by the Turks rendered relief for
the remnant of the Armenian popula-
tion an absolute necessity.
As early as September, 1914, relief
organizations began to be formed in
the United States. After considerable
duplication at first, relief committees
gradually were systematized under cen-
tral committees. All sorts of devices
were resorted to, including appeals
through newspapers, endless-chain ,
whist parties, fairs and bazaars, the-
atrical and musical performances,
"tag" days, balls and fetes of various
kinds, and appeals through churches
and other organizations.
Commission for Relief in Belgium.
— This was the most extensive relief or-
ganization, embracing all neutral coun-
tries. It was brought into existence
through the activities of the American
and Spanish ambassadors at London
and ministers at Brussels, the American
Minister at The Hague. There were
national organizations in America,
Spain, Italy, and England, besides a
most extensive distributory organiza-
tion in Belgium and northern France.
It carried out the distribution of its
aid in Belgium through the Comite Na-
tional de Secours et d'Alimentation.
Similarly on account of the devasta-
tion in the occupied French territory
the Comite d'Alimentation du Nord de
France was organized. The commis-
sion had assembling depots in every
State in the United States, and repre-
sentative executives in all but about 12
States.
The committee secured pledges from
England, Holland, and Germany, per-
mitting the transportation of food
products to the occupied territory and
the pledge of Germany that such food
would not be confiscated for war pur-
poses. The general policy of the com-
mission was to cooperate with organi-
zations of every sort in Belgium and
northern France ; local committees were
brought into existence in almost every
commune of the occupied territory, and
over these were district and provincial
committees, all under the Comite Na-
tional. The work was carried out un-
der three main divisions : the Provision-
ing Department ; the Financial Relief
and Exchange Department ; and the
Benevolent Department. The Provi-
sioning Department provided food for
about 7,000,000 people in Belgium and
2,300,000 in northern France. Food-
stuffs were sold to the population and
the profits thus secured were used by
298
RELIEF MEASURES
299
the Benevolent Department for the care
of the destitute. Food was given out
through a system of canteens covering
all Belgium, meals being supplied at a
per capita cost of only eight cents a
day. There were also baby canteens,
cheap restaurants, meals for school
children, and in some cases provision of
shelter. Aid was also given to or
through the following: a committee to
aid doctors and pharmacists by sup-
plying medicines, serums and other ne-
cessities ; child institutions working for
the better feeding of infants, the aid
of private and public orphanages, and
assistance to war orphans and other
homeless children ; the treatment of in-
digent consumptives ; an agricultural
committee to control the supply of seeds
and fodder; a committee for the aid
and protection of artists, some 50,000
lace workers (mostly Belgian women),
destitute foreigners, and refugees from
other localities ; a committee for the re-
habilitation of churches ; local work-
rooms for the repair of clothing for the
destitute; and miscellaneous grants for
Cardinal Mercier for trade training for
maimed soldiers, and for maternity hos-
pitals.
The total amount of money entrusted
to the commission up to the close of the
war was about $500,000,000, which,
with the exception of overhead charges,
were spent for food in Belgium and
France. The British and French gov-
ernments contributed more than $150,-
000,000 for relief in Belgium. After
the diplomatic break between the United
States and Germany the Dutch took
over the work of the Commission.
Belgian Relief Fund. This fund
"for women, children and other non-
combatants" had its headquarters in
New York City. It embraced numerous
local committees, including one in every
State. Most of the cash received was
spent for food, but small sums were
sent to refugees in Holland and to war
victims in the unoccupied parts of Bel-
gium.
Jewish Relief. On account of the
great number of Jews in Poland and
other parts of Europe who suffered ex-
treme privation as a result of the war,
the American Jewish Relief Committee
for Sufferers from the War was organ-
ized in New York City. Towards the
close of the year 1915, a most active
campaign for funds was undertaken.
Local committees were formed in cities
throughout the country. In 1916 a
great bazaar was held in New York
City which realized about $1,000,000.
In Great Britain was formed the Rus-
sian Jews' Relief Fund for the aid of
Jews in Russia and Poland. It had
branches in all the principal cities. By
means of it over 120 relief centres were
feeding every day more than 200,000
homeless and destitute Jews.
In Russia a central relief committee
at Petrograd sent out word that mili-
tary authorities had forcibly removed
250,000 Jews from their homes in the
occupied territory and that 200,000
more had left voluntarily. The com-
mittee had opened employment agencies
in 31 cities and equipped 10 workshops.
Hospitals, asylums, infirmaries, and
schools were opened.
The Federal Council of Allied War
Charities comprised some seventy-five
organizations of varied interest and na-
tional in scope. It was created as a
part of the movement to coordinate ac-
tivities, decrease duplication, and in-
crease financial responsibility and ef-
ficiency. It served also as a medium
for effecting concerted action of its
constituents with the Red Cross. The
latter's Committee on Cooperation ex-
tended an invitation to the war relief
bodies to become auxiliaries of the Red
300
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
Cross and this was accomplished to
some extent. The individual organiza-
tions, however, were loath to surrender
their independence either in the collec-
tion of funds or in the machinery, meth-
ods, and area of the distribution of
benefits. The aggregate membership of
the bodies in the Federal Council was
over 2,000,000. Its members had sent
a total of more than $4,000,000 in cash
and goods for relief work in Europe
since the war began.
Quakers in War Relief. Within a
few months after the outbreak of the
war Quakers of the United States and
England began relief activities among
peasants of devastated areas in France
and Belgium. By the fall of 1917 they
had erected nearly 500 wooden houses
for peasants and assisted in securing
supplies of agricultural implements and
tools, seeds, poultry, rabbits, etc., as
well as household furniture and uten-
sils. They established work-rooms for
farm women, convalescent homes, a
small general hospital, and a mater-
nity hospital. They organized indus-
tries and recreation among the thou-
sands of Belgians in refuge camps in
Holland. Later they began similar
work among Russians driven from home
on the eastern battle line, this branch
being in charge of the American Friends
Service Committee, assisted by a group
of English Friends. This committee
began in July, 1917, also the training
at Haverford College of 100 young
men for reconstruction work in France,
including agriculture, building, repair-
ing, sanitation, medical and social work.
The American Ambulance was one
of the most important relief activities.
It organized ambulance sections for
work in different parts of France, and
Italy, and at Saloniki. Ambulance
drivers were secured primarily from
American colleges, considerably more-
than 1,000 such men having been re-
cruited. The American Ambulance
Field Service had in July, 1917, eight-
een sections of ambulances serving the
French army with staffs totalling 700
volunteers. In all it was maintaining
more than 700 ambulances at the front,
in reserve, or under construction. A
branch of this service, ammunition
transport, had nearly 80,000 auto-
trucks at work. This latter branch
was long handicapped for lack of
capable drivers, but by mid-summer
this was overcome, three reserve groups
of forty men each being under train-
ing. The American Ambulance Hos-
pital at Paris was at first run entirely
by voluntary workers ; it was after-
wards turned over to the Red Cross.
It then became the American Military
Hospital, run by American money,
with its staff drawn from various coun-
tries, partly volunteer and partly paid
professional physicians and surgeons.
It had 600 beds, excellent surgical
equipment, 250 motor ambulances, a
hospital train fitted to accommodate
264 wounded and having operating
room, sterilizing plant, diet kitchen
and a staff of doctors, surgeons, and
nurses. Another feature was the Mo-
bile Field Hospital with 108 beds; and
still another the Advance Hospital
near the front at Juilly-sur-Marne. It
organized the War Relief Clearing
House for France and her Allies with
its American headquarters in New
York and its Paris headquarters in
the house of the former ambassadors
of the United States to France. This
body was officially recognized by the
French government as the agency for
the distribution of American charity in
France. It was given free transporta-
tion by the French government for all
of its supplies on French liners and
over all French railways.
RELIEF MEASURES
301
Perhaps the most important other
relief activities were those directed
toward Poland and Serbia. To a large
extent Jewish relief funds were direct-
ed toward the former country. There
was in addition the Polish Victims' Re-
lief Fund with headquarters at 33
West Forty-second Street, New York,
Frank A. Vanderlip, treasurer, which
had collected more than $1,150,000
at the beginning of 1919. There was
also the Polish Children's Relief Fund,
37 East Thirty-sixth Street, New
York, Mrs. Louisa Satterlee, treasurer,
which had collected over $50,000. The
Serbian Relief Committee had head-
quarters at 70 Fifth Avenue, New
York, Murray H. Coggeshall, treas-
urer; it had secured $450,000. The
American Committee for Armenian and
Syrian Relief, 1 Madison Avenue, New
York, and Cleveland, Ohio, H. Dodge,
treasurer, had spent many millions of
dollars and was at the close of the
year planning a drive for $30,000,000
more. The Serbian Aid Fund Cloth-
ing Committee, 338 Madison Avenue,
New York, was engaged in a campaign
for 500 tons of warm clothing to be
transmitted through the Serbian lega-
tion at Washington ; while the Serbian
Aid Fund, 1 Madison Avenue, New
York, Otto T. Bannard, treasurer, had
collected over $180,000.
Some of the other principal relief
funds with their headquarters, treas-
urers, and collections to the close of
1918 were as follows: American Com-
mittee for Devastated France, 16 East
Thirty-ninth Street, New York, Dr. A.
C. Humphreys, treasurer, $501,592 ;
American Committee for Training
Maimed Soldiers, Hotel Biltmore, New
York, Mrs. Edmund L. Baylies, $428,-
763 ; American Fund for French
Wounded, 73 Park Avenue, New York,
Mrs. W. P. Bliss, $567,693; Amer-
ican Students Committee, 107 East
Thirty-seventh Street, New York, H.
R. Sedgwick, $131,293; American
Women's Hospitals, 637 Madison Ave-
nue, New York, Dr. Sue Radcliffe,
$310,029; British War Relief Associa-
tion, 542 Fifth Avenue, New York,
Henry Clews, $171,258; Christian Re-
lief in France and Belgium, 105 East
Twenty-second Street, New York, Al-
fred R. Kimball, $155,419; Duryea
War Relief, 9 East Thirtieth Street,
New York, Charles E. Warren, $218,-
860 ; Fatherless Children of France,
140 Broadway, New York, Alexander
J. Hemphill, $741,043; Food for
France, 10 East Fifty-eighth Street,
New York, Alexander J. Hemphill,
$148,485; Free Milk for France, 675
Fifth Avenue, New York, Henry E.
Cooper, $98,237; Italian War Relief
Fund, 347 Madison Avenue, New York,
S. R. Bertron, $43,730; Lafayette
Fund, Hotel Vanderbilt, New York,
Francis Roche, $301,000; Secours Na-
tional Fund, 16 East Forty-seventh
Street, New York, Mrs. Whitney War-
ren, $581,148; Stage Women's War
Relief, 366 Fifth Avenue, New York,
Mrs. Shelley Hull, $178,321.
Red Cross. This society was put to
the severest test it ever had to under-
go. In all the belligerent countries,
the work of the relief committees was
supplemented by the efficient service
rendered by the Red Cross Society.
The American National Red Cross So-
ciety rendered greater continuous ser-
vice than was ever given by any Red
Cross of a neutral country during a
foreign war. At the outbreak of the
war this society had an enrollment of
about 6,000 nurses and surgeons. It
sent over a number of surgical and
sanitary units (a unit is a working
force of 3 surgeons and 12 nurses sent
to a hospital, together with the neces-
302
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
sary supplies) for hospital work and
the relief of noncombatants. An enor-
mous quantity of purchased and do-
nated medical, surgical, and hospital
supplies, bed linen, garments, etc., were
shipped from the United States to
practically all the battle fronts by
the American Red Cross. In Serbia
and Montenegro the American Red
Cross, in conjunction with the Rocke-
feller Foundation, suppressed the epi-
demic of typhus fever which destroyed
150,000 lives.
United War Work Drive. One of
the most comprehensive and unique
campaigns for relief work with the
military forces was that carried out in
November, 1918, in combination by the
National War Work Council of the
Young Men's Christian Association,
the War Work Council of the Na-
tional Board of the Young Women's
Christian Association, the National
Catholic War Council (Knights of Co-
lumbus), the Jewish Welfare Board,
the American Library Association, the
Salvation Army, and the War Camp
Community Service. These organiza-
tions were engaged in activities dis-
tinctly different from those of the
bodies treated in the foregoing para-
graphs, inasmuch as their work was
designed primarily to maintain the
morale of soldiers in the fields. These
seven agencies sought a total of $170,-
500,000 to be distributed as follows:
Y. M. C. A., $100,000,000; K. of C,
$30,000,000; Jewish Welfare Board,
$3,500,000; American Library Asso-
ciation, $3,500,000; Salvation Army,
$3,500,000; War Camp Community
Service, $15,000,000. This was the
most remarkable campaign of money
solicitation ever carried out in the
United States. It was organized by
experts in such activities. In every
community an organization was per-
fected and the campaign, which lasted
for one week only, was carried out
with vim and exceptional thoroughness.
Total pledges in excess of the amount
originally expected were secured.
The Near East. Next to Belgium the
most important relief problems at the
close of war were those connected with
the millions of destitute persons in Ar-
menia, Syria, Russian Caucasus, Meso-
potamia, Macedonia, Egypt, and Pal-
estine. Throughout this immense area
the Red Cross did not maintain any
relief system. To meet these problems
the American Committee for Relief in
the Near East was organized and in-
corporated by act of Congress. Among
its principal organizers were Harry G.
Hoak, William G. Willcox, John B.
Breighton, Mrs. George W. Vander-
bilt, Mrs. Nicholas Murray Butler,
Mrs. W. Bourke Cochran, Mrs. Adrian
Iselin, Mrs. Ogden Mills Reid, Mrs.
Oren Root, Mrs. W. E. Guggenheim,
Charles E. Hughes, Bishop Greer, and
Rabbi Wise. It began at once to for-
mulate plans for an extensive campaign
to raise $30,000,000 for relief work.
Fraudulent Charities. From time to
time, from the very beginning of war
charities in the fall of 1914, there were
exposures of fraudulent promotions
and solicitations. The most exten-
sive exposure, however, was the result
of a special investigation made by the
District Attorney of New York and
made public at the close of 1918. He
found that millions of war charities
had been stolen and announced that
his investigation was the means of re-
covering $250,000 for worthy projects.
He recommended Federal investigation.
His study led to the indictment of
twenty-six alleged offenders, a number
of whom were convicted by the end of
the year. It was shown that the Na-
tional Committee of Defence had esti-
RELIEF MEASURES
303
mated that the American people had
contributed between three and four
billion dollars for war relief work, of
which about 60 per cent was raised in
New York. The investigation showed
that many persons of high character
and great prominence had carelessly
lent their names to the charitable pro-
motions of "ex-convicts," "confidence
men," "adventurers," and "social para-
sites." The "social climber" found in
ostentatious philanthropy and patriot-
ism means of acquiring social recogni-
tion. Frequently names of well-known
persons were used without their con-
sent or knowledge. The investigation
showed that many projects made con-
tracts with solicitors whereby the lat-
ter received from 40 per cent to 85
per cent of all their collections. The
district attorney thought that worthy
war relief societies had been robbed
of $3,000,000 and that in a great
many cases two-thirds of the money
collected had been wasted by fraudu-
lent or careless methods. After in-
vestigating 534 organizations he clas-
sified many of them as wasteful, profit-
eering, or foolish charities, and mis-
cellaneous frauds. He declared: "The
field of war relief work in the United
States presented a vast jungle of forms
and fancies as various as the human
imagination might suggest." Among
those classified as wasteful he enumer-
ated the Army and Navy Bazaar, the
American Ambulance in Russia, Hol-
land-American Home for Belgian Wid-
ows and Orphans ; and the French
Restoration Fund.
XII. FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS
In ancient times wars involved the
entire male population and frequently
the women as well in the actual fighting
and campaigning, but modem wars
affect the vast majority of the popu-
lation, even of belligerent nations, only
through their economic relations. The
development of the vast mechanism
called into operation by war to-day
has however required such immense
financial transactions and such gigan-
tic demands upon industrial resources
that these indirect effects in the Euro-
pean War were felt not merely by
every family in the fighting areas but
indeed by every family in the civilized
world. The first immediate financial
effect of the outbreak of war is a dis-
turbance of the machinery of inter-
national credit. Foreign investments
frequently aid during peace in restor-
ing the balance of trade, but in this
war investment movements were exact-
ly reversed. Thus normally the great
excess of United States exports of
merchandise over imports is offset in
large part by foreign investments in
American securities. But the war
brought a sharp reversal of this proc-
ess, the New York Stock Exchange
being deluged with orders from abroad
to sell at any price. The outbreak of
hostilities creates a desire to delay
payment of obligations owed but to
insist on immediate payment of those
due. Trade temporarily comes to a
standstill and gold shipments become
dangerous and. are impeded by great
advances in insurance rates and by the
reluctance of its holders to part with
it. Moreover so paralyzing was the
effect of the war at the moment it
began that a temporary cessation of
international exchange must have been
inevitable. The greatest force of these
conditions was naturally felt at Lon-
don, the world centre. Consequently
we find there the government taking
most extraordinary measures to restore
the movement of exchange. In war
as in times of financial crisis each na-
tion seeks to increase its gold holdings.
This can be done only by increasing
exports, decreasing imports, selling
foreign investments, or contracting ob-
ligations abroad. Now it is not pos-
sible for belligerent nations to increase
their exports because of the disturb-
ance of their own production, the
drafting of workers into the armies,
the increased demand for goods due to
the war, and, in the case of nations
hostile to England, the control of the
high seas by the British fleet. On the
other hand all fighting nations experi-
ence a greatly increased demand for
goods, especially for food and all kinds
of military supplies. This may be in
part offset, and vigorous efforts were
made in all countries and notably in
England, France, and Germany to off-
set this in part, by cutting down the
consumption of articles classed as lux-
uries. The great reduction of trade to
and from the Central Powers made
their foreign exchange problem rela-
tively simple, though the rates of ex-
change ran heavily against them. The
Allies on the other hand began the war
with rates of exchange in their favor,
mainly owing to the enormous obliga-
tions of the United States. This sit-
304
FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS
505
uation, however, was within a few
months exactly reversed owing to the
extensive purchases of the Allies and
the great volume of American securi-
ties sold by them. So unfavorable be-
came the rate and so necessary were
American goods that international
loans of unprecedented size were ef-
fected to enable the Allied Powers to
continue their purchases in the Amer-
ican market.
Closely involved with the problem
of international exchange are the bank-
ing institutions and their rates of in-
terest. In addition, however, the banks
must meet great internal problems con-
nected with currency, the flotation of
government loans, and the special
problems arising from the unique con-
ditions in internal trade. Currency
systems are deeply affected though less
markedly than formerly when their
basis was less firmly established. Nev-
ertheless the shock of war was every-
where so pronounced in its effect upon
instruments of credit that every bellig-
erent nation and the United States
were compelled to issue additions to
their outstanding currency. The in-
terruption of foreign trade and the
consequent dislocation of business are
reflected in the movement of the stock
markets. Almost upon the instant
that hostilities began the world's stock
exchanges were paralyzed. The
Bourses at Toronto and Madrid closed
July 28; those at Vienna, Budapest,
Brussels, Antwerp, Berlin, and Rome
on July 29 ; and those at Paris, St.
Petersburg (Petrograd), Montreal,
and all South American centres on
July 30. This threw the burden of
the world's stock market operations on
the London and New York exchanges.
The former of these closed on July
31 for the first time in its history. The
governors of the New York Exchange
thus faced a crucial situation. A
panicky state of mind prevailed; brok-
ers were deluged with orders, especially
from abroad, to "sell at the market" ;
it was evident that to remain open
meant complete demoralization. Con-
sequently this exchange also was closed
on July 31, shortly after that at Lon-
don.
The gradual readjustment of indus-
tries to the new war basis is another
fundamental aspect of its effects. Nev-
er before was concerted action in in-
dustrial life so supremely important for
the outcome of a trial at arms. The
war brought about an actual mobiliza-
tion of industries for war purposes in
every belligerent country. Moreover
the productive efforts of neutrals, not
merely in munitions manufacture, but
in many lines, were tremendously stim-
ulated. The productive power of the
entire world was raised almost to its
highest pitch in the vast attempt at
mutual destruction by the belliger-
ents. Never were goods produced so
abundantly and never was capital de-
stroyed so rapidly or the world has-
tened towards pauperization at such
a pace. The nearly complete cessation
of exports from the Central Powers in-
volved a violent readjustment in many
industries previously engaged in pro-
ducing for foreign markets. Among
the Allies such industries were less
disturbed, while in the United States
and other neutral countries there were
numerous transformations due not
merely to the development of munitions
factories, but to the manufacture of
all kinds of military supplies, and the
development of industries for supply-
ing articles previously imported from
Germany and Austria as well as sup-
plying the similar needs of other neu-
trals. Finally the outbreak of the war
was speedily followed in every nation
306
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
by the adoption of special financial
measures for supplying the needed pub-
lic funds and the longer the war con-
tinued the more vital became the ex-
tent, variety, and basis of the various
war loans. The foregoing — exchange,
banking, currency, stock market, war
loans, and the readjustments of indus-
try — constitute the principal features
of the effects of war on finance and
trade.
International Exchange and Banking
Problems. The financial problems con-
fronting the bankers and traders of
Great Britain were of the most mo-
mentous importance for the trade and
commerce of the world. The priority
of England in the development of in-
ternational trade had long since made
London both the financial and commer-
cial centre of the world. In conse-
quence an important part of London
financial institutions had been devoted
to settling accounts between debtors
and creditors in all parts of the world.
Here are included the accepting houses,
bill brokers and discounters, and the
banks. The immense volume of this
business is realized when it is known
that at any one time there were before
the war about $1,600,000,000 of trade
and finance bills for which the accept-
ing houses and banks were liable, many
millions falling due daily. The entire
system of handling international ex-
changes collapsed early in August and
it was not until about mid-September
that regular quotations of rates of
exchange again appeared in London.
Accepting houses and joint-stock
banks faced ruin because clients for
whom acceptances had been made failed
to remit; but these clients themselves
were confronted with canceled orders,
cessation of trade, stoppage of the
supply of goods, impossibility of re-
mitting and similar contingencies.
The discounters and bill brokers found
themselves with large quantities of dis-
counted bills on hand for which they
could not be reimbursed and at the
same time their banks were calling for
a return of loans. Even the banks
themselves were directly involved
through the possession of bills which
they had discounted. Moreover their
loans to bill brokers were counted as
quick assets and the embarrassment of
the brokers necessarily weakened the
banks. To check demands upon its re-
sources the Bank of England raised its
rate to 10 per cent.
Before this situation became unman-
ageable, the government on August 2,
two days before its own declaration of
war, declared a moratorium on bills of
exchange to last one month. This
checked the tendency to panic by giv-
ing a breathing spell during which
methods and means of handling the
problem were formulated.
Nine days later a Treasury state-
ment announced that the Bank of Eng-
land would rediscount on certain terms
any "approved bill" before it became
due; and that acceptors of bills would
be given time in which to make pay-
ment but would be required to pay %
per cent above bank rate for the priv-
ilege of extension. The government
suggested that the bank be prepared
to approve all bills customarily dis-
counted, "and also good trade bills,
and the acceptances of such foreign
and colonial firms and bank agencies as
are established in Great Britain," with
the understanding that the govern-
ment would guarantee the bank against
loss. On September 5 another Treas-
ury statement announced that, owing
to the choking of the exchange mechan-
ism by premoratorium bills, acceptors
would be lent funds for paying such
bills as they came due, and that any
FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS
307
unpaid balance of such loans would not
be pressed "for a period of one year
after the close of the war." Thus both
old and new acceptances seemed amply
protected. A further difficulty was met
in foreign indebtedness. On November
3 was promulgated a plan to investi-
gate solvent traders and advance them
funds up to 50 per cent of the foreign
debts due them. Thus every obstacle
to the resumption of exchange business
was removed. On the Continent sim-
ilar, but less stupendous, problems were
to be met. Moratoria were declared
in every belligerent country except
Germany, and in some neutral coun-
tries for reasons similar to the fore-
going. Germany avoided a morator-
ium mainly because of her isolation and
partly by the stoppage of collections
on bills owed abroad. In both France
and Germany, as in England, the cen-
tral banks were permitted to greatly
enlarge their note circulations and thus
expanded to unprecedented figures
their rediscounts for other banks.
The most serious aspect of the
American financial situation and the
fundamental cause of most difficulties
was the stupendous debt owing to
Europe upon the outbreak of war.
Although this country had normally a
trade balance of about one-half bil-
lion dollars annually, nevertheless its
indebtedness for interest and dividends,
for tourists' expenditures, for freight,
and* other items, changed the great
trade surplus into a net debt. Sir
George Paish, an international au-
thority who was sent to the United
States in October, 1914, by English
bankers to expedite the payment of
these obligations, estimated their total
at $600,000,000. This included more
than $100,000,000 of short-term loans
which ordinarily could have been easily
renewed or met by fall exports. Abroad
refuge had been taken behind mora-
toria; and the great central banks
of Europe served to pool resources and
control operations, while in the United
States the new Federal Reserve System
was not yet in working order. Al-
though $45,000,000 in gold was sent
to Europe during the last few days
of July and the first week of August,
sight exchange on London at New
York, normally $4.86 per pound ster-
ling, rose to $5, then to $6, and finally
to $7, a height never before approach-
ed, and regular exchange was not
quoted until September 11. A special
factor in aggravating the banking dif-
ficulties at New York was the matur-
ing early in the fall of about $82,-
000,000 of New York City warrants
held in London and Paris. To meet
these and to strengthen the city's cred-
it there was provided a loan of $100,-
000,000 in gold to which every bank
and trust company in the city but one
contributed. At the same time bank-
ers of the country created a "Gold
Pool' , of over $100,000,000 to meet
urgent mercantile obligations abroad,
and to provide gold needed for export.
It was composed of contributions from
banks in reserve cities in proportion
to their gold holdings. It served as a
guarantee against the complete col-
lapse of American credit abroad and
removed from the banks the necessity
of seeking refuge behind an unofficial
moratorium. Portions of this fund
were shipped to the branch of the Bank
of England established at Ottawa, Can-
ada, to serve as a basis for exchange
on London. The sharp rebound of
trade towards the close of the year,
the entrance of the world into the
American market for goods and loans
made possible the dissolution of the
"Gold Pool" in January, 1915.
The exchange situation was made
308
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
particularly difficult by the great re-
duction of the export trade, especially
the exportation of cotton. Moreover
the prosperity of the South was seri-
ously threatened unless some means
could be devised whereby cotton could
serve as a basis for additional credit.
Congress and Secretary McAdoo au-
thorized banks to issue emergency cur-
rency on the basis of cotton ware-
house certificates. About the same
time a plan for a Cotton Loan Pool
was devised whereby pledges to supply
funds to be loaned through Southern
banks to cotton growers were deposit-
ed with members of the Federal Re-
serve Board as individuals. By the
middle of November more than $100,-
000,000 was thus subscribed. How-
ever the considerable revival of the ex-
port trade in cotton towards the close
of 1914 together with the great im-
provement of internal trade, and the
bracing effect of the establishment of
the Federal Reserve System made the
cotton pool well-nigh unnecessary. It
became inoperative in January, 1915,
only $28,000 having been applied for.
The rates of international exchange
reflect the conditions both of trade
and of credit. At New York the rate
on London was not regularly quoted
until September 11, when the cable
transfer rate stood at $4.95, par of
exchange being $4.86. It became still
more unfavorable, reaching $4,975 in
the weeks of October 8 and 15. It
thereafter fell steadily, reaching par
on December 22. It continued to fall
until early September, 1915, when it
reached $4.63. It was partially re-
stored by the Anglo-French loan, but
only for a brief period. In December
the British government began to bor-
row or purchase American and Cana-
dian securities owned by English citi-
zens with a view to their use as secur-
ity for loans to be advanced by Amer-
ican bankers as a means of preventing
further declines in the rate of ex-
change. About the same time the im-
portation of certain luxuries was pro-
hibited for a like reason.
At Paris the rate of exchange was
slightly unfavorable to London during
the first half of October, no rates be-
ing quoted during August and Sep-
tember; it gradually declined until
November 26 and thereafter rose con-
tinuously, reaching par again Febru-
ary 19, 1915. It thereafter continued
to become slightly more unfavorable to
Paris with every passing week. In
May, 1916, Finance Minister Ribot be-
gan the collection of American, Swiss,
Dutch, Scandinavian, and South Amer-
ican securities to be used as a basis
for credits for equalizing exchange
with the United States.' At the same
time the government announced a long
list of articles the importation of which
was prohibited partly to affect ex-
change rates.
Almost from the beginning of the
war rates of exchange were unfavor-
able to Berlin. The slight volume of
foreign trade and the adjustment of
outstanding accounts early brought
the rates to considerable stability.
Nevertheless the continued purchases
in neighboring neutral countries and
the steady inflation of German cur-
rency brought about a decline of Ger-
man credit in the later months of 1915.
Thus the exchange rate at New York
had been only 14 per cent unfavorable
until November, 1915, when it dropped
rapidly to 26 per cent unfavorable.
Similar rapid declines brought about
rates unfavorable by 38 per cent at
Amsterdam, and by 28 per cent at
Zurich.
As stated above the New York Stock
Exchange was forced to close very
FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS
309
quickly after the closing of the Lon-
don Exchange. This naturally dis-
turbed the banking situation since con-
siderable loans were based on stock as
collateral. Such collateral is general-
ly most fluid of all, but with its mar-
ket closed it became quite solidified.
The banks, however, gradually read-
justed affairs without forcing repay-
ment of loans or otherwise unduly dis-
turbing a delicate situation. The re-
opening of the Exchange was delayed
in part to prevent the resumption of
the pressure of European sellers and
the consequent increase of foreign ob-
ligations. The Exchange declared the
level of prices on July 30 the official
minimum, and on this basis some
transactions were carried through un-
der the direction of a Committee of
Five. In this manner more than $100,-
000,000 of bonds and 250,000 shares
of stock were transferred by the end
of November. In Philadelphia public
auction sales of stocks and bonds were
held at various times, prices ranging
not far below those of July 30. Grad-
ually at New York the scope of ex-
change business was enlarged ; trans-
actions in a restricted list of bonds
were begun on November 28 ; and two
weeks later trading in 181 specified
stocks with definitely established mini-
mum prices was begun. The total deal-
ings, however, on the New York Ex-
change aggregated only 47,899,000
shares for the year 1914, slightly more
than one-third those of 1912.
With the opening of 1915, however,
pessimism gradually disappeared un-
der the revival of business and was re-
placed by waves of speculative fever
in the stock market. This was notably
true in April when 21,000,000 shares
were transferred, and in August, Sep-
tember, and October, 26,000,000 shares
being transferred in the latter month.
The shares of the munitions companies
were popularly known as "war brides."
Many of these stocks made most phe-
nomenal advances in price during the
year. Less speculative interest was
shown in the stocks of numerous com-
panies manufacturing supplies the de-
mand for which had been greatly stim-
ulated by the conditions of war. More-
over the great increase in the volume
of railway traffic, which towards the
close of 1915 amounted to an unpre-
cedented congestion of freight and
the refusal of numerous roads with ter-
minals on the Atlantic seaboard to re-
ceive additional goods for export dur-
ing certain periods, resulted in ad-
vances in railway stocks. This revival
of business did not occur soon enough
to prevent a very large amount of rail-
way mileage from going into the hands
of receivers, but railway stocks in gen-
eral showed advances of 10 to 20
points.
The bond market likewise reflected
the great abundance of capital seeking
investment. While advances in bond
prices were not remarkable, there was
a general upward movement ranging
from 1 to 6 per cent during 1915.
Moreover the easy money market re-
sulted in the ready flotation of an un-
usual amount of public and corpora-
tion bonds.
In addition to the foregoing the
American market absorbed an aston-
ishing volume of securities previously
held by foreign investors. At the open-
ing of the war the par value of Amer-
ican corporation securities owned
abroad was variously estimated at
from $4,000,000,000 to $6,000,000,-
000. The most authoritative estimate
showed that $620,000,000 of these se-
curities were repurchased during the
first five months of 1915 ; the estimate
for the entire year was that not less
310
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
than $1,000,000,000 of such stocks 1
and bonds were transferred to Amer-
ican investors. See below.
Currency. Every country in war
time experiences an irresistible demand
for increases in credit instruments. Not
only do governments issue treasury
notes but banks are certain, as in times
of panic, to increase their note issues.
In England there was much discussion
of a proposed "suspension of the Bank
Act," meaning a proposal to permit
the Bank of England to expand its
note circulation without increasing its
reserves. The steps devised for rees-
tablishing foreign exchange obviated
this measure, though Bank of England
circulation was expanded and a large
volume of £1 and 5s treasury notes
were issued. A law of August 7 made
riot merely these treasury notes legal
tender but also postal money orders.
Provision was also made for the issue
of certificates, like clearing-house cer-
tificates, for the settlement of bank
balances. Finally the currency and
Bank Notes Act authorized the Bank
of England to issue to depositary
banks notes up to 20 per cent of their
deposits and current balances. In
May, 1916, the bank held $140,000,-
000 in gold against over $500,000,000
of paper. The bank, however, owing
to its command of the entire gold pro-
duction of South Africa amounting to
about $200,000,000 per year, was en-
abled to make extensive gold shipments
to the United States and at the same
time maintain its credit unimpaired.
In France the government authorized
practically unlimited issues by the
Bank of France and various promises
of the government were issued. (See
below, Cost of the War.) It was esti-
mated that whereas the actual inflation
in England amounted to about 144
per cent by December, 1915, it was
157 per cent in France. In Germany,
as explained below, the Darlehnskassen
and the Kriegskreditbanken notes were
based on property of various kinds.
These tended to drive gold and silver
out of circulation so that the govern-
ment authorized the Reichsbank to is-
sue its own notes in exchange for them.
At the same time, however, the bank
was instructed to refuse to pay out
gold for its own notes, but a vigorous
effort was made to increase the bank's
gold reserves. This reserve was thus
increased from about $300,000,000 in
July, 1914, to $610,000,000 in Janu-
ary, 1916. But the notes for which
the bank was responsible had increased
from $475,000,000 to $1,560,000,000.
Austria and Hungary likewise went
speedily to a paper basis.
The breaking down of the mechanism
of international credit seemed certain
to produce a panic in American bank-
ing circles. The American banking
system was individualistic and proverb-
ially weak under strained credit. It
failed to supply additions to the cur-
rency at times when most needed. The
Federal Reserve System was particu-
larly designed to remedy this weak-
ness, but in August, 1914, this system
had not been finally established. After
a conference of bankers and the Sec-
retary of the Treasury at New York
on August 2 it was decided to issue
emergency currency under the Aldrich-
Vreeland Act as modified by the Fed-
eral Reserve Act of 1913, and to issue
in addition clearing-house certificates.
Congress responded to the situation by
hurriedly enacting a law reducing the
tax on emergency notes for the first
three months to 3 per cent and in-
creasing their limit to 125 per cent of
capital and surplus. Moreover State
banks affiliated with the reserve sys-
tem were authorized to take out notes ;
FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS
311
and cotton and tobacco warehouse re-
ceipts were made a legal basis for note
issues. In consequence more than
$250,000,000 of emergency currency
had been issued by September 1 ; a to-
tal of $384,500,000 of such notes was
issued by December 1. Very little pub-
licity was given to the issue of clear-
ing-house certificates in principal bank-
ing centres of the country, but $250,-
000,000 of them were issued. Prac-
tically all of the emergency currency
and the clearing-house certificates were
retired by the end of January, 1915.
Meanwhile the banking and credit sit-
uation had been materially strength-
ened indirectly by the revival of trade
and directly by the final establishment
of the Federal Reserve System, which
was in full working order by November
28, 1914. See below.
Employment and Wages. In every
nation the opening of hostilities brought
on a temporary paralysis of trade, mak-
ing the problem of unemployment acute
in every belligerent country. Special
committees, national and local, and
special relief funds were created to
meet the situation. The gradual read-
justment of industry to a war basis
and the recruiting of vast armies, how-
ever, very soon solved the problem.
In Great Britain the labor problem
was greatly complicated by the re-
quirements of international trade.
There were not merely the demands of
the army and navy for equipment and
munitions, but the immense difficulty
of paying for greatly increased im-
ports from countries to which exports
were reduced. This difficulty was
greatly increased by the requirement
that Great Britain aid in financing her
allies and colonies. Consequently the
raising of an army at home was di-
rectly counter to her financial and com-
mercial demands. The general effect
of war on labor was stated by Glad-
stone to be an immense stimulus dur-
ing war with enlarged employment and
rise in wages, but excessive labor com-
petition, severe unemployment, and
reductions in wages when war is over.
The truth of the first part of this
statement was made manifest in 1914.
Very shortly in every country there
was less unemployment than in times
of peace, labor shortage actually be-
came acute, wages advanced, and great
numbers of women were drawn into
unwonted industrial pursuits.
At the outset Great Britain was more
unfavorably situated with regard to
the manufacture of munitions of war
than France, Germany, or Austria,
Except for a few scattered private
firms, a few small governmental estab-
lishments working for both army and
navy, and the Woolwich Arsenal em-
ploying about 10,000 men, she had no
munitions factories operating in July,
1914. Nevertheless 18 months later
the entire country was dotted with
such factories, their creation being one
of the striking phenomena of the war.
The astounding demands early aroused
the existing arm makers to the highest
pitch of activity, but it early became
evident that the output of existing
plants would be inadequate. By Feb-
ruary, 1915, it became manifest that
heroic measures must be adopted to se-
cure an adequate output. Out of the
delays and confusion resulted a minis-
terial crisis in May, 1915, which led
to the formation of the Ministry of
Munitions with Mr. Lloyd-George as
its head. This sought to develop the
latent capacities of manufactures in
engineering and mechanical trades.
The entire country was divided into
eight munitions districts, besides two
in Scotland and two in Ireland, with
committees in principal towns. In
312
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
March the Defense of the Realm Act
had authorized the government to com-
mandeer any factory for war purposes.
Under this Act many old plants had
already been transformed and new ones
built, equipped, and manned. The
Ministry of Munitions was needed,
however, to bring order out of existing
chaos by centralizing responsibility
and control. It systematically inves-
tigated and listed every available fac-
tory and private resource. By the
close of 1915 there were in addition 33
national shell factories employing from
300 to 1,000 persons each, which had
been created at government expense by
adapting existing establishments. At
the same time a number of national
projectile factories were being com-
pleted to manufacture ammunition for
a new type of heavy gun. Gradually
the staff of the munitions office, includ-
ing over 3,000 persons divided among
numerous departments, was brought to
a high state of efficiency. From the
first a source of great embarrassment
was the inadequacy of skilled labor
and its attitude towards the training
and employment of unskilled workers.
This problem was intensified by the
enormous enlargement of the munitions
industry, and was not alleviated by ex-
tensive advertisement for machinists
in the United States. It was estimated
that early in 1916 this business alone
employed not less than 1,000,000
workers. Among these were included
about 300,000 women who were found
in England, as in France and Ger-
many, to be capable of performing
practically every kind of labor re-
quired in munitions making. The or-
ganized skilled workers objected to the
"dilution" of the shops by unskilled
and semi-skilled workers, and resorted
to strikes and other interruptions. Acts
of Parliament very considerably re-
duced the privileges of labor to leave
work and to transfer at will, but spe-
cial boards for adjusting demands were
created and elaborate rules were estab-
lished to protect the health of the
workers, especially of Avomen and chil-
dren.
Statistical measures of the amount
of unemployment were not wanting.
The Labor Gazette gave the percent-
age of trade-union members unemployed
in June, 1914, as 2.4; it rose to 7.3
in August, and declined steadily there-
after to 2.5 in December, 1914, and to
0.5 in February, 1916. Wages showed
little advance before January, 1915,
but in February moved sharply upward
in engineering, shipbuilding, railway
service, docking, and carting, and
thereafter the advance spread to all
lines. The dearth of skilled labor re-
sulted in many labor tangles, but the
government and trade-union officials
succeeded in maintaining an unusual
degree of industrial peace. The num-
ber of trade disputes in 1914 was 999,
involving 448,529 workers and a loss
of 10,111,337 days of work; while in
1915 they numbered only 674, involv-
ing 445,936 workers and a loss of only
2,929,700 days of work.
The French Ministry of Labor re-
ported that in August, 1914, only 48
per cent of establishments and 58 per
cent of workers were employed. There
was, however, a continuous improve-
ment. By October, 1915, 81 per cent
of establishments and 98 per cent of
workers were employed. In metal
manufactures and transportation new
workers had been employed in num-
bers nearly sufficient to offset those
with the colors ; and this was partially
true of food and chemical industries.
But in printing, woodworking, build-
ing, glass and pottery making, and
precious metals the numbers employed
FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS
313
at the later date were less than half
the peace normal. As in England
women were drawn in great numbers,
not only into munitions manufacture,
but into many lines of industry, agri-
culture, and transportation.
In Germany the general course of
events was very similar to that in Eng-
land and France. The general dis-
location of industry at the outbreak
of the war brought into operation con-
certed action not merely to relieve un-
employment but to shift industry to a
war basis. The amount of unemploy-
ment among trade unions was 22.4 per
cent at the end of August, 1914. It
dropped to 15.7 per cent by the end of
September, and continued steadily
downward to 7.2 per cent at the end of
December. This, however, was suf-
ficiently above normal to require a
special appropriation of $125,000 per
month by the city of Berlin to relieve
unemployment during the winter of
1914-1915. By May, 1915, trade-
union members unemployed numbered
only 2.9 per cent ; by September, only
2.5 per cent, at which percentage it
remained until February, 1916. As in
other countries all trades engaged di-
rectly or indirectly in the production
of military supplies were unusually
prosperous, were employing unusual
numbers of workers, and paying higher
wages than before the war. But among
hat makers, printers, lithographers,
bookbinders, woodworkers, and porce-
lain workers the percentage of unem-
ployment was considerably higher than
normal. The employment of women
was very extensive ; their number in un-
accustomed pursuits reached 500,000
by July, 1915; they were found in
nearly every branch of industry.
The effect of the war upon American
industrial conditions was most remark-
able. The impetus of the new demands
set up by the war began to be felt be-
fore the close of 1914. Early in 1915
feverish activity began in various
branches of the iron and steel industry,
in the production of copper, lead, spel-
ter, and other metals, and in all
branches of munitions manufacture.
From these industries the impetus
gradually spread to all allied indus-
tries and to those engaged in manu-
facturing such articles as automobiles,
railway supplies, boots and shoes, blan-
kets and woolen goods, and food prod-
ucts. While in the fall of 1914 unem-
ployment had been extensive, this prob-
lem gradually disappeared, with the
result that by the middle of 1915 there
was an actual scarcity of labor in many
lines, especially skilled labor, and
wages had begun to advance. Conse-
quently by the fall of 1915 the tremen-
dous stimulus to American industry
had reached all branches of the retail
trade. Estimates of war orders placed
in the United States during 1915
varied widely, ranging all the way
from $1,000,000,000 to $2,000,000,-
000. During the early months of 1915
the Allies were victimized extensively
by smooth, self-constituted, and often
irresponsible agents of manufacturers,
and by other speculating intermedia-
ries seeking fortunes in commissions on
war orders. Occasionally the Allies
were defrauded by the manufacturers
themselves. In all of this immense war
business there was a feverish haste
and a recklessness in expenditure that
involved much waste. This was reduced,
however, by the development by the
Allies of regular channels for placing
orders and by an elaborate and ex-
tremely thorough system of inspection
of products. (See below.)
American Foreign Trade. Not only
did the Allies resort to the United
States for unprecedented quantities of
314
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
goods of numerous kinds, but Secre-
tary of Commerce Redfield pointed out
in his annual report for 1915 that the
demands of Canada, Central and South
America, India, the Near East, South
Africa, and indeed every part of the
world for American goods had in-
creased. The impetus of this world-
wide demand was scarcely felt during
1914. Consequently the exports in
that year differed very little from
those of the preceding years, being
slightly less than in 1912 or 1913.
For the calendar year 1915, however,
the exports reached the remarkable
figure of $3,547,480,372. This was an
excess over imports of $1,768,883,677,
an excess more than two and one-half
times that of the previous maximum
in 1913. Net importations of gold ag-
gregated $530,000,000 in 1916, as
compared with net importations of
$420,000,000 in 1915. The fiscal year,
1916, showed imports valued at $2,-
197,883,510 and exports at $4,333,-
482,885; 1917, imports, $2,659,355,-
185, exports, $6,290,048,394; 1918,
imports, $2,946,059,403; exports, $5,-
928,285,641.
The immense volume of American
export trade created an unprecedented
situation in the shipping world. By
the fall of 1915 the quantity of goods
for export actually exceeded the car-
rying capacity of merchant vessels
available, in spite of great advances
in freight rates and the utilization of
every type of craft however old. Brit-
ish experts pointed out that their gov-
ernment had requisitioned for war pur-
poses not less than 50 per cent of the
tntire British merchant fleet. German
submarine activities had destroyed
about 6 per cent. Moreover the large
German merchant marine was practic-
ally nonexistent. Consequently freight
rates first doubled, then trebled and
quadrupled, and in special cases ad-
vanced as much as 900 per cent by the
spring of 1916. In some instances a
vessel would earn its entire cost on a
single round trip. Antiquated steam
vessels were selling at prices from two
to five times their value before the war ;
consequently there developed unpre-
cedented activity in American ship-
building yards. By April 1, 1916, or-
ders had been given for 360 vessels
with a tonnage of more than 1,000,000,
and 6,000,000 were expected in 1918.
World Trade. The war seemed des-
tined to have permanent and far-reach-
ing effects upon the world's commerce.
In America active measures were begun
before the close of 1915 to strengthen
the American hold upon new markets
and to increase cooperation in foreign
trade after the war. On December 1,
1915, e.g., was organized the American
International Corporation, with $50,-
000,000 capital. Its purpose was to
develop trade connections in foreign
countries and promote the investment
of American capital abroad. Its or-
ganization was led by the National
City Bank, which was then engaged in
establishing branches in principal
South American countries. This bank
also had acquired control of the Inter-
national Banking Corporation with 16
banks in China, Japan, India, the
Philippines, and Panama. The Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce
and the Federal Trade Commission and
numerous business organizations de-
voted much attention to the further-
ance of all efforts to secure a firm
grasp of markets previously held by
English and German traders. Similar-
ly plans were formulated early in 1916
for systematic study of the demands of
Europe during the period of recon-
struction following the war. Among
the Allies every effort was made to
FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS
315
stamp out every trace of German eco-
nomic penetration, and plans were
formulated for reducing German com-
petition upon the restoration of peace.
On April 23, 1916, there opened in
Paris the International Parliamentary
Economic Conference of the Entente
Allies for the discussion of trade agree-
ments and legislative measures designed
to reduce German competition and
facilitate trade among the Allies and
their colonies. From Germany it was
reported that systematic measures
were being taken to prosecute most
vigorously efforts to regain lost trade.
See below.
Foreign Credits. The commanding
importance of the United States as the
greatest neutral market of the world
made it for the first time in its history
a lender on a large scale. During 1915
loans aggregating $1,000,000,000 were
contracted in America by foreign gov-
ernments, more than four-fifths of the
proceeds being expended there for war
supplies. Loans to the Canadian Do-
minion government, eight provinces,
and ten cities, aggregated $147,000,-
000. Argentina borrowed $64,000,000 ;
Switzerland, $15,000,000 ; Sweden, $5,-
000,000 ; Norway, $8,000,000 ; Greece,
$7,000,000; notes of the German
Treasury to the amount of $10,000,-
000 were sold to American investors.
Russia secured loans for $92,000,000 ;
Italy borrowed $25,000,000; but the
great loans were those contracted by
France and Great Britain. In addi-
tion to the Anglo-French loan of $500,-
000,000, France secured $75,000,000
on notes, bonds, and collateral ; and
London banks borrowed $50,000,000.
The purpose of these loans was to
equalize rates of exchange, but in spite
of them and extensive gold shipments
sterling exchange declined to $4.63 by
September, 1915. It was therefore nec-
essary for British financiers to restore
a more normal rate. In that month a
commission of British and French fi-
nanciers came to the United States
to establish a credit for $750,000,000
or even $1,000,000,000. The sum,
however, was reduced to $500,000,000
after various conferences. A syndicate
was formed led by J. P. Morgan &
Company which took the loan at 96 or
on a basis to yield an average of 5.75
per cent. Early in 1916 Argentina se-
cured an additional $15,000,000; and
Canada, $75,000,000. See below.
Prices and Food Supplies. Inevitably
the war had a far-reaching effect upon
the movements of prices throughout the
world. War not only destroys existing
property, but it requires the creation
and consumption of goods in amounts
immesnsely greater than the demands of
peace. All sorts of raw materials are
required in unprecedented amounts and
their prices together with those of
products made from them rise corre-
spondingly. The most striking ad-
vances were those of copper, nickel,
lead, zinc, and all kinds of steel prod-
ucts, together with the various con-
stituents used in the manufacture of
explosives ; but even more important
in their effect upon the general wel-
fare of the inhabitants not only of bel-
ligerent but of all other nations was
the rise in the prices of food products.
Thus, e.g., the price of copper rose
from about 12 cents to nearly 30 cents
per pound; cotton doubled in value;
and food prices rose so extensively
that administrative measures to regu-
late them were undertaken by Austria,
Bulgaria, Denmark, Egypt, France,
Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hol-
land, Italy, Norway, Russia, Serbia,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Tur-
key. Most of these countries prohibited
the exportation of foodstuffs. In most
316
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
of them municipal authorities either
alone or in conjunction with national
or military authorities fixed maximum
prices.
The actual extent olf the rise in
prices is best indicated by index num-
bers. For the United States Brad-
street's Index rose from $8.7087 on
August 1 to $9.8495 on August 15,
1914. It dropped during the next 10
weeks and thereafter rose steadily to
$11.7598 on April 1, 1916. In Great
Britain an astonishing rise in the price
of coal resulted in the appointment
of a commission of investigation in
March, 1915. This body found that the
increase of 100 per cent or more was
a natural consequence of the recruit-
ing of nearly 250,000 miners and in-
creases in cost of transportation. Ac-
cording to the Board of Trade Labour
Gazette retail food prices advanced
from July, 1914, to March, 1916, by
45 per cent in small towns and 51 per
cent in large towns, an average of 48
per cent for the United Kingdom.
The greatest interest attached to the
question whether Germany could be
starved into submission. Normally the
annual excess of German food imports
over exports is considerable. In 1912
and 1913 this excess amounted to 2,-
000,000 tons of wheat, 3,000,000 tons
of barley, 1,000,000 tons of corn, and
500,000 tons of rice and potatoes.
There are normally also large imports
of meat and animal products, oil cake,
and fodder. Imports amounted to about
40 per cent of the annual consumption
of meat products, and 20 to 30 per cent
of grains and vegetable products. The
war cut off most of the imports ; the
campaigns in East Prussia and Alsace
destroyed crops ; agricultural labor was
reduced; North Sea fisheries were
closed ; and Chile fertilizer no longer
available. Nevertheless considerable
supplies were still derived from Hol-
land, Scandinavia, and Switzerland, and
through military and diplomatic oper-
ations large supplies of grain and fod-
der were procured from Bulgaria and
Rumania. Moreover the entire eco-
nomic resources of the Empire were
mobilized by the early creation of an
economic general staff, "The Division
of Raw Materials of War," which re-
organized industry, reduced consump-
tion, reclaimed old materials, utilized
b} 7 -products, created new materials and
new chemical and industrial methods,
erected factories, controlled goods
seized by the armies and had great
powers of appraisal and price fixing.
By January, 1915, the extravagance
of many consumers, the speculation in
food prices, and the manipulation of
food supplies and markets induced the
government to extend its control. On
January 25 it was decreed that all sup-
plies of wheat and rye should come un-
der control of the War Grain Associa-
tion ; and local supplies were placed in
charge of Communal Associations. The
consumption of cereals was brought un-
der the supervision of an Imperial Dis-
tributing Bureau. In February a sys-
tem of regulating the bread supply by
bread cards, which limited the weekly
consumption of each individual or fam-
ily, was instituted. With the passage
of time similar regulations were ex-
tended to meat and vegetables, and
finally in May, 1916, the control of all
food supplies was placed in charge of
a "food dictator" or government bu-
reau. While the best statistical evi-
dence seemed to indicate that food sup-
plies were sufficient to meet minimum re-
quirements there was some evidence that
high prices led to serious food riots and
much popular discontent late in 1915
and in 1916. According to the Prus-
sian official Statistische Korrespondenz
FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS
317
the prices of 20 important food prod-
ucts rose 88.5 per cent from July, 1914,
to Feb. 1, 1916.
In Vienna official reports showed an
advance of 112.9 per cent in 17 im-
portant foods from July, 1914, to De-
cember, 1915. In Italy the general
level of food prices was 31.2 per cent
higher in December, 1915, than in July,
1914. The official index of retail food
prices in Australia advanced 31 per
cent from July, 1914, to July, 1915 ;
39 per cent to August, 1915 ; and then
fell, being 31 per cent higher in No-
vember, 1915, than in July, 1914. In
New Zealand general prices rose 30 per
cent from August, 1914, to December,
1915, inclusive. Official publications
showed that in Copenhagen the cost of
living rose 24.2 per cent from July,
1914, to February, 1916; for food
prices alone the advance was 33.4 per
cent.
The Monthly Labor Review for
October, 1918, gave comparative fig-
ures of changes in retail prices from
July, 1914, to various dates in 1918 for
a considerable number of countries. If
the retail price level of July, 1914, be
considered in each case equal to 100,
then the retail prices of 22 foodstuffs
in the United States advanced to 125
by January, 1917; 157 by January,
1918 ; and 159 by June, 1918. In Aus-
tralia 46 foods advanced to 125 by
January, 1917; 129 by January, 1918,
and 131 by March, 1918. The Austra-
lian price level for foods did, in fact,
change little after July, 1915, when it
was 131. For Vienna, Austria, figures
were not abundant, but showed that 18
foods rose to about 220 by January,
1916; 272, by January, 1917, and 315
foy August, 1917. Subsequent com-
parative figures were lacking. In Can-
ada 29 foodstuffs reached a level of
138 by January, 1917; 167 by Janu-
ary, 1918, and 172 by June, 1918, thus
exceeding the advance in the United
States. In France, 13 foodstuffs, in
cities over 10,000 population, except
Paris, rose to 123 by July, 1915 ; 141,
by July, 1916; 184 by July, 1917, and
232 by April, 1918. While a satisfac-
tory index for Germany was wanting,
it was found that 19 foodstuffs at Ber-
lin had somewhat more than doubled in
prices between July, 1914, and October,
1916. In Great Britain the index of
21 foodstuffs doubled between July,
1914, and June, 1917, but remained al-
most stationary for the succeeding
year. The index of 24 articles of food
for Norway had doubled by March,
1917, when the index was 204; it rose
steadily to 312 in May, 1918. For
Sweden, the advance was less sharp than
in Norway ; the index for 21 articles
of food did not reach 200 until Novem-
ber, 1917 ; for May, 1918, it was 258.
From the Labour Gazette (October,
1918), it appears that the cost of liv-
ing in Norway had advanced during the
war up to April, 1918, by at least 140
per cent, while wages had advanced only
90 per cent. In Sweden, the cost of
living, based on the average family bud-
get, was estimated to have increased
119 per cent during the same period.
Cost of the War. The real cost of
war should be measured in terms of
the sacrifices of the people engaged in
it and of the rest of the world. Such
sacrifices would include not merely the
loss of lives of those killed in combat,
the sufferings of the wounded, and the
increased death rate both during and
after the war consequent upon injuries
and deprivations, but also the labors,
hardships, and sufferings imposed upon
the soldiers and the non-fighting popu-
lation both during actual hostilities
and during the long years of recupera-
tion thereafter. It is evident that such
318
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
a cost cannot be computed. Even when
measured in financial terms the cost
should include not merely the huge pub-
lic expenditures but also the dislocation,
misdirection, and destruction of produc-
tive power, both of labor and of capital,
and the destruction of private and pub-
lic property, works of art, and great
historical landmarks. It is evident that
these latter items can be only roughly
approximated. Consequently the cost
of war is usually stated in terms of gov-
ernmental expenditures.
The approximate per capita indebt-
edness on March 1 was : Great Britain,
$242; France, $330; Germany, $177;
Austria-Hungary, $159; Italy, $87;
and Russia (in Europe), $57.
The daily cost of war gradually in-
creased from less than $40,000,000 per
day at the beginning to fully $122,-
500,000 per day to January, 1918. The
following table estimates total and daily
costs, exclusive of the United States.
Country
Cost to
Jan. 1, 1918
Daily cost
$27,236,500,000
18,405.000,000
14,340,000,000
7,650,000,000
2,165,000,000
$32,500,000
17,000,000
16,000,000
Italv
10,000,000
Other Allies
3 000,000
Total for Allies
$69,796,500,000
24,455,000,000
10,475,000,000
1,755,000,000
$78,500,000
27,000,000
Turkey and Bulgaria. . . .
15.000,000
2,000,000
Central Powers
$36,685,000,000
$44,000,000
$106,481,500,000
$122,500,000
The loans of the various belligerents
from the beginning of the war to
March 1, 1916, aggregated over $29,-
000,000,000. Of this enormous sum
the Allied Powers had contracted 68 per
cent and Great Britain alone 26 per
cent or more than one-fourth. British
loans included the first war loan of
$1,750,000,000 of 3l/o per cent bonds
on a basis of 3.97 per cent ; the second
war loan of $2,925,000,000 of 4y 2 per
cent bonds on a basis of 4.58 per cent ;
and treasury bills of over $2,000,000,-
000. There were also included loans
for Canada, India, and Australia ag-
gregating over $260,000,000, one-half
of the Anglo-French loan in the United
States, and advances to Allies and col-
onies exceeding $2,000,000,000. In ad-
dition to the above the English Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer had announced in
February, 1916, that an additional war
credit of $2,500,000,000 was immediate-
ly needed, bringing the English total of
loans to over $10,000,000,000. The
principal item for France was the Loan
of Victory of 5 per cents at 87 to yield
5.75 per cent aggregating $3,100,000,-
000. There were advances from the
Bank of France to Feb. 17, 1916, of
$1,120,000,000; bonds and notes in
London of $506,000,000; and one-half
of the Anglo-French loan, besides notes
and banking credits in New York
amounting to $80,000,000. France had
also issued national-defense bonds to
the amount of $1,392,584,000. Russia
had issued four internal loans aggre-
gating $1,545,000,000; 4 per cent
bonds to the amount of $309,000,000 ;
treasury bills at 5 per cent aggregat-
ing $1,364,750,000; and had con-
tracted loans in England, France,
Japan, and the United States to com-
plete her total. In Italy there had been
three issues of 25-year bonds bearing
4l/o or 5 per cent in the aggregate
amount of $1,190,000,000. In addition
she had contracted obligations in Eng-
land for $250,000,000 and in the United
States for $25,000,000. France and
England had advanced to Belgium
$218,000,000. Japan issued a loan for
$26,000,000 in 1914. Serbia had se-
cured $33,000,000 from France.
The German loans began with a 5
per cent issue at 97.5 in September,
1914, to the amount of $2,125,000,000.
FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS
319
A second issue of 5 per cents at 98 in
May, 1915, totaled $2,250,000,000. A
third in September, 1915, at 99 aggre-
gated $3,000,000,000. The fourth
loan bearing 5 per cent interest, the
books for which were closed in April,
1916, reached $2,500,000,000. Special
banks (Darlehnska~ssen) were estab-
lished by the government for the pur-
pose of advancing money on securities
of various kinds, such money to be in-
vested in the loans. Similar advances
of paper money (DarlehnsJcassen-
sclieine) were made on goods for export
but unable to leave Germany during the
war. In some cases even pledged prop-
erty, household goods, and instruments
of trade could be mortgaged to these
banks in order to secure funds for in-
vestment in the war loans. In the sec-
ond loan the bonds of the first loan were
accepted in part payment; but the
amount of such transactions was not
published. In the third loan the gov-
ernment exchanged its obligations for
contracts of manufacturers and traders
to deliver to the government goods of
a specified value. It was believed by
many that the slight resort to taxation,
the great expansion of paper currency,
and excessive use of credit were unsound
methods of war finance.
The Austro-Hungarian loans includ-
ed a first, second, and third Austrian
loan aggregating $1,782,000,000 and
a first and second Hungarian loan
aggregating $471,000,000 besides loans
contracted in Germany to the amount
of $298,500,000. The actual expend-
itures, however, of the Dual Monarchy
were somewhat shrouded in mystery.
In floating their loans special banks and
methods similar to those adopted in
Germany were used. Turkey contracted
two loans in Germany amounting to
$214,000,000; and Bulgaria borrowed
$30,000,000 from German bankers.
In addition to the foregoing various
neutral countries had been forced to
contract loans by the added expend-
itures made necessary by the war. These
amounted to $143,000,000 in Holland;
$40,000,000 for Rumania; $25,000,-
000 for Egypt; $51,000,000 for Swit-
zerland; $28,000,000 for Denmark;
$24,800,000 for Spain ; $16,000,000 for
Norway ; $14,380,000 for Sweden ; and
$8,000,000 for Greece.
The Last Two Years of the War.
The Wall Street Journal computed the
total outlay of all nations for the first
three full years of war, July, 1914, to
August, 1917, at 90 billion dollars.
The daily cost had reached $117,000,-
000. The daily cost to Great Britain
rose to about $40,000,000 in the winter
of 1916-17, but fell off nearly $5,000,-
000 by mid-summer. The total for all
belligerents must have approximated at
least 122 billions by the middle of 1918.
American War Finance. The Fed-
eral war finance programme was pro-
digious. Little exact knowledge existed
within the first months after the decla-
ration of war of the total disbursements
that would be required. Even as late
as November 1 estimates were given to
the papers that the requirements for
the fiscal year 1917-18 would range
from 14 billion dollars to 19 billion
dollars. The actual appropriations for
war purposes made by the 64th Con-
gress, 2d session, were $1,977,210,000.
The appropriations made by the 1st
session of the 65th Congress were $16,-
901,967,000. There were in addition
authorized contracts for $2,511,954,-
000. The total of these three items is
$21,390,731,000. Of this seven billion
dollars was to be lent to the Allies at the
rate of $500,000,000 per month. It
was not known even in December how
much of these vast appropriations
would be actually spent before June,
320
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
1918. It did not seem possible in view
of the productive capacity of the coun-
try for the government to spend the
entire appropriation. In December
there was much agitation over the de-
lays in production. It was reported
that, although the government's pro-
gramme called for expenditures of one
billion dollars in October, only $450,-
000,000 of goods could be produced.
To secure funds an extensive system of
new taxes was. authorized and two lib-
erty loans were put out besides short-
term Treasury certificates of indebted-
ness and the war savings stamps de-
scribed below. Acts authorizing the
issue of loans were passed on April 24
and September 24, 1917; the former
called for seven billion dollars of bonds
and the latter for $11,538,945,460 of
bonds, certificates, and savings stamps.
First Liberty Loan. — In the war
revenue act of April 24, 1917, Congress
had authorized the borrowing of $7,-
000,000,000, of which three billions
were to be invested in war bonds of
the Allies. On May 14, 1917, Secretary
of the Treasury McAdoo announced the
offering of the first Liberty Loan to
consist of $2,000,000,000 of 30-year
3I/0 per cent bonds. These bonds were
absolutely exempted from all Federal
and State taxes except the Federal in-
heritance tax. They were made con-
vertible into the bonds of any subse-
quent issue at a higher rate of interest.
In order to secure subscriptions an or-
ganization was perfected with the twelve
Federal reserve banks as the central
agencies in their respective districts.
In addition to the twelve district com-
mittees great numbers of subcommit-
tees, including one in every city and
town, with still other subordinate com-
mittees for special classes or groups in
each community, were brought into
operation. Numerous avenues of pub-
licity were utilized. Subscriptions were
closed on June 15 and the bonds dated
from that day although not issued un-
til late in the year. Total subscrip-
tions from more than 4,000,000 persons
were $3,035,000,000. Since only $2,-
000,000,000 had been offered, the larger
applications were reduced. Each re-
serve district, except those centering at
Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Atlanta,
collected subscriptions in excess of the
allotment.
The Second Liberty Loan. — Sub-
scriptions to the second loan were
opened October 1, 1917, and closed
October 27. The minimum amount au-
thorized was three billion dollars with
the proviso that one-half of any ex-
cess subscriptions would be accepted.
The plan called for payment down of
2 per cent, 18 per cent on November
15, 40 per cent on December 15, and
40 per cent on January 15, 1918. The
interest rate was 4 per cent, payable
semi-annually on November 15 and
May 15. The bonds will run for 25
years, but are redeemable at the option
of the government after 10 years.
They are convertible into any subse-
quent war issue bearing a higher rate of
interest within six months after such
issue is announced. They are exempt
from State and local taxation except
State inheritance taxes and the "addi-
tional" income taxes ; such "additional"
tax, however, applies only to the inter-
est on holdings of $5,000 or more. It
was believed that this issue was by these
taxes made more attractive to the small
investors. The same thorough organi-
zation for every State and locality was
utilized as in the case of the First Lib-
erty Loan. There were also numerous
advertisements by billboards, street
cars, newspapers, magazines, and circu-
lars ; numerous corporations and bank-
ing and other institutions generally
FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS
321
urged their employees or constituencies
to subscribe. Much interest and enthu-
siasm was also aroused by hundreds of
volunteer canvassers and speakers.
The total subscriptions from 9,500,-
000 persons were $4,617,532,300, so
that the actual issue was $3,808,766,-
150. In every Federal Reserve Dis-
trict the minimum allotment was over-
subscribed, the percentage of over-
subscription ranging from somewhat
less than 4 per cent for Dallas to 62
per cent for Cleveland, 68 per cent for
Richmond, and 72 per cent for New
York ; the average over-subscription
was 54 per cent. In determining the
allotments it was decided to fill all sub-
scriptions up to and including $50,000
at the full amount; but to allow only
90 per cent of subscriptions between
$50,000 and $100,000, but no allow-
ance in this group to be less than $50,-
000 ; 75 per cent of subscriptions be-
tween $100,000 and $200,000, but no
allotment less than $90,000; 60 per
cent of subscriptions between $200,000
and $1,000,000, but none less than
$150,000; 50 per cent of subscriptions
between $1,000,000 and $8,000,000,
but no allotment less than $600,000 ;
41.2 per cent of subscriptions between
$8,000,000 and $30,000,000, but not
less than $4,000,000; and 40.8152 per
cent of a subscription for $50,000,000.
Treasury certificates which were out-
standing to the amount of $2,320,493,-
000, due at different dates in November
and December, were applicable to pur-
chase of these bonds. In the stock mar-
ket the 31/2 per cent Liberty Bonds had
fluctuated about par with a usually
slight discount before the issue of the
second series. Thereafter the 3^8
fluctuated about 98-99 and the 4s about
97-98.
Third Liberty Loan. — On April 6 the
campaign for the Third Liberty Loan
was launched and continued until May
4. During this period 18,376,815 peo-
ple subscribed to $4,176,516,850 in
bonds, an over-subscription of nearly
40 per cent. These bonds are of shorter
term than any of the other issues, be-
coming due in 1928, but unlike the other
issues are not collectible before ma-
turity. They bear 4*4 per cent inter-
est and are not convertible, thus differ-
ing from the First and Second Loans,
but similar in this respect to subse-
quent issues. Inheritance taxes are
payable with these bonds, for which
purpose they are receivable at par, if
they have been held for six months prior
to death. These are exempt from all
State and local taxation but are sub-
ject to surtaxes, inheritance taxes, and
excess and war profits taxes, on hold-
ings in excess of $50,000.
Fourth Liberty Loan. — The largest
sum ever raised in a single national loan
was raised in the drive for this loan,
which extended from September 28 tq
October 19. The vastness of the efforts
may be gleaned from the fact that the
Fifth Federal Reserve District alone
mailed $9,000,000 of advertising matter
to prospective buyers ; $6,989,047,000
was raised, and there were over 21,000,-
000 subscribers. But while the number
who bought was unparalleled, the
greater part of the loan was taken by
the wealthy. For instance, in the New
York Federal Reserve District, with
3,604,101 subscribers, 2,279,165 sub-
scriptions were for $50 bonds, totaling
but $113,958,250, whereas 967 of the
larger subscribers alone invested in
$768,167,950 of the total, of slightly
over $2,000,000,000. The bonds ma-
ture in 1938 but are collectible in 1933.
Additional exemption is granted in that
the interest on amounts of the bonds
not in excess of $30,000 is not subject
to surtaxes.
322
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
Fifth Loan. — Before the close of
1918 plans were well under way for the
floating of this loan — the Victory Loan,
as it was to be called. The first and
second issues of Treasury Certificates
of indebtedness in anticipation of the
Fifth Loan were oversubscribed, one of
the subscribers of the latter issue being
the Japanese government. These cer-
tificates bore interest at 4l/o per cent
and matured May 6, 1919. The Vic-
tory Loan was over-subscribed.
Stabilizing Market Values. — With a
view to keeping the price of Liberty
Bonds from dropping below par pur-
chases of such bonds were made by the
treasury's sinking fund. Until Novem-
ber 1, $244,036,500 worth of bonds
were purchased on the open market for
$234,310,443, making an average price
of 96 per cent. These purchases were
made in accordance with the act of
April 4, 1918, which authorized the Sec-
retary of the Treasury to buy at such
prices and upon such terms as he might
prescribe. This did not prevent a con-
siderable decline in market values of all
except Liberty lsts.
War Savings Stamps. — For the pur-
pose of raising funds and cultivating
thrift Congress authorized the sale of
war savings stamps in two denomina-
tions, 25 cents (thrift stamps) and five
dollars (war savings stamps). A
Thrift Card was furnished having space
for 16 stamps ; when filled this could be
exchanged for a $5 stamp by the pay-
ment of 12 cents in December, 1917,
or January, 1918 ; thereafter the cost
for 16 stamps advanced one cent per
month. These large stamps could be
attached to a War Savings Certificate
which had spaces for 20 stamps. If
this was filled out between December
1, 1917, and January 31, 1918, at a
cost of $82.40, the government would
redeem the certificate on January 1,
1923, for $100; similarly for later
dates. All stamps and certificates ma-
ture in five years from date of issue.
The difference between $4.12 and $5.00
is the interest on the former sum for
five years at 4 per cent compounded
quarterly. No one person could hold
more than $1000 worth of these certifi-
cates, nor purchase more than $100
worth at one time. The stamps were
redeemable at the post office at any time
at a lessened rate of interest. To carry
out the plan there were appointed six
Federal directors, giving their time to
the work, each being in charge of two
Federal reserve bank districts. There
was a director for each State and fur-
ther organization reaching to cities,
counties, and towns. The national com-
mittee was : Frank A. Vanderlip, who
resigned the presidency of the National
City Bank of New York to serve with-
out pay as chairman of this committee ;
Mrs. George Blass, Chicago ; Henry
Ford, Detroit ; F. A. Delano, Washing-
ton ; Eugene Meyer, Jr., New York, and
Chas. L. Bayne, Boston.
The sale of these stamps was begun
on December 3, 1917, under the super-
vision of the National War Savings
Committee. This met with compara-
tively little success at first, there being
considerable passive and some active op-
position, and in the opening month only
$10,236,451 in stamps were sold. Great-
er publicity, however, was given to the
stamps, and they were put on sale at
every post office and by letter carriers.
In addition agents for the sale of the
stamps were appointed by the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, these numbering
233,287 at the end of October, 1918,
while 151,361 war savings societies,
numbering from 10 to 12,000 members
each, had been formed by November 1,
1918.
The sales gradually increased until
FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS
323
they reached their maximum in July,
1918, during which months $211,417,-
942.61 of stamps were disposed of. By
November 1, 1918, the cash receipts
from this source totaled $834,253,-
213.44, representing an average ma-
turity value of a little over $1,000,000,-
000. Few persons availed themselves
of the provision allowing for the re-
demption of the stamps, the redemption
constituting less than 1 per cent, of
the cash receipts. The success of this
experience has led the Secretary of the
Treasury to suggest in his annual re-
port that this be made a permanent
part of the scheme of the nation's finan-
cing. On September 24 an act was
passed permitting the individual to hold
as much as $1000 of War Savings
Stamps of any one issue ; this super-
seded the previous restriction of $1000
of stamps of all issues. This act also
increased the total of stamps authorized
from two to four billion dollars. About
the same time Mr. Frank A. Vander-
lip, who had for a year given up his
duties as president of the National City
Bank to supervise the thrift campaign,
resigned this latter function. The
work was incorporated in the activities
of the Treasury Department.
Treasury Certificates. — In order to
raise immediate cash largely for the
purpose of carrying out the proposed
loans to the Allies, the Treasury issued
at sixteen different times the varying
amounts of temporary certificates of in-
debtedness. Their total amount was
$4,028,698,000 ; only $690,000,000
issued November 21, 1917, bearing 4
per cent interest and due June 25,
1918, were still outstanding at the close
of the year. Two small issues on March
31 and October 29, 1917, bore 2 per
cent interest ; 2 issues on April 25 and
May 10, 1917, bore 3 per cent; 2 on
May 25 and June 8, 1917, bore 3*4 per
cent ; 3 issues on August 9, August 28,
and September 17, 1917, bore 3y 2 per
cent ; and 7 other issues, all after Sep-
tember 26, 1917, bore 4 per cent. Near-
ly $2,500,000,000 of these certificates
were placed through the Federal reserve
banks at New York.
Advance to Allies. — The plan of the
government included advances to the
Allies of $500,000,000 per month. The
first advance was of $200,000,000 to
Great Britain on April 25, 1917. By
the close of the year the total advances
had reached the sum of $4,236,400,000,
distributed as follows : Great Britain,
$2,045,000,000; France, $1,285,000,-
000; Italy, $500,000,000; Russia,
$325,000,000, of which $5,000,000 was
for the Rumanian government ; Bel-
gium, $77,400,000 ; and Serbia, $4,000,-
000. These advances were made on the
basis of the obligations of foreign gov-
ernments purchased by the Treasury.
Loans were first made at the rate of 3
per cent per annum, but soon advanced
to 3y± per cent in order to conform
to the rates paid by the Treasury on
its own certificates of indebtedness.
Following the flotation of the first Lib-
erty Loan the rate on foreign loans
was advanced to 3^ per cent ; and
finally following the issue of the second
Liberty Loan the rate was raised to 4 1 / 4
per cent.
Preceding our entrance into the war
it had been the practice of foreign gov-
ernments to issue loans in this coun-
try; subsequently to our entrance, in
order to avoid the competition of for-
eign governments with our own, the
policy of making loans to the Allies by
the government itself, as indicated in
the following paragraphs, was adopted.
It was estimated that previous to the,
American declaration of war about
$2,500,000,000 of foreign war loans
had been floated in this country. The
324
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
only variation from the new rule was
the issue by the British Treasury
through the firm of J. P. Morgan &
Company of 90-day discount bills. It
was planned to issue about $15,000,000
of bills weekly up to a total of not over
$150,000,000. In fact, the total issued
was only $100,000,000; this amount,
bearing 6 per cent interest, was out-
standing at the close of the year. In
addition, the same firm acting for the
British and French governments, sold
some of the collateral upon which pre-
vious loans had been based and repur-
chased part of such loans themselves.
Canada. War financing occupied
much of public attention in Canada dur-
ing 1917. On February 8, 1917, Pre-
mier Borden in his budget speech stated
that the cost of the war had exceeded
all expectations. For the year 1917-
18 the estimated military and naval ex-
penditures were put at $433,000,000,
compared with $217,000,000 for the
preceding year ; $166,000,000 for 1915-
16, and only $61,000,000 for 1914-15.
The loans of the year included the third
war loan of $150,000,000 in 5 per cent
bonds at 96, issued in March, 1917. A
loan of $100,000,000 was floated in the
United States in July, 1917, through
the firm of J. P. Morgan & Company.
This was the only foreign loan floated
in the United States after its entrance
into the war, and special permission for
it was given by Secretary of the Treas-
ury McAdoo. Finally in November,
1917, the Victory Loan was put out,
807,361 subscribers asking for $417,-
000,000. The loan amounted to $400,-
000,000, in the form of 5% per cent
gold bonds in three series, maturing in
1922, 1927, and 1937. The flotation
of this immense loan in Canada was an
evidence of sound financial conditions ;
in 1916 two-thirds of the Canadian
loans, Dominion and Provincial, had
been floated in the United States, where-
as in 1917 only slightly more than one-
fifth were sold here. In connection with
war financing, Canada began early in
the year to issue savings stamps and
certificates on a plan similar to that
adopted previously in Great Britain
and later in the United States.
In trade and manufacturing new
high points were reached.
Exports for 11 months totaled
$1,399,000,000, as compared with
$961,666,000 and $521,953,000 for
similar periods of 1916 and 1915. Im-
ports for this period were $943,500,-
000, as compared with $698,709,000,
and $405,973,000 for the like periods
of 1916 and 1915. There was thus a
favorable balance of trade of nearly
twice that of 1916 and fully three times
that of 1915. Crops were fairly
abundant and prices high. Shipbuild-
ing rapidly advanced on both coasts.
Mineral production was hampered by
labor shortage and unrest but the to-
tal value of output was $200,000,000,
as against $190,646,000 in 1914, and
$39,000,000 in 1916, to $35,000,000 in
1917. Various new industries, notably
potash, toy-making, and dye manufac-
ture, developed rapidly. War orders
aggregating about $1,812,000,000 were
placed by the Imperial Munitions
Board.
Canada's Fifth War Loan was suc-
cessful beyond all expectations. The
subscriptions totaled $695,389,000,
while the maximum asked for was $600,-
000,000 and the minimum $300,000,-
000 ; the government accepted the max-
imum asked for. Maturing at five and
fifteen years, the bonds become due on
November 1, 1923 and 1933, and yield
5l/o per cent interest, payable semi-
annually. The bonds may be convert-
ed into any future domestic issues of
like maturity or longer made during
FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS
325
the war. Unlike the later liberty issues
in the United States, the bonds are ex-
empt from taxes, including any income
tax imposed in pursuance of legislation
enacted by the parliament of Canada.
The campaign extended from October
28 to November 16, 1918, and there
were 1,104,107 subscriptions. The
province of Ontario had 542,648 sub-
scribers for $336,055,000. In the en-
tire Dominion one person in every 7.08
subscribed and the average per capita
subscription was $88.91.
Great Britain. The great financial
and commercial strength of Great Brit-
ain showed to superior effect amidst
the tremendous obstacles of the third
year of war. Aggregate war expendi-
tures reached £4,200,000,000 in Feb-
ruary, 1917. In September, 1917, the
war cost above the normal peace bud-
gets was estimated at five billion pounds
sterling ($25,000,000,000) and yet not
the slightest feeling of uncertainty had
been manifest as to the soundness of the
financial structure. This estimate, made
by the Select Committee on National
Expenditure, showed that advances to
Allies had amounted to £1,321,000,000
to September, 1917. The deadweight
national debt had thus been increased
by about £3,500,000,000 and the an-
nual debt charge by over £200,000,000,
or a billion dollars. It was estimated
that each six months of war would add
£750,000,000, exclusive of advances to
Allies, to the debt and £45,000,000 to
the annual debt charge (interest at 5
per cent and sinking fund 1 per cent).
The total war credits for the fiscal year
April, 1917, to March, 1918, inclusive,
were £2,450,000,000. There were quan-
tities of Treasury bills outstanding at
all times, their volume in December
being £1,059,000,000. As elsewhere,
prices advanced sharply. The London
Economist estimated the index level of
general prices as follows : Average for
1901-5, 2200; September 30, 1916,
4423; September 30, 1917, 5634. As
indicated above, British purchases in
the United States necessitated large
loans from the United States govern-
ment to maintain trade balances. In
addition for the same purpose, British
owners of American securities were es-
timated to have sold $1,750,000,000
of them back to American investors
since the war started. The high rates
of interest caused British Consols to
drop in January to 51%, their lowest
since 1803, while securities in general
continued to shrink in market values.
The London Bankers' Magazine report-
ed that declines in the market values of
387 representative stocks amounted to
nearly £158,000,000 for the year and
to £771,000,000 since July, 1914. The
high level of trade is indicated by total
exports for the eleven months ending
November 30, 1917, of £488,168,000,
an increase of 4.6 per cent over the
same period of 1916 and 26 per cent
above those of 1915. Imports for eleven
months were £980,500,000, or 12.2 per
cent for the same period of 1916, and
greatly exceeding any previous year.
Re-exports, however, were only £66,-
372,000 for 11 months, a decline of 27.6
per cent and much less than any recent
year.
In October, 1917, Great Britain in-
augurated its system of continuous sale
of bonds known as National War Bonds
and sold them throughout 1918. These
consisted of 5 per cent bonds of 1922
at 102, of 1924 at 103, and of 1927
at 105, and of 4 per cent bonds of 1927.
The coupon bonds were put forth in de-
nominations ranging from £50 to
£5000 and there were also registered
bonds which are transferable either by
deed or in the Bank Transfer Books.
A legal tender privilege is attached, the
326
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
bonds being accepted at par and ac-
crued interest by the commissioners of
inland revenue in payment of death
duties, provided bonds were held for
six months before the date of decease.
Both principal and interest are exempt
from all British taxation, present or
future, if shown to be in the beneficial
ownership of persons neither domiciled
nor ordinarily resident in the United
Kingdom. Interest on the 4 per cent
bonds is exempt from British income
taxation other than the super tax. The
5 per cent and the 4 per cent bonds
both have a convertibility feature.
The chancellor pointed out that in the
year beginning October 1, 1917, over
£1,120,000,000 had been invested in
war bonds, much more than expected ;
by January 18, 1919, the total had
reached £1,500,000,000. The advan-
tage claimed for the system of continu-
ous borrowing is that it raises more
money with the least disturbance of
financial conditions, and it is argued
that it is the best from a point of view
of financial stability after the war is
over.
Through its representatives in the
United States, J. P. Morgan & Com-
pany, the British government offered
its short term treasury bills through-
out the year, these bonds selling on the
market at 5*/? per cent at the beginning
of 1918, the interest increasing to 6
per cent for the greater part of the
year, and the bonds being again offered
at 6 per cent during 1919. During the
first four years of the war Great Brit-
ain had borrowed over £5,900,000,000.
The total indebtedness of Great Brit-
ain on January 1,1919, was about $40,-
000,000,000, over 44 per cent of the
national wealth.
Germany. Financial conditions with-
in the Central Powers were largely
shrouded in mystery. There were,
however, many indications of financial
stress, food and clothing shortage, and
industrial unrest. The war finances
were a prodigious burden. The fifth
war loan was reported in April, 1917,
to have produced 12,770,000,000 marks
($3,192,000,000). In February, 1917,
the Reichstag authorized a sixth credit
of 15 billion marks and in July a sev-
enth of like amount. The sixth loan
was reported to have produced $3,089,-
000,000, and the seventh $3,156,000,-
000. This last called out 5,213,000
subscribers, of whom 3,233,000 made
subscriptions of $50 or less, and 1,280,-
000 others subscribed less than $250
each. The total number of subscribers
was less than for the fourth and fifth
loans and greater reliance was placed
on the large banks. The rapid growth
of the public interest charge, the al-
most complete absence of foreign trade,
and the concentration of industrial ef-
forts within the narrowest range of
military necessities made increasingly
difficult the preservation of a sound
financial structure. In addition, in
July, 1917, Germany assumed respon-
sibility for war expenditures of Bul-
garia and Turkey. Numerous reports
indicated increasing food scarcity and
the efforts of the authorities to supply
fertilizers and seeds and stimulate pro-
duction. Nevertheless, Mr. Hoover re-
ported to President Wilson in May,
1917, that the Germans could not be
starved into surrender. The scarcity
of gold and silver gave great concern
because of the unfavorable trade bal-
ances with neighboring neutrals. The
Reichsbank repeated its appeals for
gold in any form and the government
threatened to demonetize silver if it
were not brought out of hiding. Loans
were secured from Switzerland and Hol-
land largely, according to report, by
threats to cut off their coal supply.
FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS
327
The scarcity of clothing necessitated
government regulation and the issue of
clothing cards.
Plans for the rehabilitation of the
merchant fleet and the recovery of for-
eign trade made much progress. It
was reported that a merchant fleet was
under construction ; that the govern-
ment would make generous allowances
for vessels lost during the war and
heavily subsidized shipping after the
war; and that similar steps would be
taken with reference to various branches
of trade, especially toy-making and
dye-manufacture. It was planned also
to utilize monopolies of buying under
government direction to secure raw ma-
terials.
During 1918 the German government
floated two war loans, the eighth and
the ninth. The eighth loan, offered to
the public from March 18 until April
18, consisted of bonds bearing 5 per
cent interest and treasury certificates
bearing 4^/o per cent interest. These,
as in the two preceding loans, were
issued at 98 and the amount was un-
limited. They were dated July 1, 1918,
but the bonds were "unkundbar" (or
unannounceable) until October 1, 1924,
whereas the treasury certificates ma-
ture on July 1, 1967, but subject to
drawings, or, at the option of the gov-
ernment, to entire redemption at par,
on or after July 1, 1927. However,
the holder of the certificates, if the gov-
ernment exercises its right to redeem,
may ask for 4 per cent treasury cer-
tificates which are redeemable by draw-
ing at 115. The bonds were issued, as
in the United States, in coupon bonds,
being in denominations ranging from
100 to 20,000 marks. The treasury
certificates were in series in coupon
form, in denominations of 1,000 to 20,-
000 marks. Both the bonds and certifi-
cates of this and previous loans could
be deposited by subscribers in the se-
curities department of the Reichsbank,
which would collect and forward in-
terest without charge until October,
1919. In the campaign for the raising
of the funds much was made of Wilson's
assertion that the United States was
to put all its force into the winning of
the war. A total of 15,001,425,000
marks (about $3,520,000,000) was sub-
scribed, which sum far exceeded the sub-
scription to the sixth loan, which until
then held the record of 13,120,000,000
marks. The number of subscribers,
6,510,278, exceeded the number for any
previous loan except the sixth, to which
over seven million subscribed.
The ninth German loan met with much
less success. In accordance with the
bill introduced into the Reichstag for a
war credit of fifteen billion marks, a
campaign was conducted from Septem-
ber 23 until October 23. The loan was
issued as in the two preceding war loans
in the form of 5 per cent bonds and of
41/0 per cent redeemable treasury cer-
tificates, both being put forth at 98. In
its other essential features this loan
was similar to the preceding. Accord-
ing to a statement attributed to the
president of the Imperial Bank the to-
tal subscription amounted to 10,433,-
957,700 marks, which was considerably
less than called for.
Japan. Japan was never so pros-
perous as in 1917. Although nominally
a belligerent, her trade and manufac-
turing positions were those of a neu-
tral. She nearly monopolized Oriental
trans-Pacific trade and built up a thriv-
ing commerce with much of the rest of
the world. She sent trade commissions
to all important countries, opened new
steamship lines to China, Russia, Aus-
tralia, Africa, North and South Amer-
ica, Europe, India, and the South Sea
Islands. Her shipyards were worked
328
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
at full capacity. Her combined im-
ports and exports showed a value double
that of 1914. As compared with 1916,
there was an increase of over 50 per
cent in exports and of about 20 per
cent in imports. There were great ad-
vances in commodity prices, resulting
among other things in numerous indus-
trial disturbances. Some indication of
industrial development is given by Ja-
pan's importation of cotton from the
United States to the amount of 514,000
bales in the fiscal year 1917, as com-
pared with 484,000 bales in 1916 and
337,000 in 1914. Her total exports
for fiscal years were: 1917, $130,472,-
000; 1916, $74,470,000; 1915, $41,-
517,000.
Japan, like the United States, has
stood in the position of a lender, hav-
ing furnished financial assistance to the
extent of $742,298,000 to Great Brit-
ain; $254,168,000 to Russia; and
$155,569,000 to France; from the out-
break of the war until the end of April,
1918. A national loan of $25,000,000
floated during 1918 drew forth sub-
scriptions exceeding $67,500,000. Bonds
to the amount of $400,000,000 were ex-
pected to be issued in 1918-19.
France. The Fourth French War
Loan or "Liberty Loan" was opened
for subscription October 20 and re-
mained open until November 24, 1918.
The bonds of nominal value of 100
francs were issued at 70.8 francs ; with
interest set at 4 per cent on the nomi-
nal value the yield is approximately
5% per cent. By December 31, with
final results of the campagin not yet
known, it was announced that the sub-
scriptions reached a nominal total of
27,750,000,000 francs or a real value
of 19,750,000,000 francs. The sum by
far exceeds the amounts raised in any
previous war loans. In addition France
offered a new form of short term obli-
gations beginning May 31, 1918. These
were the National Defense Notes, which
have a maturity of one month but which
may be extended one or two months fur-
ther. The interest set at 3.6 per cent
the first month, increases to 3.9 per
cent the second month, and to 4 per
cent if held for four months. The
French government's borrowings since
the outbreak of the war to August 31,
1918, are classed as follows : Domestic,
funded loans, 32,187,000,000 francs;
national defense treasury bills, 26,453,-
000,000 francs ; short term bonds, 679,-
000,000 francs ; advances of the Bank
of France and the Bank of Algeria, 19,-
415,000,000 francs ; total domestic, 78,-
734,000,000 francs. Foreign, loans
contracted in: England, 12,533,000,000
francs; United States, 11,887,000,000
francs; Argentina, 471,000,000 francs;
Spain, 326,000,000 francs; Japan,
197,000,000 francs; Switzerland, 97,-
000,000 francs ; Holland, Norway, and
Sweden, 147,000,000 francs; total for-
eign, 25,678,000,000 francs.
Australia. During 1918 Australia
floated two war loans, the sixth and
the seventh. The sixth war loan cam-
paign was carried on from February
18 to April 10 and £20,000,000 in bonds
were issued. The bonds were offered so
as to produce interest at 41/^ per cent
free of Federal and State income taxes
and of any levy of wealth hereafter to
be made. There was, however, an al-
ternative offer of 5 per cent interest
subject to Federal but not to State in-
come taxes — for those of smaller in-
comes who would not be liable to the
tax and to whom the tax free consid-
eration would have no special attrac-
tion. The bonds are accepted at par
in payment of probate and succession
duty due the Commonwealth. Further,
trustees are allowed to invest in them
notwithstanding the fact that the price
FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS
329
at the time of investment may be above
or below par. Provision is made for
the purchasing of the bonds on the mar-
ket by the treasurer of the Common-
wealth should they decline in price.
The subscriptions which in aggregate
were £43,500,000, more than doubled
the amount asked for. Of this total
only £6,500,000 was applied for at the
5 per cent rate.
The Seventh Australian War Loan
called for £40,000,000 and the cam-
paign for this was inaugurated on Sep-
tember 16. The bonds were issued at
par in denominations ranging from £10
to £1000 and the rate of interest was
fixed at 5 per cent. Unlike the pre-
ceding loans, the whole issue is subject
to Federal, though not to state, taxa-
tion, and it is of short duration, the
year of maturity being 1923. The
number of applications was 223,863
(which was more than for any previ
ous loan) and subscriptions amounted
to £42,667,640. The seven war loans
floated in Australia aggregated £186,-
994,940. In addition, up to June 30,
1918, Australia had borrowed from the
British home government £38,000,000
for the prosecution of the war.
New Zealand. In the early part of
1918 New Zealand raised another war
loan of £20,000,000. This, like the
preceding loan, had a compulsory fea-
ture whereby if the set sum was not
obtained persons with incomes of over
£700 and who were thus able to sub-
scribe but failed to do so were to be
fined, and later compelled to put sur
plus funds in war bonds receiving only
3 per cent interest. The compulsory
provision in the war loan of New Zea-
land in 1917 was probably the first in-
stance of this form of conscription of
wealth in the belligerent countries,
though resort was not needed to this be-
cause there were enough subscriptions.
India. India continued its issue of its
Post Office 5-Year Cash Certificates in
1918, these being offered continuously
since April 1, 1917. The certificates
are dated from the date of sale and
become due in five years, thus being
very similar to War Savings Certificates.
These certificates may be cashed at any
time within a year at cost price, ano}
thereafter the cash value increases each
quarter year until maturity. They are
issued in denominations which vary
from 10 to 100 rupees maturity value.
The interest at 5.13 per cent per an-
num is compounded quarterly from the
date of purchase and paid at the end of
the five years. While these are exempt
from the income tax, the maximum
amount that an individual can hold is
7500 rupees, irrespective of the amount
of other kinds of bonds held. The issue
of these certificates as well as of the
5 per cent War Loan bonds of 1929-47
and the 5% per cent war bonds of
1920-22, was authorized by the gov-
ernment of India on March 1, 1917.
Other British Colonies. Newfound-
land, the Union of South Africa, the
Malay States, and the Colony of Bar-
bados, British West Indies, all raised
loans for war purposes during 1918.
Italy. The sum raised by Italy by
its Fourth War Loan (its fifth loan
since the outbreak of the European
War) exceeded by far the amount ob-
tained in any previous campaign. From
January 15 to March 10 about $1,160,-
000,000 of bonds was subscribed for,
as compared with the $500,000,000 of
the preceding loan, which had before
held the record. They were issued at
86.5, with the interest set at 5 per cent,
but had no definite date of maturity.
Coupon bonds in denominations from
100 to 20,000 lire were exchangeable
for registered bonds. The bonds of this
loan were exempt from all taxes and
330
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
enjoy all of the advantages which were Loans to Allies. The American gov-
to go to future loans during the war. ernment, after its entrance into the
Neutral Countries. The finances of war, made repeated loans to associated
neutral countries required that loans be belligerents and also to certain neutrals,
floated to meet the expenses of mobili- These advances were spent in this coni-
zation and other expenditures occa- try for food and supplies; they were
sioned by the war. For example, be- essential to the equalization of interna-
fore Italy's entrance into the fray it tional exchange. They were based on
had issued a mobilization loan and the obligations of foreign governments
Switzerland put forth eight and Hoi- purchased by the United States treas-
land four mobilization loans. ury ; these bore rates of interest con-
Switzerland. Switzerland's eighth forming to the Liberty Loans and in-
mobilization loan was opened to public terim certificates of the treasury. Pre-
subscription from January 7 to Janu- vious to April, 1917, foreign loans to
ary 16, 1918. The bonds were issued the amount of $2,500,000,000 had been
at 100 in denominations ranging from placed here through banking houses by
100 to 5000 francs in coupon bonds, numerous foreign governments. After
Coupon bonds which had an aggregate America's entrance into the war all ad-
par value of over 1000 francs could be vances were made by the government,
deposited at the Federal treasury in except certain short-term British treas-
exchange for registered certificates, ury notes issued through J. P. Morgan
The bonds are redeemable at par on or and Company and certain Canadian ob-
after January 31, 1928, upon the giv- ligations. By January 15, 1919, the
ing of six months' notice. Both prin- aggregate loans of our government to
cipal and interest are exempt from all foreign governments were $8,598,773,-
taxes, deduction or stamp duty of the 702, apportioned as follows: Great
Federal government. There were 31,- Britain, $4,175,981,000; France, $2,-
601 subscriptions, totaling $28,950,- 436,427,000; Italy, $1,310,000,000;
000. Russia, $325,000,000 (all previous to
The Netherlands. From January 2 1918) ; Belgium, $256,145,000; Greece,
to January 4 Holland disposed of its $39,554,036; Cuba, $15,000,000; Ser-
fourth mobilization loan. The bonds bia, $12,000,000; Rumania, $6,666,-
were issued at 100 and the interest rate 666; Liberia, $5,000,000; and Czecho-
was fixed at 4% per cent. They are Slovaks, $17,000,000.
dated February 1, 1918, and mature Gross Debts of Belligerents. — As
forty years from that time, with the published by the Commercial and Finan-
right of redemption by the government cial Chronicle, the total debts of bellig-
at any time after August 1, 1919. The erents on January 1, 1919, as compared
coupon bonds were issued in denomina- with debts August 1, 1914, were as fol-
tions of 100, 500, and 1000 florins, the lows (six figures [000,000] omitted):
first coupon on definitive bonds matur-
ing on February 1, 1919. In case the August January
i • ■ i-i t 1,1914 1, 1919
voluntary subscriptions to this loan did united states $1,000 $21,000
not amount to 400,000,000 florins, the France.?.. ..".".'.".*.*.".".".'.'.'.".'.!".!".!!".! 6,500 30,000
, .j j - , , . Russia 4,600 27,000
law provided tor compulsory subscrip- itaiv 2,800 12,000
.- . a I 1 x 1AA J Germany 5,200 40,000
tlOnS tO a 6 per Cent loan at 100 tO Austria-Hungary 3,700 24,000
make up the deficiency. Totals $27,300 $194,000
XIII. THE PEACE CONFERENCE AND THE TREATIES OF PEACE
President Wilson's Visit to Europe.
After the signing of the armistice all
the eyes of the world were focused on
the forthcoming gathering of the lead-
ing diplomats of the world to settle the
final terms of peace. On November 18,
the President announced that he intend-
ed to sail for Europe himself in order
to take part in the peace discussion be-
cause he felt that it would be impossible
for him to handle the matter success-
fully by cable. On November 29 the
American delegates to the Peace Con-
ference were announced as follows : The
President, Robert Lansing, Secretary of
State, Colonel Edward M. House, Hen-
ry White, former Ambassador to
France, General Tasker H. Bliss, mili-
tary representative of the United
States at the Inter- Allied War Council.
President Wilson, in his farewell address
to Congress on December 2, stated that
the Entente governments had accepted
the principles laid down in his "fourteen
peace points" address (see above), and
that it was only reasonable for him to
be present at the conference in order to
interpret some of them as well as to offer
suggestions as to their applications.
The President and his party sailed for
France on the steamer George Wash-
ington, on December 4. They arrived
at Brest on December 13 and went to
Paris on the same day. They were re-
ceived by the French President and
other high dignitaries and the President
took up his residence at the palace of
Prince Murat. On Christmas Day,
President Wilson visited General Persh-
ing at general headquarters and ad-
dressed American troops. On Decem-
ber 26 the President visited England
and stayed until the 31st, when he re-
turned to France. Later he made a
trip to Italy. His visits and speeches
were everywhere received with an en-
thusiasm and acclaim that was scarce-
ly to be expected from a continent that
had just passed through such a holo-
caust.
The Peace Conference. The Peace
Conference held its first session on Jan-
uary 18, 1919. This meeting was pre-
ceded by a few sessions of the Inter-
Allied War Council and two formal
meetings between President Wilson and
the ministers and ambassadors from
Great Britain, France, Italy and Japan.
Before the meeting of the first full ses-
sion it was announced that each day a
formal communique would be issued to
the press concerning the doings of the
congress on that day. It was also
stated that delegates had promised not
to discuss with members of the press
anything that had taken place at the
sessions. This produced a formal pro-
test from the correspondents present at
Paris. They were finally permitted to
attend the plenary sessions but were
informed that deliberations would be
held in secret. The Peace Conference
held its sessions in the Salle de la Paix
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The
following joint plan was issued with
reference to the organization of the
Peace Conference.
It was decided that the United States,
the British Empire, France, Italy, and
Japan should be represented by five
delegates apiece. The British Dominions
and India, besides, shall be represented
331
332
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
as follows: Two delegates respectively
for Australia, Canada, South Africa,
and India, including the native States,
and one delegate from New Zealand.
Brazil will have three delegates. Bel-
gium, China, Greece, Poland, Portugal,
the Czecho-Slovak Republic, Rumania,
and Serbia will have two delegates
apiece, Siam one delegate, and Cuba,
Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Liberia,
Nicaragua, and Panama one delegate
apiece.
Montenegro will have one delegate,
but the rules concerning the designa-
tion of this delegate shall not be fixed
until the moment when the political situ-
ation in that country shall have been
cleared up.
The meeting adopted the following
two general principles :
One — Each delegation being a unit,
the number of delegates forming it shall
have no influence upon its status at the
conference.
Two — In the selection of its delega-
tion each nation may avail itself of the
panel system. This will enable each
State at discretion to intrust its in-
terests to such persons as it may desig-
nate.
The adoption of the panel system
will in particular enable the British
Empire to admit among its five dele-
gates representatives of the dominions,
including Newfoundland, which has no
separate representation, and of India.
The following list of delegates was
announced.
France — Georges Clemenceau,* Prime
* Clemenceau, Georges Benjamin Eugene,
born (1841) in Mouilleron-en-Pareds in Ven-
dee. Educated as physician, drifted into poli-
tics. In 1876 elected to Chamber of Deputies.
Independent from beginning. In 1880 founded
daily paper, La Justice. Lost seat in 1893 be-
cause suspected being in Panama scandal.
Elected Senator in 1902. Founded L'Aurore
to champion cause of Dreyfus. In 1906 became
Minister of the Interior and shortly after pre-
Minister ; Stephen Pichon, Foreign Min-
ister; Louis Klotz, Finance Minister;
Andre Tardieu, French High Commis-
sioner to the United States, and Jules
Cambon.
Great Britain — David Lloyd George,
Prime Minister; Arthur J. Balfour,
Foreign Secretary; Andrew Bonar
Law; George Nicoll Barnes, the labor
leader, and another who was to act as
alternate delegate.
United States — Woodrow Wilson,
President of the United States ; Robert
Lansing, Secretary of State; Henry
White ; Colonel Edward M. House ; and
General Tasker H. Bliss.
Italy — Vittorio Orlando, Prime Min-
ister; Baron Sonnino, Foreign Secre-
tary; Antonio Salandra, former Pre-
mier; Marquis Salvago Raggi, and
Signor Stringher, Minister of Finance.
Japan — The Marquis Saionji, for-
mer Prime Minister; Baron Makino,
Baron Chinda, Baron Matsui, and
Count Hayashi.
Brazil — Senator Epitacio Pessoa, Dr.
Pandia Caloreras, and Deputy Raoul
Fernandez.
Belgium — Paul Hymans, Minister of
Foreign Affairs ; Emile Vandervelde,
and M. Vandenheuvel.
Serbia — Nikola Pashitch, former
Prime Minister, and M. Trumbitch, for-
mer President of the Dalmatian Diet,
who will alternate with Dr. M. R. Ves-
nitch, Serbian Minister to France, and
M. Reber.
Greece — Eleutherios Venizelos, Pre-
mier, and M. Politis, Foreign Min-
ister.
mier. Held office until 1909. Power con-
tinued. Known as Destroyer of Ministries.
Became editor of L'Homme Libre. Is stormy
petrel of French politics. A consistent rad-
ical. As prime minister bitter enemy of church.
A brilliant writer and speaker. Wrote plays,
novels, philosophic essays, and sociological
studies.
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
333
Rumania — M. Bratiano, Prime Min-
ister, and M. Mishr.
Czechoslovakia — Dr. Karl Kramarcz,
Premier, and M. Benes, Foreign Min-
ister.
Poland — M. Dmowski, Polish repre-
sentative to the allied Governments, and
a second delegate representing General
Pilsudski.
China — Lu Cheng-Hsiang, Foreign
Minister, and one other.
Kingdom of the Hedjaz — Two dele-
gates.
Canada — Sir Robert Borden, Pre-
mier; Sir George Foster, Minister of
Trade and Commerce, with others of
the delegation alternating.
Australia — William Morris Hughes,
Premier, and one other.
Union of South Africa — General
Louis Botha and General Jan C. Smuts.
India — The Maharajah of Bikaner
and Sir S. P. Sinha.
Siam — M. Charoon, Minister to
France, and one other.
New Zealand — William F. Massey,
Premier.
Portugal — Ejas Moniz.
The opening session of the Peace
Conference began on the afternoon of
Saturday, January 18, 1919, at three
o'clock. The opening address was made
by President Poincare of France. He
greeted those present and then paid a
warm tribute to the United States of
America and the other republics that
had come into the war to defend the
ideals of democracy and liberty. He
said that the war was a rising of the
oppressed nations of the earth against
those of the Central Powers which had
held them in submission for centuries.
He called the present meeting a meet-
ing of free peoples and stated that the
Germanic idea of conquest had been de-
feated forever. He finally appealed for
a League of Nations which would make
a recurrence of the past holocaust im-
possible. His concluding paragraph
was, "You are assembled in order to
repair the evil that has been done and
to prevent a recurrence of it. You hold
in your hands the future of the world.
I leave you gentlemen to your grave
deliberations and declare the Confer-
ence of Paris open." Immediately af-
ter the President of France had con-
cluded his speech President Wilson nom-
inated Clemenceau for the position of
Permanent Chairman of the Conference.
His nomination was seconded by Lloyd
George and Baron Sonnino and the as-
semblage ratified it unanimously. Af-
ter Clemenceau's speech of acceptance,
the first session of the conference came
to a close with the announcement that
a League of Nations would be the first
order of business at the next plenary
session.
A Supreme Council, consisting of the
two senior members of the five chief
powers, was established. It held its first
session on January 20, and adopted a
resolution offered by President Wilson
concerning the situation in Russia. All
the warring factions in Russia were in-
vited to take part in a discussion of
the differences of opinion with the idea
of attempting to settle them and thus
restore peace and quietude over the vast
area seething with unrest. The meet-
ing was to be held on February 15 at
the Princes' Island about 12 miles from
Constantinople. The Bolsheviki, and
the governments of Ukraine, Crimea,
Esthonia, Lithuania, and the Lettish
republic were invited to attend. Noth-
ing however came of this suggestion on
the part of the Associated Powers.
The League of Nations. On January
25 the Peace Conference adopted a reso-
lution to create a League of Nations.
It will be remembered that this was
one of President Wilson's famous four-
334
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
teen peace points. President Wilson
was named chairman of the committee
which was to draft the constitution of
the proposed League. President Wil-
son read his plan on February 14 and
on the next day he sailed for the United
States. During the meetings of the
committee which drew up the constitu-
tion of the League of Nations there
arose sharp differences of opinion. All
of these differences centred around the
question as to how much power should
be given to the League to enforce its
decisions. The French held out for
the use of strong military power to
make them effective, while the British
and American delegates declared the
League should have only a modified
form of authority, such as economic
restraints and the like. The discussion
arose to such a height that Premier
Clemenceau practically appealed to the
American public over the head of Pres-
ident Wilson through the agency of
the Associated Press. This action was
wildly acclaimed by the French press
and the latter modified its demands af-
ter a threat was made to remove the
seat of the conference to another city.
A compromise was effected only after
the British and American delegates
agreed to a revision of the armistice
terms which assured the impossibility
of Germany renewing the war or re-
jecting the peace terms. This satis-
fied the French and Belgian representa-
tives and the work of the committee was
considerably lightened. President Wil-
son read the text of the Constitution for
the League of Nations which was pre-
sented to the Plenary Session of the
Peace Conference on February 14 as a
unanimous report of the committee.The
following day President Wilson sailed
for America. When he arrived there
and presented the document to the
American public it was received rather
coldly and this resulted in the making
of several changes in the original text.
When the President again went to Paris
he presented several changes which were
adopted by the Peace Congress. The
following presents the text of the
League of Nations as finally adopted.
At the conclusion of the constitution
there is a list of the differences added
as a result of the hostility to the text
in its original form.
TEXT OF THE LEAGUE OF NA-
TIONS COVENANT.
In order to promote international coopera-
tion AND TO ACHIEVE INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND
security, by the acceptance of obligations
not to resort to war, by the prescription of
open, just and honorable relations between
nations, by the firm establishment of the
understandings of international law as
to actual rule of conduct among govern-
ments and by the maintenance of justice
and a scrupulous respect for all treaty
obligations in the dealings of organized
peoples with one another, the high con-
tracting parties agree to this covenant of
the League of Nations.
ARTICLE ONE
The original members of the League of Na-
tions shall be those of the signatories which
are named in the annex to this covenant and
also such of those other States named in the
annex as shall accede without reservation to
this covenant. Such accessions shall be effected
by a declaration deposited with the secretariat
within two months of the coming into force of
the covenant. Notice thereof shall be sent to
all other members of the league.
Any fully self-governing State, Dominion or
colony not named in the annex may become a
member of the league if its admission is agreed
by two-thirds of the assembly, provided that it
shall give effective guarantees of its sincere in-
tentions to observe its international obligations
and shall accept such regulations as may be
prescribed by the league in regard to its mili-
tary and naval forces and armaments.
Any member of the league may, after two
years' notice of its intention so to do, with-
draw from the league, provided that all its
international obligations and all its obligations
under this covenant shall have been fulfilled
at the time of its withdrawal.
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
335
ARTICLE TWO
The action of the league under this covenant
shall be effective through the instrumentality
of an assembly and of a council, with a per-
mament secretariat.
ARTICLE THREE
The assembly shall consist of representatives
of the members of the league.
The assembly shall meet at stated intervals,
and from time to time as occasion may require,
at the seat of the league or at such other place
as may be decided upon.
The assembly may deal at its meetings with
any matter within the sphere of action of the
league or affecting the peace of the world.
At meetings of the assembly each member
of the league shall have one vote, and may have
not more than three representatives.
ARTICLE FOUR
The council shall consist of representatives
of the United States of America, of the British
Empire, of France, of Italy and of Japan,
together with representatives of four other
members of the league. These four members
of the league shall be selected by the assem-
bly from time to time in its discretion. Un-
til the appointment of the representatives of
the four members of the league first selected
by the assembly, representatives of (blank)
shall be members of the council.
With the approval of the majority of the
assembly the council may name additional mem-
bers of the league, whose representatives shall
always be members of the council. The coun-
cil with like approval may increase the num-
ber of members of the league to be selected by
the assembly for representation on the council.
The council shall meet from time to time as
occasion may require, and at least once a year,
at the seat of the league or at such other place
as may be decided upon.
The council may deal at its meetings with
any matter within the sphere of action of the
league or affecting the peace of the world.
Any member of the league not represented
on the council shall be invited to send a rep-
resentative to sit as a member at any meeting
of the council during the consideration of
matters specially affecting the interests of that
member of the league.
At meetings of the council each member of
the league represented on the council shall have
one vote, and may have not more than one
representative.
ARTICLE FIVE
Except where otherwise expressly provided in
this covenant, decisions at any meeting of the
assembly or of the council shall require the
agreement of all the members of the league
represented at the meeting.
All matters of procedure at meetings of
the assembly or the council, the appointment of
committees to investigate particular matters,
shall be regulated by the assembly or by the
council and may be decided by a majority of
the members of the league represented at the
meeting.
The first meeting of the assembly and the
first meeting of the council shall be summoned
by the President of the United States of
America.
ARTICLE SIX
The permanent secretariat shall be estab-
lished at the seat of the league. The secretariat
shall comprise a secretary-general and such
secretaries and staff as may be required.
The first secretary-general shall be the per-
son named in the annex; thereafter the secre-
tary-general shall be appointed by the council
with the approval of the majority of the as-
sembly.
The secretaries and the staff of the secre-
tariat shall be appointed by the secretary-gen-
eral with the approval of the council.
The secretary-general shall act in that ca-
pacity at all meetings of the assembly and of
the council.
The expenses of the secretariat shall be borne
by the members of the league in accordance
with the apportionment of the expenses of the
international bureau of the Universal Postal
Union.
ARTICLE SEVEN
The seat of the league is established at
Geneva.
The council may at any time decide that the
seat of the league shall be established else-
where.
All positions under or in connection with the
league, including the secretariat, shall be open
equally to men and women.
Representatives of the members of the league
and officials of the league when engaged on
the business of the league shall enjoy diploma-
tic privileges and immunities.
The buildings and other property occupied
by the league or its officials or by representa-
tives attending its meetings shall be inviola-
ble.
ARTICLE EIGHT
The members of the league recognize that the
maintenance of a peace requires the reduction
of national armaments to the lowest point
consistent with national safety and the enforce-
ment by common action of international obliga-
tions.
The council, taking account of the geograph-
ical situation and circumstances of each, shall
formulate plans for such reduction for the
336
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
consideration and action of the several Govern-
ments.
Such plans shall be subject to reconsidera-
tion and revision at least every ten years.
After these plans shall have been adopted
by the several governments, limits of arma-
ments therein fixed shall not be exceeded with-
out the concurrence of the council.
The members of the league agree that the
manufacture by private enterprise of muni-
tions and implements of war is open to grave
objections. The council shall advise how the
evil effects attendant upon such manufacture
can be prevented, due regard being had to the
necessities of those members of the league
which are not able to manufacture the muni-
tions and implements of war necessary for
their safety.
The members of the league undertake to
interchange full and frank information as to
the scale of their armaments, their military and
naval programmes and the condition of such
of their industries as are adaptable to warlike
purposes.
ARTICLE NINE
A permanent commission shall be consti-
tuted to advise the council on the execution
of the provisions of Articles One and Eight
and on military and naval questions generally.
ARTICLE TEN
The members of the league undertake to
respect and preserve, as against external ag-
gression, the territorial integrity and existing
political independence of all members of the
league. In case of any such aggression or in
case of any threat or danger of such aggres-
sion the council shall advise upon the means
by which this obligation shall be fulfilled.
ARTICLE ELEVEN
Any war or threat of war, whether imme-
diately affecting any of the members of the
league or not, is hereby declared a matter
of concern of the whole league, and the
league shall take any action that may be
deemed wise and effectual to safeguard the
peace of nations. In case any such emergency
should arise the secretary-general shall, on the
request of any member of the league, forth-
with summon a meeting of the council.
It is also declared to be the fundamental
right of each member of the league to bring
to the attention of the assembly or of the
council any circumstance whatever affecting
international relations which threatens to dis-
turb either the peace or the good understand-
ing between nations upon which peace depends.
ARTICLE TWELVE
The members of the league agree that if
there should arise between them any dispute
likely to lead to a rupture they will submit
the matter either to arbitration or to inquiry
by the council, and they agree in no case to
resort to war until three months after the
award by the arbitrators or the report by the
council.
In any case under this article the award
of the arbitrators shall be made within a
reasonable time, and the report of the council
shall be made within six months after the
submission of the dispute.
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
The members of the league agree that when-
ever any dispute shall arise between them
which they recognize to be suitable for sub-
mission to arbitration and which cannot be
satisfactorily settled by diplomacy they will
submit the whole subject matter to arbitra-
tion. Disputes as to the interpretation of a
treaty, as to any question of international law,
as to the existence of any fact which if es-
tablished would constitute a breach of any
international obligation or as to the extent and
nature of the reparation to be made for any
such breach are declared to be among those
which are generally suitable for submission to
arbitration. For the consideration of any
such dispute the court of arbitration to which
the case is referred shall be the court agreed
upon by the parties to the dispute or stipu-
lated in any convention existing between them.
The members of the league agree that they
will carry out in full good faith any award
that may be rendered and that they will not
resort to war against a member of the league
which complies therewith. In the event of
any failure to carry out such an award the
council shall propose what steps should be
taken to give effect thereto.
ARTICLE FOURTEEN
The council shall formulate and submit to
the members of the league for adoption plans
for the establishment of a permanent court of
international justice. The court shall be com-
petent to hear and determine any dispute of
an international character which the parties
thereto submit to it. The court may also give
an advisory opinion upon any dispute or ques-
tion referred to it by the council or by the
assembly.
ARTICLE FIFTEEN
If there should arise between members of
the league any dispute likely to lead to a rup-
ture which is not submitted to arbitration as
above, the members of the league agree that
they will submit the matter to the council.
Any party to the dispute may effect such
submission by giving notice of the existence
of the dispute to the secretary-general, who
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
337
will make all necessary arrangements for a
full investigation and consideration thereof.
For this purpose the parties to the dispute will
communicate to the secretary-general, as
promptly as possible, statements of their case,
all the relevant facts and papers. The coun-
cil may forthwith direct the publication
thereof.
The council shall endeavor to effect a set-
tlement of any dispute, and if such efforts are
successful a statement shall be made public
giving such facts and explanations regarding
the dispute, terms of settlement thereof as
the council may deem appropriate.
If the dispute is not thus settled the coun-
cil either unanimously or by a majority vote
shall make and publish a report containing a
statement of the facts of the dispute and the
recommendations which are deemed just and
proper in regard thereto.
Any member of the league represented on
the council may make public a statement of
the facts of the dispute and of its conclu-
sions regarding the same.
If a report by the council is unanimously
agreed to by the members thereof other than
the representatives of one or more of the
parties to the dispute the members of the
league agree that they will not go to war with
any party to the dispute which complies with
the recommendations of the report.
If the council fails to reach a report which
is unanimously agreed to by the members
thereof, other than the representatives of one
or more of the parties to the dispute, the
members of the league reserve to themselves
the right to take such action as they shall con-
sider necessary for the maintenance of right
and justice.
If the dispute between the parties is claimed
by one of them, and is found by the council
to arise out of a matter which by international
law is solely within the domestic jurisdiction
of that party, the council shall so report, and
shall make no recommendation as to its set-
tlement.
The council may in any case under this
article refer the dispute to the assembly. The
dispute shall be so referred at the request of
either party to the dispute, provided that such
request be made within fourteen days after
the submission of the dispute to the council.
In any case referred to the assembly all the
provisions of this article and of Article Twelve
relating to the action and powers of the
council shall apply to the action and powers
of the assembly, provided that a report made
by the assembly, if concurred in by the rep-
resentatives of those members of the league
represented on the council and of a majority
of the other members of the league, exclusive
in each case of the representatives of the par-
ties to the dispute, shall have the same force
as a report by the council concurred in by
all the members thereof other than the repre-
sentatives of one or more of the parties to
the dispute.
ARTICLE SIXTEEN
Should any member of the league resort to
war in disregard of its covenants under Article
Twelve, Thirteen or Fifteen, it shall ipso facto
be deemed to have committed an act of war
against all other members of the league, which
hereby undertake immediately to subject it to
the severance of all trade or financial rela-
tions, the prohibition of all intercourse be-
tween their nationals and the nationals of the
covenant-breaking member of the league and
the prevention of all financial, commercial, or
personal intercourse between the nationals of
the covenant-breaking member of the league
and the nationals of any other state, whether a
member of the league or not.
It shall be the duty of the council in such
case to recommend to the several governments
concerned what effective military or naval
forces the members of the league shall sever-
ally contribute to the armaments of forces to
be used to protect the covenants of the league.
The members of the league agree, further,
that they will mutually support one another
in the financial and economic measures which
are taken under this article, in order to min-
imize the loss and inconvenience resulting from
the above measures, and that they will mu-
tually support one another in resisting any
special measures aimed at one of their number
by the covenant-breaking member of the state,
and that they will take the necessary steps
to afford passage through their territory to
the forces of any of the members of the
league which are cooperating to protect the
covenants of the league.
Any member of the league which has vio-
lated any covenant of the league may be de-
clared to be no longer a member of the league
by a vote of the council concurred in by the
representatives of all the members of the
league represented thereon.
ARTICLE SEVENTEEN
In the event of a dispute between a member
of the league and a state which is not a member
of the league or between states not members
of the league, the state or states not members of
the league shall be invited to accept the obliga-
tions of membership in the league for the pur-
poses of such dispute, upon such conditions
as the council may deem just. If such invita-
tion is accepted the provisions of Articles
Twelve to Sixteen inclusive shall be applied
with such modifications as may be deemed
necessary by the council.
Upon such invitation being given the council
338
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
shall immediately institute an inquiry into the
circumstances of the dispute and recommend
such action as may seem best and most effec-
tual in the circumstances.
If a state so invited shall refuse to accept
the obligations of membership in the league
for the purposes of such dispute, and shall
resort to war against a member of the league,
the provisions of Article Sixteen shall be ap-
plicable as against the state taking such action.
If both parties to the dispute, when so
invited, refuse to accept the obligations of
membership in the league for the purposes of
such dispute, the council may take such
measures and make such recommendations as
will prevent hostilities and will result in the
settlement of the dispute.
ARTICLE EIGHTEEN
Every convention or international engage-
ment entered into henceforward by any mem-
ber of the league shall be forthwith registered
with the secretariat and shall as soon as pos-
sible be published by it. No such treaty or
international engagement shall be binding until
so registered.
ARTICLE NINETEEN
The assembly may from time to time advise
the reconsideration by members of the league
of treaties which have become inapplicable
and the consideration of international condi-
tions whose continuance might endanger the
peace of the world.
ARTICLE TWENTY
The members of the league severally agree
that this covenant is accepted as abrogating
all obligations or understandings inter se which
are inconsistent with the terms thereof, and
solemnly undertake that they will not here-
after enter into any engagements inconsistent
with the terms thereof.
In case members of the league shall, before
becoming a member of the league, have under-
taken any obligations inconsistent with the
terms of this covenant, it shall be the duty
of such member to take immediate steps to
procure its release from such obligations.
ARTICLE TWENTY-ONE
Nothing in this covenant shall be deemed
to affect the validity of international engage-
ments such as treaties of arbitration or re-
gional understandings like the Monroe Doc-
trine for securing the maintenance of peace.
ARTICLE TWENTY-TWO
To those colonies and territories which as a
consequence of the late war have ceased to be
under the sovereignty of the States which for-
merly governed them, and which are inhabited
by peoples not yet able to stand by them-
selves under the strenuous conditions of the
modern world, there should be applied the
principle that the well being and development
of such peoples form a sacred trust of civili-
zation, and that securities for the perform-
ance of this trust should be embodied in this
covenant.
The best method of giving practicable effect
to this principle is that the tutelage of such
peoples be intrusted to advanced nations who,
by reason of their resources, their experience
or their geographical position, can best under-
take this responsibility, and who are willing
to accept it, and that this tutelage should be
exercised by them as mandatories on behalf
of the league.
The character of the mandate must differ
according to the stage of the development of
the people, the geographical situation of the
territory, its economic condition and other
similar circumstances.
Certain communities formerly belonging to
the Turkish Empire have reached a stage of
development where their existence as indepen-
dent nations can be provisionally recognized
subject to the rendering of administrative
advice and assistance by a mandatory until
such time as they are able to stand alone.
The wishes of these communities must be a
principal consideration in the selection of the
mandatory.
Other peoples, especially those of central
Africa, are at such a stage that the mandatory
must be responsible for the administration of
the territory under conditions which will guar-
antee freedom of conscience or religion sub-
ject only to the maintenance of public order
and morals, the prohibition of abuses such as
the slave trade, the arms traffic and the liquor
traffic and the prevention of the establishment
of fortifications or military and naval bases
and of military training of the nations for
other than police purposes and the defence
of territory and will also secure equal oppor-
tunities for the trade and commerce of other
members of the league.
There are territories, such as southwest
Africa and certain of the south Pacific islands,
which, owing to the sparseness of their popu-
lation or their small size or their remoteness
from the centres of civilization or their geo-
graphical contiguity to the territory of the
mandatory and other circumstances, can be
best administered under the laws of the man-
datory as integral portions of its territory
subject to the safeguards above mentioned in
the interests of the indigenous population.
In every case of mandate the mandatory shall
render to the council an annual report in ref-
erence to the territory committed to its charge.
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
339
The degree of authority, control or admin-
istration to be exercised by the mandatory
shall, if not previously agreed upon by the
members of the league, be explicitly defined
in each case by the council.
A permanent commission shall be constituted
to receive and examine the annual report of
the mandatories, and to advise the council on
all matters relating to the observance of the
mandates.
ARTICLE TWENTY-THREE
Subject to and in accordance with the pro-
visions of international conventions existing
or hereafter to be agreed upon, the members
of the league (A) will endeavor to secure and
maintain fair and humane conditions of labor
for men, women and children, both in their
own countries and in all countries to which
their commercial and industrial relations ex-
tend, and for that purpose will establish and
maintain the necessary international organi-
zations, (B) undertake to secure just treat-
ment of the native inhabitants of territories
under their control, (C) will entrust the
league with the general supervision over the
execution of agreements with regard to the
traffic in women and children, and the traffic
in opium and other dangerous drugs, (D) will
entrust the league with the general supervi-
sion of the trade in arms and ammunition with
the countries in which the control of this traffic
is necessary in the common interest, (E) will
make provision to secure and maintain free-
dom of communication and of transit and
equitable treatment for the commerce of all
» members of the league. In this connection the
special necessities of the regions devastated
during the war of 1914-1918 shall be in mind,
(F) will endeavor to take steps in matters of
international concern for the prevention and
control of disease.
ARTICLE TWENTY-FOUR
There shall be placed under the direction of
the league all international bureaus already
established by general treaties if the parties to
such treaties consent. All such international
bureaus and all commissions for the regula-
tion of matters of international interest here-
after constituted shall be placed under the
direction of the league.
In all matters of international interest which
are regulated by general conventions but which
are not placed under the control of interna-
tional bureaus or commissions the secretariat
of the league shall, subject to the consent of
the council and if desired by the parties, col-
lect and distribute all relevant information
and shall render any other assistance which
may be necessary or desirable.
The council may include as part of the
expenses of the secretariat the expenses of
any bureau or commission which is placed
under the direction of the league.
ARTICLE TWENTY-FIVE
The members of the league agree to encour-
age and promote the establishment and co-
operation of duly authorized voluntary na-
tional Red Cross organizations having as pur-
poses improvement of health, the prevention
of disease and the mitigation of suffering
throughout the world.
ARTICLE TWENTY-SIX
Amendments to this covenant will take ef-
fect when ratified by the members of the
league whose representatives compose tho
council and by a majority of the members of
the league whose representatives compose the
assembly.
No such amendment shall bind any member
of the league which signifies its dissent there-
from, but in that case it shall cease to be a
member of the league.
ANNEX TO THE COVENANT
One — Original members of the League of
Nations.
Signatories of the treaty of peace:
United States Guatemala,
of America, Hayti,
Belgium, Hedjaz,
Bolivia, Honduras,
Brazil, Italy,
British Empire, Japan,
Canada, Liberia,
Australia, Nicaragua,
South Africa, Panama,
New Zealand, Peru,
India, Poland,
China, Portugal,
Cuba, Rumania,
Czecho-Slovakia, Serbia,
Ecuador, Siam,
France* Uruguay.
Greece,
States invited to accede to the covenant:
Argentine
Republic,
Chile,
Colombia,
Denmark,
Netherlands,
Norway,
Paraguay,
Persia,
Salvador,
Spain,
Sweden,
Switzerland,
Venezuela.
Two — First secretary-general of the League
of Nations, .
The first secretary of the League of Nations
was Sir Eric Drummond.
340
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
Important changes that were made
in the new constitution of the League
of Nations and which did not appear
in the first draft may be summed up
briefly as follows.
ARTICLE I
This article embodies parts of the old Arti-
cle VII. It goes into detail regarding the
method of admitting new members and pro-
vides for withdrawal from the League, which
was not mentioned in the original covenant.
ARTICLE II
Originally a part of Article I this gives
the name of "assembly" to the representatives
of member nations, formerly designated as
the "body of delegates."
ARTICLE III
This includes parts of the old Articles I, II
and III, with slight alterations and has refer-
ence to "members of the League" instead of
the "high contracting parties." This change
is evident throughout the draft.
ARTICLE IV
That part of the old Article III outlining
the structure of the Council is contained in
this article. It also provides that the member-
ship of the Council may be increased.
ARTICLE V
This is the same as the original Article IV
except that the first paragraph requires unani-
mous agreement in both Council and Assembly,
except where otherwise provided.
ARTICLE VI
This is a substitute for the old Article V.
In the replaced article the Council was to
appoint the first Secretary-General and ap-
proval of a majority of the Assembly was not
required for appointment of his successors.
ARTICLE VII
Geneva is specifically named as the seat of
the League, with the Council given the right
to change it at any time. There is also a para-
graph permitting women to hold positions in
the League. This article embodies parts of
the old Articles V and VI.
ARTICLE VIII
While this article was largely covered by the
original Article VIII, it has been changed to
make plain that reduction of armaments must
be approved by the nations affected.
ARTICLE IX
This article is substantially the same as the
original.
ARTICLE X
Virtually no change has been made from
the old article.
ARTICLE XI
The phrase, "The League shall take any ac-
tion," originally read, "The high contracting
parties reserve the right to take any action."
ARTICLE XII
Practically no change has been made in this
article.
ARTICLE XIII
The wording has been slightly changed.
ARTICLE XIV
Provision for the Court to give an advisory
opinion on any dispute is new.
ARTICLE XV
Provision has been made for excluding do-
mestic matters from the jurisdiction of the
Council.
ARTICLE XVI
Provision is made for removing from the
League any member which has violated the
covenant.
ARTICLE XVII
Practically unchanged.
ARTICLE XVIII
This was formerly Article XXIII.
ARTICLE XIX
Practically the same as the old Article
XXIV.
ARTICLE XX
Practically the same as the old Article
XXV.
ARTICLE XXI
This article, recognizing the Monroe Doc-
trine, is new.
ARTICLE XXII
This is only slightly changed from the old
Article XIX., providing only that nations must
be willing to accept the mandatories designated
for them.
ARTICLE XXIII.
Reference to supervision of traffic in women
and children and in drugs is entirely new, as
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
341
is the preceding clause referring to treatment
of natives. It contains portions of the old
Articles XVIII and XXI and is a substitu-
tion for the original Article XXI.
ARTICLE XXIV
Practically the same as the old Article
XXII.
ARTICLE XXV
Recognition of the Red Cross is new.
ARTICLE XXVI
A change is made from the original in that
amendments may be made by a "majority"
vote instead of a three-fourths vote as before.
ANNEX
The Annex, containing a list of the charter
members and the nations to be invited to join
at once, is new.
The German Peace Treaty. After
the question of the League of Nations
was disposed of for the time being the
Peace Conference was able to take up
the financial and economic problems
that the war had brought in its wake.
A Supreme Economic Council, an Eco-
nomic Drafting Commission and a Fi-
nancial Drafting Commission were es-
tablished to enlighten the labors of the
Peace Conference as a whole. The most
prominent financiers and economists of
the Allied nations were represented on
these committees and they were a tre-
mendous assistance in the ultimate so-
lution of many knotty problems.
The question of reparation was one
concerning which there was a vast di-
versity of opinion. The French and
British averred that Germany should
pay for all damages in full, while the
American delegation held that the Ger-
mans should only be responsible for the
wanton destruction that they caused
during the war. This would mean that
Belgium, Serbia, Rumania, and parts
of northern France would chiefly benefit
from the reparation moneys, while
Great Britain and the United States
would only receive damages for mari-
time losses and in the case of Great
Britain for aerial losses.
At the plenary session of the Con-
ference of the Congress on March 1,
financial and economic subjects were re-
ported by the two committees that had
them in charge. On the same day Mar-
shal Foch presented the military terms
which he suggested should be incorpor-
ated in the treaty. On March 3, the
Conference Committee on Reparation
stated that it estimated that Germany
and her allies should pay to the Entente
Allies $120,000,000,000.
During March and April the news
that sifted through from behind the
closed doors of the Peace Conference
was very meagre. The Conference had
now practically resolved itself into
meetings between Lloyd George, Clemen-
ceau, Orlando, and President Wilson.
They were practically deciding the fate
of the world.
On May 7, 1919, the Treaty of Peace,
consisting of more than 80,000 words,
was presented to the German delegates
in the dining hall of the Trianon Palace
Hotel at Versailles. The chairman of
the German delegation, which consisted
of six main delegates and a number of
specialists in various fields, was Count
Ulrich Brockdorff-Rantzau. The Allied
Peace Treaty naturally was received
with a great deal of hostility in Ger-
many. The press was particularly bit-
ter towards it and everywhere was
heard the complaint that Germany was
betrayed inasmuch as she had consented
to make peace on the terms laid down
by President Wilson. She maintained
that these "fourteen points" were almost
to the last one cast aside and a peace,
based on the principle "to the victor
belongs the spoils" was drawn up. Her
protests had very little effect, slight
changes being made in the text of the
342
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
treaty which was originally handed to
her. The official summary of the treaty
is as follows.
THE PREAMBLE
The preamble names as parties of the one
part the United States, the British Empire,
France, Italy, and Japan, described as the
Five Allied and Associated Powers, and Bel-
gium, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Ecuador,
Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, the Hedjaz, Hon-
duras, Liberia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru,
Poland, Portugal, Rumania, Serbia, Siam,
Czechoslovakia, and Uruguay, who with the
five above are described as the allied and asso-
ciated powers, and on the other part, Germany.
It states that: bearing in mind that on the
request of the then Imperial German Govern-
ment an armistice was granted on Nov. 11,
1918, by the principal Allied and Associated
Powers in order that a treaty of peace might
be concluded with her, and whereas the allied
and associated powers, being equally desirous
that the war in which they were successively
involved directly or indirectly and which origi-
nated in the declaration of war by Austria-
Hungary on July 28, 1914, against Serbia, the
declaration of war by Germany against Russia
on Aug. 1, 1914, and against France on Aug.
3, 1914, and in the invasion of Belgium,
should be replaced by a firm, just, and durable
peace, the plenipotentiaries (having communi-
cated their full powers found in good and due
form) have agreed as follows:
From the coming into force of the present
treaty the state of war will terminate. From
the moment, and subject to the provisions of
this treaty, official relations with Germany, and
with each of the German States, will be re-
sumed by the Allied and Associated Powers.
SECTION I
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
The covenant of the League of Nations con-
stitutes Section I of the peace treaty, which
places upon the League many specific, in addi-
tion to its general, duties. It may question
Germany at any time for a violation of the
neutralized zone east of the Rhine as a threat
against the world's peace. It will appoint
three of the five members of the Sarre Com-
mission, oversee its regime, and carry out
the plebiscite. It will appoint the High
Commissioner of Danzig, guarantee the inde-
pendence of the free city, and arrange for
treaties between Danzig and Germany and
Poland. It will work out the mandatory sys-
tem to be applied to the former German colo-
nies, and act as a final court in part of the
plebiscites of the Belgian-German frontier,
and in disputes as to the Kiel Canal, and
decide certain of the economic and financial
problems. An International Conference on
Labor is to be held in October under its direc-
tion, and another on the international control
of ports, waterways, and railways is fore-
shadowed.
MEMBERSHIP
The members of the League will be the sig-
natories of the covenant and other States in-
vited to accede who must lodge a declaration
of accession without reservation within two
months. A new State, dominion, or colony
may be admitted, provided its admission is
agreed by two-thirds of the assembly. A
State may withdraw upon giving two years'
notice, if it has fulfilled all its international
obligations.
SECRETARIAT
A permanent secretariat will be established
at the seat of the League, which will be at
Geneva.
The Assembly will consist of representatives
of the members of the League, and will meet
at stated intervals. Voting will be by States.
Each member will have one vote and not more
than three representatives.
The Council will consist of representatives
of the Five Great Allied Powers, together with
representatives of four members selected by
the Assembly from time to time; it may co-opt
additional States and will meet at least once
a year. Members not represented will be in-
vited to send a representative when questions
affecting their interests are discussed. Vot-
ing will be by States. Each State will have
one vote and not more than one representa-
tive. A decision taken by the Assembly and
Council must be unanimous except in regard
to procedure, and in certain cases specified in
the covenant and in the treaty, where decisions
will be by a majority.
ARMAMENTS
The Council will formulate plans for a re-
duction of armaments for consideration and
adoption. These plans will be revised every
ten years. Once they are adopted, no member
must exceed the armaments fixed without the
concurrence of the Council. All members will
exchange full information as to armaments
and programs, and a permanent commission
will advise the Council on military and naval
questions.
By Permission of The Macmillan Company
CENTRAL EUROPE BEFORE THE WORLD WAR
By Permission of The Macmillan Company
CENTRAL EUROPE ACCORDING TO THE PEACE TREATIES OF 1919
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
343
PREVENTING OF WAR
Upon any war, or threat of war, the Coun-
cil will meet to consider what common action
shall be taken. Members are pledged to sub-
mit matters of dispute to arbitration or in-
quiry and not to resort to war until three
months after the award. Members agree to
carry out the arbitral award and not to go
to war with any party to the dispute which
complies with it. If a member fails to carry
out the award, the Council will propose the
necessary measures. The Council will formu-
late plans for the establishment of a perma-
nent court of international justice to deter-
mine international disputes or to give advisory
opinions. Members who do not submit their
case to arbitration must accept the jurisdiction
of the Assembly. If the Council, less the
parties to the dispute, is unanimously agreed
upon the rights of it, the members agree that
they will not go to war with any party to the
dispute which complies with its recommenda-
tions. In this case, a recommendation, by the
Assembly, concurred in by all its members
represented on the Council and a simple ma-
jority of the rest, less the parties to the dis-
pute, will have the force of a unanimous
recommendation by the Council. In either
case, if the necessary agreement cannot be
secured, the members reserve the right to take
such action as may be necessary for the
maintenance of right and justice. Members
resorting to war in disregard of the covenant
will immediately be debarred from all inter-
course with other members. The Council will
in such cases consider what military or naval
action can be taken by the League collectively
for the protection of the covenants and will
afford facilities to members co-operating in
this enterprise.
VALIDITY OF TREATIES
All treaties or international engagements
concluded after the institution of the League
will be registered with the secretariat and pub-
lished. The Assembly may from time to time
advise members to reconsider treaties which
have become inapplicable or involve danger to
peace. The covenant abrogates all obligations
between members inconsistent with its terms,
but nothing in it shall affect the validity of
international engagements such as treaties of
arbitration or regional understandings like the
Monroe Doctrine for securing the maintenance
of peace.
THE MANDATORY SYSTEM
The tutelage of nations not yet able to stand
by themselves will be intrusted to advanced
nations who are best fitted to undertake it.
The covenant recognizes three different stages
of development requiring different kinds of
mandatories:
(a) Communities like those belonging to the
Turkish Empire, which can be provisionally
recognized as independent, subject to advice
and assistance from mandatory in whose se-
lection they would be allowed a voice.
(b) Communities like those of Central
Africa, to be administered by the mandatory
under conditions generally approved by the
members of the League, where equal oppor-
tunities for trade will be allowed to all mem-
bers; certain abuses, such as trade in slaves,
arms, and liquor will be prohibited, and the
construction of military and naval bases and
the introduction of compulsory military train-
ing will be disallowed.
(c) Other communities, such as Southwest
Africa and the South Pacific Islands, but ad-
ministered under the laws of the mandatory
as integral portions of its territory. In every
case the mandatory will render an anuual re-
port, and the degree of its authority will be
defined.
GENERAL INTERNATIONAL PROVISIONS
Subject to and in accordance with the pro-
visions of international convention, existing or
hereafter to be agreed upon, the members of
the League will in general endeavor, through
the international organization established by
the Labor Convention, to secure and maintain
fair conditions of labor for men, women and
children in their own countries and other coun-
tries, and undertake to secure just treatment
of the native inhabitants of territories under
their control; they will entrust the League with
the general supervision over the execution of
agreements for the suppression of traffic in
women and children, etc.: and the control of the
trade in arms and ammunition with countries in
which control is necessary; they will make pro-
vision for freedom of communication and tran-
sit and equitable treatment for commerce of all
members of the League, with special reference
to the necessities of regions devastated during
the war; and they will endeavor to take steps
for international prevention and control of dis-
ease. International bureaus and commissions
already established will be placed under the
League, as well as those to be established in
the future.
AMENDMENTS TO THE COVENANT
Amendments to the covenant will take effect
when ratified by the Council and by a majority
of the Assembly.
SECTION II
BOUNDARIES OF GERMANY
Germany cedes to France Alsace-Lorraine,
5,600 square miles to the southwest, and to Bel-
gium two small districts between Luxemburg
344
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
and Holland, totaling 382 square miles. She
also cedes to Poland the southeastern tip of
Silesia beyond and including Oppela, most of
Posen, and West Prussia, 27,686 square miles,
East Prussia being isolated from the main body
by a part of Poland. She loses sovereignty
over the northeastern tip of East Prussia, 40
square miles north of the river Memel, and the
internationalized areas about Danzig, 729 square
miles, and the Basin of the Sarre, 738 square
miles, between the western border of the
Rhenish Palatinate of Bavaria and the south-
east corner of Luxemburg. The Danzig area
consists of the V between the Nogat and Vis-
tula Rivers made a W by the addition of a
similar V on the west, including the city of
Danzig. The southeastern third of East Prus-
sia and the area between East Prussia and the
Vistula north of latitude 53 degrees 3 minutes
is to have its nationality determined by popular
vote, 5,785 square miles, as is to be the case
in part of Schleswig, 2,787 square miles.
SECTION III
Germany is to consent to the abrogation of
the treaties of 1839, by which Belgium was
established as a neutral State, and to agree in
advance to any convention with which the al-
lied and associated Powers may determine to
replace them. She is to recognize the full
sovereignty of Belgium over the contested ter-
ritory of Moresnet and over part of Prussian
Moresnet, and to renounce in favor of Bel-
gium all rights over the circles of Eupen and
Malmedy, the inhabitants of which are to be
entitled within six months to protest against
this change of sovereignty either in whole or
in part, the final decision to be reserved to the
League of Nations. A commission is to settle
the details of the frontier, and various regula-
tions for change of nationality are laid down.
LUXEMBOURG
Germany renounces her various treaties and
conventions with the Grand Duchy of Luxem-
bourg, recognizes that it ceased to be a part
of the German Zollverein from January first
last, renounces all right of exploitation of the
railroads, adheres to the abrogation of its neu-
trality, and accepts in advance any interna-
tional agreement as to it reached by the allied
and associated Powers.
LEFT BANK OF THE RHINE
As provided in the military clauses, Germany
will not maintain any fortifications or armed
forces less than fifty kilometers to the east of
the Rhine, hold any manoeuvres, nor maintain
any works to facilitate mobilization. In case
of violation, "she shall be regarded as com-
mitting a hostile act against the Powers who
sign the present treaty and as intending to
disturb the peace of the world." "By virtue of
the present treaty, Germany shall be bound to
respond to any request for an explanation
which the Council of the League of Nations
may think it necessary to address to her."
ALSACE-LORRAINE
After recognition of the moral obligation
to repair the wrong done in 1871 by Germany
to France and the people of Alsace-Lorraine,
the territories ceded to Germany by the Treaty
of Frankfort are restored to France with their
frontiers as before 1871, to date from the sign-
ing of the armistice, and to be free of all pub-
lic debts.
Citizenship is regulated by detailed provisions
distinguishing those who are immediately re-
stored to full French citizenship, those who have
to make formal applications therefor, and those
for whom naturalization is open after three
years. The last named class includes German
residents in Alsace-Lorraine, as distinguished
from those who acquire the position of Alsace-
Lorrainers as defined in the treaty. All public
property and all private property of German
ex-sovereigns passes to France without pay-
ment or credit. France is substituted for Ger-
many as regards ownership of the railroads and
rights over concessions of tramways. The
Rhine bridges pass to France with the obliga-
tion for their upkeep.
For five years manufactured products of
Alsace-Lorraine will be admitted to Germany
free of duty to a total amount not exceeding
in any year the average of the three years pre-
ceding the war and textile materials may be
imported from Germany to Alsace-Lorraine
and re-exported free of duty. Contracts for
electric power from the right bank must be
continued for ten years. For seven years, with
possible extension to ten, the ports of Kehl
and Strasbourg shall be administered as a sin-
gle unit by a French administrator appointed
and supervised by the Central Rhine Commis-
sion. Property rights will be safeguarded in
both ports and equality of treatment as re-
spects traffic assured the nationals, vessels,
and goods of every country.
Contracts between Alsace-Lorraine and Ger-
mans are maintained save for France's right
to annul on grounds of public interest. Judg-
ments of courts hold in certain classes of cases
while in others a judicial exequatur is first re-
quired. Political condemnations during the
war are null and void and the obligation to
repay war fines is established as in other parts
of allied territory.
Various clauses adjust the general provisions
of the treaty to the special conditions of Al-
sace-Lorraine, certain matters of execution be-
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
345
ing left to conventions to be made between
France and Germany.
THE SABBE
In compensation for the destruction of coal
mines in Northern France and as payment on
account of reparation, Germany cedes to
France full ownership of the coal mines of the
Sarre Basin with their subsidiaries, accessories
and facilities. Their value will be estimated
by the Reparation Commission and credited
against that account. The French rights will
be governed by German law in force at the
armistice excepting war legislation, France re-
placing the present owners, whom Germany
undertakes to indemnify. France will continue
to furnish the present proportion of coal for
local needs and contribute in just proportion
to local taxes. The basin extends from the
frontier of Lorraine as reannexed to France
north as far as Stwendell including on the west
the valley of the Sarre as far as Sarre Holzbach
and on the east the town of Homburg.
In order to secure the rights and welfare
of the population and guarantee to France
entire freedom in working the mines the ter-
ritory will be governed by a commission ap-
pointed by the League of Nations and consist-
ing of five members, one French, one a native
inhabitant of the Sarre, and three represent-
ing three different countries other than France
and Germany. The League will appoint a
member of the Commission as Chairman to act
as executive of the commission. The commis-
sion will have all powers of government for-
merly belonging to the German Empire,
Prussia and Bavaria, will administer the rail-
roads and other public services and have full
power to interpret the treaty clauses. The local
courts will continue, but subject to the Com-
mission. Existing German legislation will re-
main the basis of the law, but the Commis-
sion may make modification after consulting a
local representative assembly which it will or-
ganize. It will have the taxing power but for
local purposes only. New taxes must be ap-
proved by this assembly. Labor legislation will
consider the wishes of the local labor organi-
zations and the labor program of the League.
French and other labor may be freely utilized,
the former being free to belong to French
unions. All rights acquired as to pensions and
social insurance will be maintained by Ger-
many and the Sarre Commission.
There will be no military service but only
a local gendarmerie to preserve order. The
people will preserve their local assemblies, re-
ligious liberties, schools, and language, but may
vote only for local assemblies. They will keep
their present nationality except so far as indi-
viduals may change it. Those wishing to leave
will have every facility with respect to their
property. The territory will form part of the
French customs system, with no export tax on
coal and metallurgical products going to Ger-
many nor on German products entering the ba-
sin and for five years no import duties on
products of the basin going to Germany or
German products coming into the basin. For
local consumption French money may circu-
late without restriction.
After fifteen years a plebiscite will be held
by communes to ascertain the desires of the
population as to continuance of the existing
regime under the League of Nations, union
with France or union with Germany. The
right to vote will belong to all inhabitants over
twenty resident therein at the signature. Tak-
ing into account the opinions thus expressed
the League will decide the ultimate sovereign-
ty. In any portion restored to Germany the
German Government must buy out the French
mines at an appraised valuation. If the price
is not paid within six months thereafter this
portion passes finally to France. If Germany
buys back the mines the League will deter-
mine how much of the coal shall be annually
sold to France.
SECTION IV
GERMAN AUSTRIA
Germany recognizes the total independence
of German Austria in the boundaries traced.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Germany recognizes the entire independence
of the Czechoslovak State, including the au-
tonomous territory of the Ruthenians south of
the Carpathians, and accepts the frontiers of
this State as to be determined, which in the
case of the German frontier shall follow the
frontier of Bohemia in 1914. The usual stipu-
lations as to acquisition and change of nation-
ality follow.
POLAND
Germany cedes to Poland the greater part of
Upper Silesia, Posen and the province of West
Prussia on the left bank of the Vistula. A
Field Boundary Commission of seven, five rep-
resenting the allied and associated powers and
one each representing Poland and Germany,
shall be constituted within fifteen days of the
peace to delimit this boundary. Such special
provisions as are necessary to protect racial,
linguistic or religious minorities and to protect
freedom of transit and equitable treatment of
commerce of other nations shall be laid down
in a subsequent treaty between the principal
allied and associated powers and Poland.
EAST PRUSSIA
The southern and the eastern frontier of
East Prussia as touching Poland is to be fixed
346
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
by plebiscites, the first in the regency of Allen-
stein between the southern frontier of East
Prussia and the northern frontier, or Regie-
rungsbezirk Allenstein from where it meets
the boundary between East and "West Prussia
to its junction with the boundary between the
circles of Oletsko and Augersburg, thence the
northern boundary of Oletsko to its junction
with the present frontier, and the second in the
area comprising the circles of Stuhm and Ro-
senburg and the parts of the circles of Ma-
rienburg and Marienwerder east of the Vis-
tula.
In each case German troops and authorities
will move out within fifteen days of the peace,
and the territories be placed under an interna-
tional commission of five members appointed
by the principal allied and associated powers,
with the particular duty of arranging for a
free, fair and secret vote. The commission
will report the results of the plebiscites to the
powers with a recommendation for the boun-
dary, and will terminate its work as soon as
the boundary has been laid down and the new
authorities set up.
The principal allied and associated powers
will draw up regulations assuring East Prus-
sia full and equitable access to and use of the
Vistula. A subsequent convention, of which
the terms will be fixed by the principal allied
and associated powers, will be entered into be-
tween Poland, Germany and Danzig, to assure
suitable railroad communication across Ger-
man territory on the right bank of the Vistula
between Poland and Danzig, while Poland
shall grant free passage from East Prussia to
Germany.
The northeastern corner of East Prussia
about Memel is to be ceded by Germany to the
associated powers, the former agreeing to ac-
cept the settlement made, especially as regards
the nationality of the inhabitants.
Danzig and the district immediately about it
is to be constituted into the "free city of Dan-
zig" under the guarantee of the League of Na-
tions. A high commissioner appointed by the
League and President of Danzig shall draw
up a constitution in agreement with the duly
appointed representatives of the city, and shall
deal in the first instance with all differences
arising between the city and Poland. The
actual boundaries of the city shall be delimited
by a commission appointed within six months
from the peace and to include three represen-
tatives chosen by the allied and associated
powers, and one each by Germany and Poland.
A convention, the terms of which shall be fixed
by the principal allied and associated powers,
shall be concluded between Poland and Danzig,
which shall include Danzig within the Polish
customs frontiers, though a free area in the
port; insure to Poland the free use of all the
city's waterways, docks and other port facili-
ties, the control and administration of the Vis-
tula and the whole through railway system
within the city, and postal, telegraphic and
telephonic communication between Poland and
Danzig; provide against discrimination against
Poles within the city, and place its foreign re-
lations and the diplomatic protection of its
citizens abroad in charge of Poland.
The frontier between Germany and Den-
mark will be fixed by the self-determination
of the population. Ten days from the peace
German troops and authorities shall evacuate
the region north of the line running from the
mouth of the Schlei, south of Kappel, Schles-
wig, and Friedrichstadt along the Eider to the
North Sea south of Tonning; the "Workmen's
and Soldiers' Councils shall be dissolved, and
the territory administered by an international
commission of five, of whom Norway and Swe-
den shall be invited to name two.
The commission shall insure a free and se-
cret vote in three zones. That between the
German-Danish frontier and a line running
south of the Island of Alsen, north of Flens-
burg, and south of Tondern to the North Sea
north of the Island of Sylt, will vote as a unit *
within three weeks after the evacuation. With-
in five weeks after this vote the second zone,
whose southern boundary runs, from the North
Sea south of the Island of Fehr to the Baltic
south of Sygum, will vote by communes. Two
weeks after that vote the third zone running
to the limit of evacuation will also vote by
communes. The international commission will
then draw a new frontier on the basis of these
plebiscites and with due regard for geographi-
cal and economic conditions. Germany will re-
nounce all sovereignty over territories north
of this line in favor of the Associated Gov-
ernments, who will hand them over to Den-
mark.
HELIGOLAND
The fortifications, military establishments,
and harbors of the Islands of Heligoland and
Dune are to be destroyed under the supervi-
sion of the Allies by German labor and at
Germany's expense. They may not be recon-
structed, nor any similar fortifications built in
the future.
Germany agrees to respect as permanent and
inalienable the independency of all territories
which were part of the former Russian Em-
pire, to accept the abrogation of the Brest-
Litovsk and other treaties entered into with
the Maximalist Government of Russia, to rec-
ognize the full force of all treaties entered
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
347
into by the allied and associated powers with
States which were a part of the former Rus-
sian Empire, and to recognize the frontiers
as determined thereon. The allied and associ-
ated powers formerly reserve the right of Rus-
sia to obtain restitution and reparation on the
principles of the present treaty.
SECTION V
GERMAN RIGHTS OUTSIDE EUROPE
Outside Europe, Germany renounces all
rights, titles, and privileges as to her own or
her allies' territories to all the allied and as-
sociated powers, and undertakes to accept
whatever measures are taken by the five allied
powers in relation thereto.
COLONIES AXD OVERSEAS POSSESSIONS
Germany renounces in favor of the allied
and associated powers her overseas posses-
sions with all rights and titles therein. All
movable and immovable property belonging to
the German Empire, or to any German State,
shall pass to the Government exercising au-
thority therein. These Governments may make
whatever provisions seem suitable for the re-
patriation of German nationals and as to the
conditions on which German subjects of Euro-
pean origin shall reside, hold property, or
carry on business. Germany undertakes to
pay reparation for damage suffered by French
nationals in the Cameroons or its frontier zone
through the acts of German civil and military
authorities and of individual Germans from
the 1st of January, 1900, to the 1st of August,
1914. Germany renounces all rights under the
convention of the 4th of November, 1911, and
the 29th of September, 1912, and undertakes
to pay to France in accordance with an esti-
mate presented and approved by the Repatria-
tion Commission all deposits, credits, advances,
&c, thereby secured. Germany undertakes to
accept and observe any provisions by the al-
lied and associated powers as to the trade in
arms and spirits in Africa as well as to the
General Act of Berlin of 1885 and the General
Act of Brussels of 1890. Diplomatic protec-
tion to inhabitants of former German colonies
is to be given by the Governments exercising
authority.
Germany renounces in favor of China all
privileges and indemnities resulting from the
Boxer Protocol of 1901, and all buildings,
wharves, barracks for munitions of warships,
wireless plants, and other public property ex-
cept diplomatic or consular establishments in
the German concessions of Tientsin and Han-
kow and in other Chinese territory except Kiao-
Chau and agrees to return to China at her
own expense all the astronomical instruments
seized in 1900 and 1901. China will, however,
take no measures for disposal of German prop-
erty in the legation quarter of Peking without
the consent of the powers signatory to the
Boxer Protocol.
Germany accepts the abrogation of the con-
cessions at Hankow and Tientsin, China agree-
ing to open them to international use. Ger-
many renounces all claims against China or
any allied and associated Government for the
internment or repatriation of her citizens in
China and for the seizure or liquidation of
German interests there since Aug. 14, 1917.
She renounces in favor of Great Britain her
State property in the British concession at
Canton and of France and China jointly of the
property of the German school in the French
concession at Shanghai.
Germany recognizes that all agreements be-
tween herself and Siam, including the right of
extra-territoriality, ceased July 22, 1917. All
German public property, except consular and
diplomatic premises, passes without compensa-
tion to Siam, German private property to be
dealt with in accordance with the economic
clauses. Germany waives all claims against
Siam for the seizure and condemnation of her
ships, liquidation of her property, or intern-
ment of her nationals.
Germany renounces all rights under the in-
ternational arrangements of 1911 and 1912 re-
garding Liberia, more particularly the right
to nominate a receiver of the customs, and dis-
interests herself in any further negotiations
for the rehabilitation of Liberia. She regards
as abrogated all commercial treaties and agree-
ments between herself and Liberia and rec-
ognizes Liberia's right to determine the status
and condition of the re-establishment of Ger-
mans in Liberia.
Germany renounces all her rights, titles, and
privileges under the Act of Algeciras and the
Franco-German agreements of 1909 and 1911,
and under all treaties and arrangements with
the Sherifian Empire. She undertakes not to
intervene in any negotiations as to Morocco
between France and other powers, accepts all
the consequences of the French protectorate
and renounces the capitulations; the Sherifian
Government shall have complete liberty of ac-
tion in regard to German nationals, and all
German protected persons shall be subject to
the common law. All movable and immovable
German property, including mining rights,
may be sold at public auction, the proceeds to
348
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
be paid to the Sherifian Government and de-
ducted from the reparation account. Ger-
many is also required to relinquish her in-
terests in the State Bank of Morocco. All
Moroccan goods entering Germany shall have
the same privilege as French goods.
Germany recognizes the British Protectorate
over Egypt declared on Dec. 18, 1914, and re-
nounces as from August 4, 1914, the capitu-
lation and all the treaties, agreements, etc.,
concluded by her with Egypt. She undertakes
not to intervene in any negotiations about
Egypt between Great Britain and other pow-
ers. There are provisions for jurisdiction over
German nationals and property and for Ger-
man consent to any changes which may be
made in relation to the Commission of Public
Debt. Germany consents to the transfer to
Great Britain of the powers given to the late
Sultan of Turkey for securing the free naviga-
tion of the Suez Canal. Arrangements for
property belonging to German nationals in
Egypt are made similar to those in the case of
Morocco and other countries. Anglo-Egyp-
tian goods entering Germany shall enjoy the
same treatment as British goods.
TXJEKEY AND BULGARIA
Germany accepts all arrangements which the
allied and associated powers make with Tur-
key and Bulgaria with reference to any right,
privileges or interests claimed in those coun-
tries by Germany or her nationals and not
dealt with elsewhere.
SHANTUNG
Germany cedes to Japan all rights, titles, and
privileges, notably as to Kiao-Chau, and the
railroads, mines, and cables acquired by her
treaty with China of March 6, 1897, by and
other agreements as to Shantung. All German
rights to the railroad from Tsing-tao to Tsi-
nan-fu, including all facilities and mining
rights and rights of exploitation, pass equally
to Japan, and the cables from Tsing-tao to
Shanghai and Che-foo, the cables free of all
charges. All German State property, movable
and immovable, in Kiao-Chau is acquired by
Japan free of all charges.
SECTION VI
Sub-Section IV
MILITARY, NAVAL AND AIR
In order to render possible the initiation of
a general limitation of the armaments of all
nations, Germany undertakes directly to ob-
serve the military, naval, and air clauses which
follow.
MILITARY FORCES
The demobilization of the German Army
must take place within two months of the
peace. Its strength may not exceed 100,000,
including 4,000 officers, with not over seven
divisions of infantry and three of cavalry, and
to be devoted exclusively to maintenance of in-
ternal order and control of frontiers. Divi-
sions may not be grouped under more than two
army corps headquarters staffs. The great
German General Staff is abolished. The army
administrative service, consisting of civilian
personnel not included in the number of effec-
tives, is reduced to one-tenth the total in the
1913 budget. Employes of the German States,
such as customs officers, first guards, and coast
guards, may not exceed the number in 1913.
Gendarmes and local police may be increased
only in accordance with the growth of popula-
tion. None of these may be assembled for
military training.
ARMAMENTS
All establishments for the manufacturing,
preparation, storage, or design of arms and
munitions of war, except those specifically ex-
cepted, must be closed within three months of
the peace, and their personnel dismissed. The
exact amount of armament and munitions al-
lowed Germany is laid down in detail tables,
all in excess to be surrendered or rendered use-
less. The manufacture or importation of as-
phyxiating, poisonous, or other gases and all
analogous liquids is forbidden as well as the
importation of arms, munitions, and war ma-
terials. Germany may not manufacture such
materials for foreign governments.
CONSCRIPTION
Conscription is abolished in Germany. The
enlisted personnel must be maintained by vol-
untary enlistments for terms of twelve consec-
utive years, the number of discharges before
the expiration of that term not in any year to
exceed 5 per cent, of the total effectives. Offi-
cers remaining in the service must agree to
serve to the age of 45 years, and newly ap-
pointed officers must agree to serve actively
for twenty-five years.
No military schools except those absolutely
indispensable for the units allowed shall exist
in Germany two months after the peace. No
associations such as societies of discharged sol-
diers, shooting or touring clubs, educational es-
tablishments or universities may occupy them-
selves with military matters. All measures of
mobilization are forbidden.
FORTRESSES
All fortified works, fortresses, and field
works situated in German territory within a
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
349
zone of fifty kilometers east of the Rhine will
be dismantled within three months. The con-
struction of any new fortifications there is for-
bidden. The fortified works on the southern
and eastern frontiers, however, may remain.
Interallied commissions of control will see to
the execution of the provisions for which a
time limit is set, the maximum named being
three months. They may establish headquar-
ters at the German seat of Government and
go to any part of Germany desired. Germany
must give them complete facilities, pay their
expenses, and also the expenses of execution of
the treaty, including the labor and material
necessary in demolition, destruction or surren-
der of war equipment.
The German navy must be demobilized with-
in a period of two months after the peace.
She will be allowed 6 small battleships, 6 light
cruisers, 12 destroyers, 12 torpedo boats, and
no submarines, either military or commercial,
with a personnel of 15,000 men, including offi-
cers, and no reserve force of any character.
Conscription is abolished, only voluntary serv-
ice being permitted, with a minimum period of
25 years service for officers and 12 for men.
No member of the German mercantile marine
will be permitted any naval training.
All German vessels of war in foreign ports
and the German high sea fleet interned at
Scapa Flow will be surrendered, the final dis-
position of these ships to be decided upon by
the allied and associated powers. Germany
must surrender 42 modern destroyers, 50 mod-
ern torpedo boats, and all submarines, with
their salvage vessels. All war vessels under
construction, including submarines, must be
broken up. War vessels not otherwise provid-
ed for are to be placed in reserve, or used for
commercial purposes. Replacement of ships
except those lost can take place only at the
end of 20 years for battleships and 15 years
for destroyers. The largest armored ship Ger-
many will be permitted will be 10,000 tons.
Germany is required to sweep up the mines
in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, as decid-
ed upon by the Allies. All German fortifica-
tions in the Baltic, defending the passages
through the belts, must be demolished. Other
coast defenses are permitted, but the number
and calibre of the guns must not be increased.
During a period of three months after the
peace German high power wireless stations at
Nauen, Hanover, and Berlin will not be per-
mitted to send any messages except for com-
mercial purposes, and under supervision of the
allied and associated Governments, nor may
any more be constructed.
Germany renounces all title to specified cables,
the value of such as were privately owned
being credited to her against reparation in-
debtedness.
Germany will be allowed to repair German
submarine cables which have been cut but are
not being utilized by the allied powers, and
also portions of cables which, after having
been cut, have been removed, or are at any rate
not being utilized by any one of the allied
and associated powers. In such cases the ca-
bles, or portions of cables, removed or utilized
remain the property of the allied and associat-
ed powers, and accordingly fourteen cables or
parts of cables are specified which will not
be restored to Germany.
The armed forces of Germany must not in-
clude any military or naval air forces except
for not over 100 unarmed seaplanes to be re-
tained till Oct. 1 to search for submarine mines.
No dirigible shall be kept. The entire air per-
sonnel is to be demobilized within two months,
except for 1,000 officers and men retained till
October. No aviation grounds or dirigible sheds
are to be allowed within 150 kilometers of the
Rhine, or the eastern or southern frontiers, ex-
isting installations within these limits to be de-
stroyed. The manufacture of aircraft and
parts of aircraft is forbidden for six months.
All military and naval aeronautical material
under a most exhaustive definition must be sur-
rendered within three months, except for the
100 seaplanes already specified.
SUB-SECTION VI
PRISONERS OF WAR
The repatriation of German prisoners and in-
terned civilians is to be carried out without de-
lay and at Germany's expense by a commission
composed of representatives of the Allies and
Germany. Those under sentence for offenses
against discipline are to be repatriated without
regard to the completion of their sentences.
Until Germany has surrendered persons guilty
of offenses against the laws and customs of
war, the Allies have the right to retain selected
German officers. The Allies may deal at their
own discretion with German nationals who do
not desire to be repatriated, all repatriation be-
ing conditional on the immediate release of any
allied subjects still in Germany. Germany is
to accord facilities to commissions of inquiry
in collecting information in regard to missing
prisoners of war and of imposing penalties on
German officials who have concealed allied na-
350
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
tionals. Germany is to restore all property be-
longing to allied prisoners. There is to be a
reciprocal exchange of information as to dead
prisoners and their graves.
Both parties will respect and maintain the
graves of soldiers and sailors buried on their
territories, agree to recognize and assist any
commission charged by any allied or associate
Government with identifying, registering, main-
taining or erecting suitable monuments over
the graves, and to afford to each other all fa-
cilities for the repatriation of the remains of
their soldiers.
SUB-SECTION VII
RESPONSIBILITIES
"The allied and associated powers publicly
arraign William II. of Hohenzollern, formerly
German Emperor, not for an offense against
criminal law, but for a supreme offense against
international morality and the sanctity of trea-
ties."
The ex-Emperor's surrender is to be re-
quested of Holland and a special tribunal set
up, composed of one judge from each of the
five great powers, with full guarantees of the
right of defense. It is to be guided "by the
highest motives of international policy with a
view of vindicating the solemn obligations of
international undertakings and the validity of
international morality," and will fix the pun-
ishment it feels should be imposed.
Persons accused of having committed acts in
violation of the laws and customs of war are to
be tried and punished by military tribunals un-
der military law. If the charges affect nation-
als of only one State, they will be tried before
a tribunal of that State; if they affect nation-
als of several States, they will be tried before
joint tribunals of the States concerned. Ger-
many shall hand over to the associated Gov-
ernments, either jointly or severally, all per-
sons so accused and all documents and infor-
mation necessary to insure full knowledge of
the incriminating acts, the discovery of the
offenders, and the just appreciation of the re-
sponsibility.
SECTION VII
REPARATION AND RESTITUTION
"The allied and associated Governments af-
firm, and Germany accepts, the responsibility of
herself and her allies, for causing all the loss
and damage to which the allied and associated
Governments and their nationals have been sub-
jected as a consequence of the war imposed
upon them by the aggression of Germany and
her allies."
The total obligation of Germany to pay, as
denned in the category of damages, is to be
determined and notified to her after a fair
hearing and not later than May 1, 1921, by an
inter-allied Reparation Commission. At the
same time a schedule of payments to discharge
the obligation within thirty years shall be pre-
sented. These payments are subject to post-
ponement in certain contingencies. Germany
irrevocably recognizes the full authority of this
commission, agrees to supply it with all the
necessary information and to pass legislation
to effectuate its findings. She further agrees
to restore to the Allies cash and certain articles
which can be identified.
As an immediate step towards restoration,
Germany shall pay within two years 20,000,-
000,000 marks in either gold, goods, ships, or
other specific forms of payment, with the un-
derstanding that certain expenses, such as those
of the armies of occupation and payments for
food and raw materials, may be deducted, at
the discretion of the Allies.
Germany further binds herself to repay all
sums borrowed by Belgium from her allies as a
result of Germany's violation of the treaty of
1839 up to Nov. 11, 1918, and for this purpose
will issue at once and hand over to the Repa-
ration Commission 5 per cent, gold bonds fall-
ing due in 1926.
While the allied and associated Governments
recognize that the resources of Germany are
not adequate, after taking into account perma-
nent diminution of such resources which will
result from other treaty claims, to make com-
plete reparation for all such loss and damage,
they require her to make compensation for all
damages caused to civilians under seven main
categories :
a. Damages by personal injury to civilians
caused by acts of war, directly or indirectly, in-
cluding bombardments from the air.
b. Damages caused to civilians, including ex-
posure at sea, resulting from acts of cruelty
ordered by the enemy, and to civilians in the
occupied territories.
c. Damages caused by maltreatment of pris-
oners.
d. Damages to the Allied peoples represented
by pensions and separation allowances, capital-
ized at the signature of this treaty.
e. Damages to property other than naval or
military materials.
f. Damages to civilians by being forced to
labor.
g. Damages in the form of levies or fines im-
posed by the enemy.
"In periodically estimating Germany's capac-
ity to pay, the Reparation Commission shall
examine the German system of taxation, first
to the end that the sums for reparation which
Germany is required to pay shall become a
charge upon all her revenues prior to that for
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
351
the service or discharge of any domestic loan;
and secondly, so as to satisfy itself that in
general the German scheme of taxation is fully
as heavy proportionately as that of any of the
powers represented on the commission."
"The measures which the allied and asso-
ciated powers shall have the right to take, in
case of voluntary default by Germany, and
which Germany agrees not to regard as acts of
war, may include economic and financial pro-
hibitions and reprisals and in general such
other measures as the respective Governments
may determine to be necessary in the circum-
stances."
The commission shall consist of one repre-
sentative each of the United States, Great
Britain, France, Italy, and Belgium, and in
certain cases of Japan and Serbia, with all
other allied powers entitled, when their claims
are under consideration, to the right of pre-
sentation without voting power. It shall per-
mit Germany to give evidence regarding her
capacity to pay, and shall assure her a just
opportunity to be heard. It shall make its
headquarters at Paris, establish its own proce-
dure and personnel; have general control of
the whole reparation problem; and become the
exclusive agency of the Allies for receiving,
holding, selling and distributing reparation pay-
ments. Majority vote shall prevail, except that
unanimity is required on questions involving
the sovereignty of any of the Allies, the can-
cellation of all or part of Germany's obliga-
tions, the time and manner of selling, distribu-
ting, and negotiating bonds issued by Germany,
and postponement between 1921 and 1926 of
annual payments beyond 1930 and any post-
ponement after 1926 for a period of more than
three years, the application of a different meth-
od of measuring damage than in a similar for-
mer case, and the interpretation of provisions.
Withdrawal from representation is permitted
on twelve months' notice.
The Commission may require Germany to
give from time to time, by way of guaranty,
issues of bonds or other obligations to cover
such claims as are not otherwise satisfied. In
this connection and on account of the total
amount of claims, bond issues are presently to
be required of Germany in acknowledgment of
its debt as follows: 20,000,000,000 marks gold,
payable not later than May 1, 1921, without in-
terest; 40,000,000,000 marks gold bearing 2y 2
per cent, interest between 1921 and 1926, and
thereafter 5 per cent., with a 1 per cent, sink-
ing fund payment beginning 1926; and an un-
dertaking to deliver 40,000,000,000 marks gold
bonds bearing interest at 5 per cent., under
terms to be fixed by the Commission.
Interest on Germany's debt will be 5 per cent,
unless otherwise determined by the Commis-
sion in the future, and payments that are not
made in gold may "be accepted by the Commis-
sion in the form of properties, commodities,
businesses, rights, concessions, &c." Certificates
of beneficial interest, representing either bonds
or goods delivered by Germany, may be issued
by the Commission to the interest power, no
power being entitled, however, to have its cer-
tificates divided into more than five pieces. As
bonds are distributed and pass from the con-
trol of the Commission, an amount of Ger-
many's debt equivalent to their par value is to
be considered as liquidated.
The German Government recognizes the right
of the Allies to the replacement, ton for ton
and class for class, of all merchant ships and
fishing boats lost or damaged owing to the war,
and agrees to cede to the Allies all German
merchant ships of 1,600 tons gross and upward;
one-half of her ships between 1,600 and 1,000
tons gross, and one-quarter of her steam trawl-
ers and other fishing boats. These ships are
to be delivered within two months to the Repa-
ration Committee, together with documents of
title evidencing the transfer of the ships free
from encumbrance.
"As an additional part of reparation," the
German Government further agrees to build
merchant ships for the account of the Allies
to the amount of not exceeding 200,000 tons
gross annually during the next five years.
All ships used for inland navigation taken
by Germanj- from the Allies are to be restored
within two months, the amount of loss not cov-
ered by such restitution to be made up by the
cession of the German river fleet up to 20 per
cent, thereof.
DYESTUFFS AND CHEMICAL DRUGS
In order to effect payment by deliveries in
kind, Germany is required, for a limited num-
ber of years, varying in the case of each, to
deliver coal, coal-tar products, dyestuffs and
chemical drugs, in specific amounts to the Rep-
arations Commission. The Commission may so
modify the conditions of delivery as not to
interfere unduly with Germany's industrial re-
quirements. The deliveries of coal are based
largely upon the principle of making good
diminutions in the production of the allied
countries resulting from the war.
Germany accords option to the commission on
dyestuffs and chemical drugs, including qui-
nine, up to 50 per cent, of the total stock in
Germany at the time the treaty comes into
force, and similar option during each six
months to the end of 1924 up to 25 per cent,
of the previous six months' output.
DEVASTATED AREAS
Germany undertakes to devote her economic
resources directly to the physical restoration of
352
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
the invaded areas. The Reparations Commis-
sion is authorized to require Germany to re-
place the destroyed articles by the delivery of
animals, machinery, &c, existing in Germany,
and to manufacture materials required for re-
construction purposes; all with due considera-
tion for Germany's essential domestic require-
ments.
Germany is to deliver annually for ten years
to France coal equivalent to the difference be-
tween the annual pre-war output of Nord and
Pas de Calais mines and the annual production
during the above ten-year period. Germany
further gives options over ten years for deliv-
ery of 7,000,000 tons of coal per year to France
in addition to the above of 8,000,000 tons to Bel-
gium and of an amount rising from 4,500,000
tons in 1919 to 1920 to 8,500,000 in 1923 to
1924 to Italy at prices to be fixed as prescribed
in the treaty. Coke may be taken in place of
coal in the ratio of three tons to four. Provi-
sion is also made for delivery to France over
three years of benzol, coal tar, and of ammonia.
The Commission has powers to postpone or an-
nul the above deliveries should they interfere
unduly with the industrial requirements of
Germany.
Germany is to restore within six months the
Koran of the Caliph Othman, formerly at Me-
dina, to the King of the Hedjaz, and the skull
of the Sultan Okwawa, formerly in German
East Africa, to his Britannic Majesty's Gov-
ernment.
The German Government is also to restore to
the French Government certain papers taken
by the German authorities in 1870, belonging
then to M. Reuher, and to restore the French
flags taken during the war of 1870 and 1871.
As reparation for the destruction of the Li-
brary of Louvain Germany is to hand over
manuscripts, early printed books, prints, &c, to
the equivalent of those destroyed.
In addition to the above Germany is to hand
over to Belgium wings, now in Berlin, belong-
ing to the altar piece of "The Adoration of
the Lamb," by Hubert and Jan van Eyck, the
centre of which is now in the Church of St.
Bavon at Ghent, and the wings, now in Berlin
and Munich, of the altar-piece of "The Last
Supper," by Dirk Bouts, the centre of which
belongs to the Church of St. Peter at Louvain.
Powers to which German territory is ceded
will assume a certain portion of the German
pre-war debt, the amount to be fixed by the
Reparations Commission on the basis of the
ratio between the revenue and of the ceded
territory and Germany's total revenues for the
three years preceding the war. In view, how-
ever, of the special circumstances under which
Alsace-Lorraine was separated from France in
1871, when Germany refused to accept any
part of the French public debt, France will
not assume any part of Germany's pre-war
debt there, nor will Poland share in certain
German debts incurred for the oppression of
Poland. If the value of the German public
property in ceded territory exceeds the amount
of debt assumed, the States to which property
is ceded will give credit on reparation for the
excess, with the exception of Alsace-Lorraine.
Mandatory powers will not assume any Ger-
man debts or give any credit for German Gov-
ernment property. Germany renounces all
right of representation on, or control of, State
banks, commissions, or other similar interna-
tional financial and economic organizations.
Germany is required to pay the total cost of
the armies of occupation from the date of the
armistice as long as they are maintained in
German territory, this cost to be a first charge
on her resources. The cost of reparation is the
next charge, after making such provisions for
payments for imports as the Allies may deem
necessary.
Germany is to deliver to the allied and as-
sociated powers all sums deposited in Germany
by Turkey and Austria-Hungary in connection
with the financial support extended by her to
them during the war, and to transfer to the
Allies all claims against Austro-Hungary,
Bulgaria, or Turkey in connection with agree-
ments made during the war. Germany confirms
the renunciation of the Treaties of Bucharest
and Brest-Litovsk.
On the request of the Reparations Commis-
sion, Germany will expropriate any rights or
interests of her nationals in public utilities in
ceded territories or those administered by man-
datories, and in Turkey, China, Russia, Aus-
tria-Hungary, and Bulgaria, and transfer them
to the Reparations Commission, which will
credit her with their value. Germany guaran-
tees to repay to Brazil the fund arising from
the sale of Sao Paulo coffee which she refused
to allow Brazil to withdraw from Germany.
SECTION VIII
Ten Economic Clauses
customs
For a period of six months Germany shall
impose no tariff duties higher than the lowest
in force in 1914, and for certain agricultural
products, wines, vegetable oils, artificial silk,
and washed or scoured wool this restriction ob-
tains for two and a half years more. For five
years, unless further extended by the League
of Nations, Germany must give most favored
nation treatment to the allied and associated
powers. She shall impose no customs tariff for
five years on goods originating in Alsace-Lor-
raine, and for three years on goods originating
in former German territory ceded to Poland
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
353
with the right of observation of a similar ex-
ception for Luxemburg.
Ships of the allied and associated powers
shall for five years and thereafter under con-
dition of reciprocity, unless the League of
Nations otherwise decides, enjoy the same
rights in German ports as German vessels, and
have most favored nation treatment in fishing,
coasting trade, and towage even in territorial
waters. Ships of a country having no sea-
coast may be registered at some one place
within its territory.
UNFAIR COMPETITION
Germany undertakes to give the trade of the
allied and associated powers adequate safe-
guards against unfair competition, and in par-
ticular to suppress the use of false wrappings
and markings, and on condition of reciprocity
to respect the laws and judicial decisions of
allied and associated States in respect of re-
gional appellations of wines and spirits.
TREATMENT OF NATIONALS
Germany shall impose no exceptional taxes
or restriction upon the nationals of allied and
associated States for a period of five years
and, unless the League of Nations acts, for an
additional five years German nationality shall
not continue to attach to a person who has
become a national of an allied or associated
State.
MULTILATERAL CONVENTIONS
Some forty multilateral conventions are re-
newed between Germany and the allied and as-
sociated powers, but special conditions are at-
tached to Germany's readmission to several.
As to postal and telegraphic conventions Ger-
many must not refuse to make reciprocal
agreements with the new States. She must
agree as respects the radio-telegraphic con-
vention to provisional rules to be communicated
to her, and adhere to the new convention when
formulated. In the North Sea fisheries and
North Sea liquor traffic convention, rights of
inspection and police over associated fishing
boats shall be exercised for at least five years
only by vessels of these powers. As to the
international railway union she shall adhere to
the new convention when formulated. China,
as to the Chinese customs tariff arrangement
of 1905 regarding Whangpoo, and the Boxer
indemnity of 1901; France, Portugal, and Ru-
mania, as to The Hague Convention of 1903,
relating to civil procedure, and Great Britain
and the United States as to Article III. of the
Samoan Treaty of 1899, are relieved of all
obligations toward Germany.
BILATERAL TREATIES
Each allied and associated State may renew
any treaty with Germany in so far as consistent
with the peace treaty by giving notice within
six months. Treaties entered into by Germany
since Aug. 1, 1914, with other enemy States,
and before or since that date with Rumania,
Russia, and governments representing parts of
Russia are abrogated, and concessions granted
under pressure by Russia to German subjects
are annulled. The allied and associated States
are to enjoy most favored nation treatment
under treaties entered into by Germany and
other enemy States before Aug. 1, 1914, and
under treaties entered into by Germany and
neutral States during the war.
PREWAR DEBTS
A system of clearing houses is to be created
within three months, one in Germany and one
in each allied and associated State which
adopts the plan for the payment of prewar
debts, including those arising from contracts
suspended by the war. For the adjustment of
the proceeds of the liquidation of enemy prop-
erty and the settlement of other obligations
each participating State assumes responsibility
for the payment of all debts owing by its na-
tionals to nationals of the enemy States, except
in cases of prewar insolvency of the debtor.
The proceeds of the sale of private enemy
property in each participating State may be
used to pay the debts owed to the nationals
of that State, direct payment from debtor
to creditor and all communications relating
thereto being prohibited. Disputes may be set-
tled by arbitration by the courts of the debtor
country, or by the mixed arbitral tribunal.
Any ally or associated power may, however,
decline to participate in this system by giving
Germany six months' notice.
ENEMY PROPERTY
Germany shall restore or pay for all private
enemy property seized or damaged by her, the
amount of damages to be fixed by the mixed
arbitral tribunal. The allied and associated
States may liquidate German private property
within their territories as compensation for
property of their nationals not restored or paid
for by Germany. For debts owed to their
nationals by German nationals and for other
claims against Germany, Germany is to com-
pensate its nationals for such losses and to
deliver within six months all documents relat-
ing to property held by its nationals in allied
and associated States. All war legislation as
to enemy property rights and interests is con-
firmed and all claims by Germany against the
allied or associated Governments for acts under
exceptional war measures abandoned.
Prewar contracts between allied and asso-
354
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
dated nationals excepting the United States,
Japan, and Brazil and German nationals are
cancelled except for debts for accounts already
performed.
AGREEMENTS
For the transfer of property where the prop-
erty had already passed, leases of land and
houses, contracts of mortgages, pledge or lien,
mining concessions, contracts with governments
and insurance contracts, mixed arbitral
tribunals shall be established of three mem-
bers, one chosen by Germany, one by the asso-
ciated States and the third by agreement, or,
failing which, by the President of Switzerland.
They shall have jurisdiction over all disputes
as to contracts concluded before the present
peace treaty.
Fire insurance contracts are not considered
dissolved by the war, even if premiums have
not been paid, but lapse at the date of the first
annual premium falling due three months after
the peace. Life insurance contracts may be
restored by payments of accumulated pre-
miums with interest, sums falling due on such
contracts during the war to be recoverable
with interest. Marine insurance contracts are
dissolved by the outbreak of war except where
the risk insured against had already been in-
curred. Where the risk had not attached, pre-
miums paid are recoverable, otherwise pre-
miums due and sums due on losses are recover-
able. Reinsurance treaties are abrogated un-
less invasion has made it impossible for the
reinsured to find another reinsurer. Any allied
or associated power, however, may cancel all
the contracts running between its nationals
and a German life insurance company, the lat-
ter being obligated to hand over the proportion
of its assets attributable to such policies.
tion into force by enacting within twelve
months of the peace the necessary legislation.
RELIGIOUS MISSIONS
The allied and associated powers agree that
the properties of religious missions in terri-
tories belonging or ceded to them shall con-
tinue in their work under the control of the
powers, Germany renouncing all claims in their
behalf.
SECTION X
GERMAN WATERWAYS
Belgium is to be permitted to build a deep
draft Rhine-Meuse canal if she so desires
within twenty-five years, in which case Ger-
many must construct the part within her terri-
tory on plans drawn by Belgium, similarly the
interested allied governments may construct a
Rhine-Meuse canal, both, if constructed, to
come under the competent international com-
mission. Germany may not object if the Cen-
tral Rhine Commission desires to extend its
jurisdiction over the lower Moselle, the upper
Rhine, or lateral canals.
Germany must cede to the allied and asso-
ciated governments certain tugs, vessels, and
facilities for navigation on all these rivers, the
specific details to be established by an arbiter
named by the United States. Decision will be
based on the legitimate needs of the parties
concerned and on the shipping traffic during
the five years before the war. The value will
be included in the regular reparation account.
In the case of the Rhine shares in the Ger-
man navigation companies and property such
as wharves and warehouses held by Germany
in Rotterdam at the outbreak of the war must
be handed over.
INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
Rights as to industrial, literary, and artistic
property are re-established. The special war
measures of the allied and associated powers
are ratified and the right reserved to impose
conditions on the use of German patents and
copyrights when in the public interest. Ex-
cept as between the United States and Ger-
many, prewar licenses and rights to sue for
infringements committed during the war are
cancelled.
SECTION IX
OPIUM
The contracting powers agree, whether or not
they have signed and ratified the opium conven-
tion of Jan. 23, 1912, or signed the special
protocol opened at The Hague in accordance
with resolutions adopted by the third opium
conference in 1914, to bring the said conven-
Germany, in addition to most favored na-
tion treatment on her railways, agrees to co-
operate in the establishment of through ticket
services for passengers and baggage; to ensure
communication by rail between the allied, as-
sociated, and other States; to allow the con-
struction or improvement within twenty-five
years of such lines as necessary; and to con-
form her rolling stock to enable its incorpora-
tion in trains of the allied or associated powers.
She also agrees to accept the denunciation of
the St. Gothard convention if Switzerland and
Italy so request, and temporarily to execute
instructions as to the transport of troops and
supplies and the establishment of postal and
telegraphic service, as provided.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
To assure Czechoslovakia access to the sea,
special rights are given her both north and
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
355
south. Toward the Adriatic she is per-
mitted to run her own through trains to Fiume
and Trieste. To the north, Germany is to
lease her for ninety-nine years spaces in Ham-
burg and Stettin, the details to be worked out
by a commission of three representing Czecho-
slovakia, Germany, and Great Britain.
THE KIEL CANAL
The Kiel Canal is to remain free and open
to war and merchant ships of all nations at
peace with Germany, subjects, goods and ships
of all States are to be treated on terms of
absolute equality, and no taxes to be imposed
beyond those necessary for upkeep and im-
provement for which Germany is to be respon-
sible. In case of violation of or disagreement
as to those provisions, any State may appeal
to the League of Nations, and may demand
the appointment of an international commis-
sion. For preliminary hearing of complaints
Germany shall establish a local authority at
Kiel.
SECTION XI
AERIAL NAVIGATION
Aircraft of the allied and associated powers
shall have full liberty of passage and landing
over and in German territory, equal treatment
with German planes as to use of German air-
dromes, and with most favored nation planes
as to internal commercial traffic in Germany.
Germany agrees to accept allied certificates of
nationality, airworthiness, or competency or li-
censes and to apply the convention relative
to aerial navigation concluded between the
allied and associated powers to her own air-
craft over her own territory. These rules ap-
ply until 1923, unless Germany has since been
admitted to the League of Nations or to the
above convention.
SECTION XII
FREEDOM OF TRANSIT
Germany must grant freedom of transit
through her territories by mail or water to
persons, goods, ships, carriages, and mails from
or to any of the allied or associated powers,
without customs or transit duties, undue de-
lays, restrictions, or discriminations based on
nationality, means of transport, or place of
entry or departure. Goods in transit shall be
assured all possible speed of journey, espe-
cially perishable goods. Germany may not)
divert traffic from its normal course in favor of
her own transport routes or maintain "control
stations" in connection with transmigration
traffic. She may not establish any tax discrimi-
nation against the ports of allied or associated
powers; must grant the latter's seaports all
factors and reduced tariffs granted her own or
other nationals, and afford the allied and asso-
ciated powers equal rights with those of her
own nationals in her ports and waterways, save
that she is free to open or close her maritime
coasting trade.
FREE ZONES IN PORTS
Free zones existing in German ports on Aug.
1, 1914, must be maintained with due facilities
as to warehouses, and packing, without
discrimination, and without charges except
for expenses of administration and use.
Goods leaving the free zones for consumption
in Germany and goods brought into the free
zones from Germany shall be subject to the
ordinary import and export taxes.
The Elbe from the junction of the Ultava,
the Ultava from Prague, the Oder from Oppa,
the Niemen from Grodno, and the Danube from
Ulm are declared international, together with
their connections. The riparian states must
ensure good conditions of navigation within
their territories unless a special organization
exists therefor. Otherwise appeal may be had
to a special tribunal of the League of Nations,
which also may arrange for a general inter-
national waterways convention.
INTERNATIONAL RIVERS
The Elbe and the Oder are to be placed
under international commissions to meet within
three months, that for the Elbe composed of
four representatives of Germany, two from
Czechoslovakia, and one each from Great
Britain, France, Italy, and Belgium; and that
for the Oder composed of one each from
Poland, Russia, Czechoslovakia, Great Britain,
France, Denmark, and Sweden. If any ri-
parian state on the Niemen should so request
of the League of Nations, a similar commis-
sion shall be established there. These commis-
sions shall upon request of any riparian state
meet wilhin three months to revise existing
international agreement.
THE DANUBE
The European Danube Commission reassumes
its pre-war powers, but for the time being with
representatives of only Great Britain, France,
Italy, and Rumania. The upper Danube is to
be administered by a new international com-
mission until a definitive statute be drawn up at
a conference of the powers nominated by the
allied and associated governments within one
year after the peace. The enemy governments
shall make full reparations for all war dam-
ages caused to the European Commission; shall
cede their river facilities in surrendered terri-
tory, and give Czechoslovakia, Serbia, and
Rumania any rights necessary on the shores
for carrying on improvements in navigation.
356
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
THE RHINE AND THE MOSELLE
The Rhine is placed under the Central Com-
mission to meet at Strasbourg within six
months after the peace, and to be composed of
four representatives of France, which shall in
addition select the President, four of Germany,
and two each of Great Britain, Italy, Belgium,
Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Germany
must give France on the course of the Rhine
included between the two extreme points of
her frontiers all rights to take water to feed
canals, while herself agreeing not to make
canals on the right bank opposite France. She
must also hand over to France all her drafts
and designs for this part of the river.
SECTION XIII
INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION
Members of the League of Nations agree to
establish a permanent organization to promote
international adjustment of labor conditions,
to consist of an annual international labor con-
ference and an international labor office.
The former is composed of four represen-
tatives of each State, two from the Govern-
ment, and one each from the employers and
the employed, each of them may vote individ-
ually. It will be a deliberative legislative body,
its measures taking the form of draft conven-
tions or recommendations for legislation, which,
if passed by two-thirds vote, must be sub-
mitted to the lawmaking authority in every
State participating. Each Government may
either enact the terms into law; approve the
principle, but modify them to local needs;
leave the actual legislation in case of a Fed-
eral State to local legislatures; or reject the
convention altogether without further obliga-
tion.
The international labor office is established
at the seat of the League of Nations as part
of its organization. It is to collect and dis-
tribute information on labor throughout the
world and prepare agenda for the conference.
It will publish a periodical in French and
English, and possibly other languages. Each
State agrees to make to it for presentation to
the conference an annual report of measures
taken to execute accepted conventions. The
governing body, in its Executive, consists of
twenty-four members, twelve representing the
Governments, six the employers, and six the
employes, to serve for three years.
On complaint that any Government has
failed to carry out a convention to which it is
a party, the governing body may make in-
quiries directly to that Government, and in
case the reply is unsatisfactory, may publish
the complaint with comment. A complaint by
one Government against another may be re-
ferred by the governing body to a commission
of inquiry nominated by the Secretary General
of the League. If the commission report fails
to bring satisfactory action the matter may be
taken to a permanent court of international
justice for final decision. The chief reliance
for securing enforcement of the law will be
publicity with a possibility of economic action
in the background.
The first meeting of the conference will take
place in October, 1919, at Washington, to dis-
cuss the eight-hour day or forty-eight-hour
week; prevention of unemployment; extension
and application of the international conven-
tions adopted at Berne in 1906, prohibiting
night work for women, and the use of white
phosphorus in the manufacture of matches;
and employment of women and children at
night or in unhealthy work, of women before
and after childbirth, including maternity bene-
fit, and of children as regards minimum age.
LABOR CLAUSES
Nine principles of labor conditions were rec-
ognized on the ground that "the well-being,
physical and moral, of the industrial wage
earners is of supreme international impor-
tance." With exceptions necessitated by dif-
ferences of climate, habits and economic de-
velopment. They include: the guiding principle
that labor should not be regarded merely as a
commodity or article of commerce; the right of
association of employers and employes; a wage
adequate to maintain a reasonable standard
of life; the eight-hour day or forty-eight-hour
week; a weekly rest of at least twenty- four
hours; which should include Sunday wherever
practicable; abolition of child labor and as-
surance of the continuation of the education
and proper physical development of children;
equal pay for equal work as between men and
women; equitable treatment of all workers law-
fully resident therein, including foreigners;
and a system of inspection in which women
should take part.
SECTION XIV
Guarantees
western europe
As a guarantee for the execution of the
treaty German territory to the west of the
Rhine, together with the bridgeheads, will be
occupied by allied and associated troops for a
fifteen years' period. If the conditions are
faithfully carried out by Germany, certain dis-
tricts, including the bridgehead of Cologne,
will be evacuated at the expiration of five
years; certain other districts including the
bridgehead of Coblenz, and the territories near-
est the Belgian frontier will be evacuated after
ten years, and the remainder, including the
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
357
bridgehead of Mainz, will be evacuated after
fifteen years. In case the Interallied Repara-
tion Commission finds that Germany has failed
to observe the whole or part of her obligations,
either during the occupation or after the fifteen
years have expired, the whole or part of the
areas specified will be reoccupied immediately.
If before the expiration of the fifteen years
Germany complies with all the treaty undertak-
ings, the occupying forces will be withdrawn
immediately.
EASTERN EUROPE
All German troops at present in territories
to the east of the new frontier shall return as
soon as the allied and associated governments
deem wise. They are to abstain from all requi-
sitions and are in no way to interfere with
measures for national defense taken by the
Government concerned.
All questions regarding occupation not pro-
vided for by the treaty will be regulated by a
subsequent convention or conventions which
will have similar force and effect.
SECTION XV
MISCELLANEOUS
Germany agrees to recognize the full validity
of the treaties o*f peace and additional con-
ventions to be concluded by the allied and as-
sociated powers with the powers allied with
Germany, to agree to the decisions to be taken
as to the territories of Austria-Hungary, Bul-
garia, and Turkey, and to recognize the new
States in the frontiers to be fixed for them.
Germany agrees not to put forward any
pecuniary claims against any allied or asso-
ciated power signing the present treaty based
on events previous to the coming into force of
the treaty.
Germany accepts all decrees as to German
ships and goods made by any allied or asso-
ciated prize court. The Allies reserve the right
to examine all decisions of German prize
courts. The present treaty, of which the
French and British texts are both authentic,
shall be ratified and the depositions of ratifi-
cations made in Paris as soon as possible. The
treaty is to become effective in all respects for
each power on the date of deposition of its
ratification.
The German delegates and those of
the Entente Allies officially signed the
treaty of peace on June 28, 1919.
Ratifications of the Treaty of Ver-
sailles were exchanged, and peace be-
tween Germany, France, Great Brit-
ain and the other Allied and associated
powers, with the exception of the
United States, became effective at 4 :16
p.m. January 10, 1920.
The ceremony took place in the Clock
Hall at the French Foreign Ministry.
Previously Baron Kurt von Lersner,
head of the German mission, signed the
protocol of November 1, providing for
reparation for the sinking of the Ger-
man warships at Scapa Flow, and to
insure the carrying out of the armi-
stice terms. The signing of this docu-
ment took place in the office of the Min-
ister of Foreign Affairs. Owing to the
failure of the United States to ratify
the treaty, the American Secretary of
State served notice on Germany that
the conditions of the armistice still
governed the relations between the
United States and Germany.
The Shantung Dispute. One of the
bitterest disputes that arose through-
out the entire Peace Conference was the
discussion concerning what should be
done with Shantung, which was a sphere
of influence under the control of Ger-
many before the war. Japan insisted
that it be turned over to her as com-
pensation for what she had done toward
winning the war. The chief opponent
of this scheme was President Wilson.
His argument was that China, who had
been a faithful ally to the Entente
cause, should not be made to suffer in
order to satisfy another ally. Presi-
dent Wilson was ultimately forced to
concede the rich province to Japan, pre-
sumably to get the support of Japan
for the League of Nations idea. Japan's
chief argument was that she had driven
the Germans from this territory by
military force and that inasmuch as it
was Germany's before she was certainly
entitled to it now. President Wilson
was unwilling to accede to this point of
view and finally accepted what amounted
to a gentlemen's agreement, by the
358
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
terms of which Japan promised to re-
turn the disputed territory to China
upon the fulfillment of certain condi-
tions, i. e., sign the treaty immediately,
giving Shantung to Japan without for-
mal reservation and make an agreement
with Japan in regard to the disposition
of Shantung. If China agreed to these
conditions then Japan would withdraw
her troops as soon as practicable and
give up Shantung, only insisting upon
certain economic advantages.
The Fiume Controversy. The Fiume
controversy, which was still unsettled
as the year 1919 drew to a close, was
the bitterest which presented itself at
the Peace Conference. The dispute cen-
tred around the possession of the port
and harbor of Fiume and parts of Dal-
matia. The claims of Italy were coun-
tered by the claims of Jugoslavia. Italy
claimed that inasmuch as the majority
of the citizens of Fiume were Italian or
of Italian origin, the city naturally be-
longed to Italy under the principle of
self-determination. President Wilson,
who opposed the Italian claims, main-
tained that inasmuch as the vast ma-
jority of the people outside of the city
proper were Jugoslovaks, the city it-
self should belong to that newly formed
country. Jugoslovakia claimed that
her commerce would be ruined before it
even gained a foothold if Fiume were
given to the Italians, while the Ital-
ians said that Fiume was a necessity
to her as a protection against the
Austrians and the desires of the Jugo-
slovaks who had been unfriendly to
Italy during the war and after it was
over.
The Peace Conference worked for
weeks to bring about a peaceful settle-
ment of the controversy. Great Brit-
ain and France, tied up to Italy by the
secret treaty of 1915, were in favor of a
settlement of the dispute which would
be favorable to Italy. President Wilson
was adamant and stated on April 23
that he would not yield on the Adriatic
question. As a result of this speech,
Orlando and the other Italian delegates
left the Peace Conference for Rome.
They were everywhere received with pa-
triotic fervor and their action seemed
to receive the unanimous approval of
the Italian press and populace. After
an address to the Italian Parliament
(April 29), Premier Orlando received
a vote of confidence from the members.
The vote was 382 to 40, only the So-
cialists refusing to acquiesce in the Pre-
mier's position. The Italian delegation
returned to Paris on May 6 on their
own initiative. The press stated that
they had been invited to return by
Clemenceau and Lloyd George. Presi-
dent Wilson apparently had no part in
the request for their return.
The Fiume controversy, still un-
settled by the Peace Conference, took
another amazing turn during the month
of September. Gabriele D'Annunzio,
the poet-aviator, with a band of ap-
proximately 9,000 followers seized the
city and held it in defiance of the Italian
government and against the wishes of
the Entente Allies. The Italian gov-
ernment on several occasions ordered
D'Annunzio to return to Rome and sub-
mit himself to the authorities there.
This he continually refused to do. An
economic blockade, declared against him
by his own government, proved ineffec-
tive because he was apparently able to
get all the foodstuffs that he needed.
The Italian government seemed exceed-
ingly loath to use armed forces against
him. He gradually extended his power
up and down the Dalmatian coast and
as the year 1919 drew to a close war
clouds appeared on the horizon of bat-
tle scarred Europe. Even as the great
world war had its birth in the Balkans,
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
359
so did this new threat of another strug-
gle.
Struggle Over the Ratification of the
Treaty of Peace in the Senate of the
United States. President Wilson pre-
sented the Treaty of Versailles to the
Senate of the United States on July 10,
1919. He stated that the treaty was
a world settlement and that the United
States had entered the war on a differ-
ent footing from all European coun-
tries. He summed up the glorious deeds
of the American army on the battlefield
and stated that at the Peace Confer-
ence every effort was made to realize
the hopes of freedom of the nations
which had been succored by our army.
The problem of the Peace Conference
was not that of empires, they were all
bankrupt, but of the smaller nations.
From this theme he developed the idea
of a League of Nations and the neces-
sity for such an instrument in order
to guarantee to these smaller nations
a full measure of political and eco-
nomic liberty. He closed his appeal for
ratification by stating that the United
States had now reached her majority
as a world power and that she must
"show the way."
The treaty debate began on July 14
and continued until December, when
Congress adjourned without ratifying
it. The keynote speech of the admin-
istration was delivered by Senator
Swanson of Virginia. In a lengthy
speech he asked the Senate to ratify
the treaty as it stood. Three resolu-
tions were reported on the same day,
which opened the bitterest fight the Sen-
ate has probably seen. Senator Lodge
called upon the State Department for
a copy of the alleged secret treaty be-
tween Germany and Japan. Senator
Borah asked for the report of some of
the American Peace Commissioners op-
posing the Shantung agreement. Sen-
ator Johnson asked that a stenographic
report of the Peace Conference be given
to the Senate. This caused a wild out-
burst from administration followers.
On July 17, President Wilson began
a series of conferences with Republi-
can Senators with a view of changing
their mind toward the League of Na-
tions. Apparently the President was
unable to change the point of view of
any of the men he interviewed. After
these meetings the Republicans threat-
ened to hold up the ratification of the
entire treaty if President Wilson did not
accept certain amendments or at least
reservations.
Impetus was given to the reservation
idea when prominent Republican leaders
like Messrs. Taft, Hughes, Root, and
Lodge proposed reservations to the
League of Nations that they believed
would be acceptable to most Repub-
licans who favored a League of Na-
tions. Mr. Hughes's reservations, which
seemed to fit in with those of Senator
Lodge, the Chairman of the Foreign
Relations Committee, may be summa-
rized as follows :
1. That on giving notice of its in-
tention to withdraw from the League,
a power shall cease to be a member or
subject to obligations of the covenant
at the time specified in the notice, but
that such withdrawal shall not release
that power from debt or liability there-
tofore incurred.
2. That questions such as immigra-
tion or import duties, which are solely
within domestic jurisdiction, shall not
be submitted for consideration or ac-
tion by the League.
3. That the United States shall not
relinquish its traditional attitude
toward purely American questions,
which shall not be subject to jurisdic-
tion of the League, leaving this country
free to oppose acquisition by any non-
360
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
American country of territory in the
Western Hemisphere.
4. That under Article X. the United
States shall assume no obligation to
undertake any military expedition or
employ its armed forces on land or sea
unless such action is authorized by
Congress.
An important conference was held be-
tween President Wilson and the Foreign
Relations Committee on August 19,
when practically all the important
points of the League and the peace
treaty came up for discussion. Presi-
dent Wilson said that the article which
was causing the most serious objection
(X.) was drawn by himself and that
American forces could never be sent
abroad without the consent of Con-
gress. He said that he would have pre-
ferred another solution of the Shantung
controversy, but that he was handi-
capped by the secret treaties between
Great Britain, France and Japan, the
existence of which he was ignorant.
After more than three hours of ques-
tioning, the Republican members were
still opposed to ratification without
amendments or reservations. The Pres-
ident suggested the use of "interpretive
reservations" which would not be a spe-
cific part of the peace treaty, but which
would bind the United States to a def-
inite action. He desired in this way
to make no changes in the treaty as
it then stood. This solution was entire-
ly unsatisfactory to the opponents of
the League.
On September 10, the Senate Com-
mittee reported the Peace Treaty to
the Senate. The majority report pre-
sented it with thirty-eight amendments
and four reservations. On the follow-
ing day the minority members pre-
sented their report, which was opposed
to reservations and amendments. The
bitter attack made on the treaty in the
Senate determined President Wilson to
take the issue directly to the people.
Consequently he started on a tour on
September 3, 1919, in which he vigor-
ously upheld the League of Nations
Covenant and other provisions for the
Peace Treaty. His itinerary was ab-
ruptly halted at Wichita, Kansas, on
September 26, when he was taken seri-
ously ill. He immediately had to give
up all public duties and was constantly
attended by specialists.
The first test between the opposing
forces came on October 2, when the Sen-
ate defeated the 35 amendments pro-
posed by Senator Fall of New Mexico.
The purpose of these amendments was
to prevent the participation by the
United States representatives on vari-
ous commissions created by the Peace
Conference. The average vote (when a
vote was taken) was about 2 to 1. The
vote showed fairly plainly that the
chances of securing amendments were
very slight but that the treaty could
not be ratified without reservations. On
October 16, the six Lodge amendments,
giving to China instead of to Japan
the economic privileges taken from Ger-
many, were defeated as a unit by the
vote of 55 to 35.
On October 22, 23, and 24, the Sen-
ate Foreign Relations Committee adopt-
ed fourteen revised amendments. These
were designed to take the place of
those adopted on September 10. A
preamble was also adopted by the com-
mittee. The text of the preamble and
the reservations follows.
TEXT OF RESERVATIONS
PREAMBLE.— The committee also reports
the following reservations and understandings
to be made a part and a condition of the reso-
lution of ratification, which ratification is not
to take effect or bind the United States until
the said following reservations and understand-
ings have been accepted as a part and a condi-
tion of said instrument of ratification by at
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
361
least three of the four principal allied and as-
sociated powers, to wit, Great Britain, France,
Italy and Japan:
Reservation No. 1. — The United States un-
derstands and construes Article I. that in case
of notice of withdrawal from the League of
Nations, as provided in said article, the United
States shall be the sole judge as to whether all
its international obligations and all its obliga-
tions under the said covenant have been ful-
filled, and notice of withdrawal by the United
States may be given by a concurrent resolu-
tion of the Congress of the United States.
Reservation No. 2. — The United States as-
sumes no obligation to preserve the territorial
integrity or political independence of any other
country or to interfere in controversies between
nations — whether members of the League or
not — under the provisions of Article X., or to
employ the military or naval forces of the
United States under any article of the treaty
for any purpose, unless in any particular case
the Congress, which, under the Constitution, has
the sole power to declare war or to authorize
the employment of the military or naval forces
of the United States, shall, by act or joint
resolution, so provide.
Reservation No. 3. — No mandate shall be
accepted by the United States under Article
XXII., Part 1, or any other provision of the
treaty of peace with Germany, except by action
of the Congress of the United States.
Reservation No. j. — The United States re-
serves to itself exclusively the right to decide
what questions are within its domestic juris-
diction, and declares that all domestic and
political questions relating wholly or in part
to its internal affairs, including immigration,
labor, coastwise traffic, the tariff, commerce, and
the suppression of the traffic in women and
children, and in opium and other dangerous
drugs, and all other domestic questions, are
solely within the jurisdiction of the United
States and are not under this treaty to be sub-
mitted in any way either to arbitration or to
the consideration of the Council or Assembly
of the League of Nations or any agency there-
of, or to the decision or recommendation of
any other power.
Reservation No. 5. — The United States will
not submit to arbitration by the assembly or
the council of the League of Nations (pro-
vided for in said treaty of peace) any ques-
tions which in the judgment of the United
States depend on or relate to its long-estab-
lished policy, commonly known as the Monroe
Doctrine; said doctrine is to be interpreted by
the United States alone, and is hereby declared
to be wholly outside the jurisdiction of said
League of Nations and entirely unaffected by
any provision contained in the said treaty of
peace with Germany.
Reservation No. 6. — The United States with-
holds its assent to Articles 156, 157, and 158,
and reserves full liberty of action with respect
to any controversy which may arise under said
articles between the Republic of China and the
Empire of Japan.
Reservation No. 7. — The Congress of the
United States by law will provide for the ap-
pointment of the representatives of the United
States in the assembly and the council of the
League of Nations, and may in its discretion
provide for the participation of the United
States in any commission, committee, tribunal,
court, council, of conference, or in the selection
of any members thereof and for the appoint-
ment of members of said commission, com-
mittee, court, council, or conference, or any
other representatives under the treaty of peace,
or in carrying out its provisions and until such
participation and appointment have been so
provided for, and the powers and duties of
such representative so defined, no person shall
represent the United States under either such
said League of Nations or the treaty, or be
authorized to perform any act for or on behalf
of the United States thereunder, and no citi-
zen of the United States shall be elected or
appointed as a member of said commissions,
committees, courts, councils, or conferences ex-
cept with the approval of the Senate of the
United States.
Reservation No. 8. — The United States un-
derstands that the Reparations Commission
will regulate or interfere with exports from the
United States to Germany, or from Germany
to the United States, only when the United
States by its Congress approves such regulation
or interference.
Reservation No. 9. — The United States shall
not be obligated to contribute to any expenses of
the League of Nations or secretariat or any
commission, committee, or conference or other
agency, organized under the League of Nations,
or under the treaty, or for the purpose of
carrying out the treaty provisions, unless and
until an appropriation of funds available for
such expenses shall have been made by the
Congress of the United States.
Reservation No. 10. — If the United States
shall at any time adopt any plan for the limi-
tation of armaments proposed by the council
of the League of Nations under the provisions
of Article VIII., it reserves the right to increase
such armament without the consent of the
council whenever the United States is threat-
ened with invasion or engaged in war.
Reservation No. 11. — The United States con-
strues subdivision "C" of Article XXIII. to
mean that the League shall refuse to recognize
agreements with regard to the traffic in women
and children and that the League shall use
every means possible to abolish and do away
with such practice.
Reservation No. 12. — The United States re-
362
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
serves the right to permit, in its discretion, the
nationals of a covenant-breaking State, as
denned in Article XVI. of the covenant of the
League of Nations, to continue their commer-
cial, financial, and personal relations with the
nationals of the United States.
Reservation No. 13. — The United States de-
clines to accept any interest as trustee, or in
her own right, or to accept any responsibility,
for the government or disposition of the over-
seas possessions of Germany to which Germany
renounces her right and titles to the principal
allied and associated powers under Articles 119
to 127, inclusive.
Reservation No. l/ h — The United States re-
serves to itself exclusively the right to decide
what questions affect its honor or its vital
interests and declares that such questions are
not under this treaty to be submitted in any
way either to arbitration or to the considera-
tion of the Council or the Assembly of the
League of Nations or any agency thereof, or
to the decision or recommendation of any other
power.
Despite the efforts made by the Re-
publicans and the Democrats to settle
the question of the League of Nations
and the entire treaty one way or the
other, the year closed without ratifica-
tion in any form. When the long ses-
sion of the 66th Congress came to a
close the matter remained deadlocked.
Alliance Between France and Great
Britain and the United States. On the
same day that the Germans concluded
their treaty of peace with the Allies,
France concluded treaties with the
United States and Great Britain which
guaranteed to France the aid of both
of these nations if there was any ag-
gressive act on the part of Germany
toward that republic. A provision was
contained to the effect that the treaties
would be submitted to the League of
Nations and the Senate of the United
States and the Parliaments of Great
Britain and France for ratification.
The text of the French-American
treaty is as follows :
Considering that the United States of Amer-
ica and the Government of the French Repub-
lic are equally animated by a desire to main-
tain the peace of the world, so happily restored
by the treaty signed at Versailles on June 28,
which put an end to the war begun by the ag-
gression of the German Empire and terminated
by the defeat of that power, and
Considering that the United States of Amer-
ica and the Government of the French Repub-
lic, fully convinced that an unprovoked aggres-
sion directed by Germany against France
would not only violate at the same time the
letter and spirit of the Versailles Treaty, to
which the United States and France are par-
ties, thus exposing France anew to the intol-
erable burden of unprovoked war, but that
such aggression on the act reputed by the
Treaty of Versailles as being against all the
powers signatory to the treaty and calculated
to trouble the peace of the world, involving
inevitably and directly the States of Europe
and indirectly the entire world, as experience
has amply and unhappily demonstrated, and
Considering that the United States of Amer-
ica and the Government of the French Repub-
lic apprehend that the stipulations concerning
the left bank of the Rhine cannot assure im-
mediately to France, on the one hand, and to
the United States, on the other, as signatory
powers to the Treaty of Versailles, appropriate
security and protection;
Consequently, the United States of America
and the Government of the French Republic,
having decided to conclude a treaty to realize
these necessary ends, Woodrow Wilson, Presi-
dent of the United States of America, and
Robert Lansing, Secretary of State, specially
authorized to that end by the President of the
United States of America, and Georges Clem-
enceau, President of the Council of Ministers
and Minister of War, and Stephen Pichon,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, specially author-
ized to that end by Raymond Poincare, Presi-
dent of the French Republic, have agreed upon
the following:
ARTICLE I. — The following stipulations
concerning the left bank of the Rhine are con-
tained in the Peace Treaty signed with Ger-
many at Versailles, June 28, 1919, by the
United States of America, by the Government
of the French Republic, and by the British
Empire, among other pouiers:
Article 42. — Germany is forbidden to
maintain or construct any fortifications
either on the left bank of the Rhine or on
the right bank to the west of a line drawn
fifty kilometers to the east of the Rhine.
Article 43. — In the area denned above
the maintenance and the assembly of
armed forces, either permanently or tem-
porarily, and military manoeuvres of any
kind, as well as the upkeep of all perma-
nent works for mobilization, are in the
same way forbidden.
Article 44. — In case Germany violates in
any manner whatever the provisions of
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
363
Articles 42 and 43 she shall be regarded
as committing a hostile act against the
powers signatory of the present treaty
and as calculated to disturb the peace of
the world.
In case these stipulations should not assure
immediately to France appropriate security
and protection, the United States of America
shall be bound to come immediately to her aid
in case of any unprovoked act of aggression
directed against her by Germany.
ARTICLE 2.— The present treaty, couched
in terms analogous to those of a treaty con-
cluded on the same date and to the same end
between Great Britain and the French Repub-
lic, a copy of which is hereto annexed, will
not enter into force until the moment when the
latter is ratified.
ARTICLE 3. — The present treaty must be
submitted to the Council of the Society of
Nations and must be recognized by the council,
deciding if occasion arise by majority, as an
engagement in conformity with the covenant
of the society. It will remain in force until,
upon demand of one of the parties to the
treaty, the council deciding if occasion arise
by a majority, finds that the society itself as-
sures sufficient protection.
ARTICLE 4.— The present treaty shall be-
fore ratification be submitted to the Chambers
of the French Parliament for approval and it
shall be stibmitted to the Senate of the United
States of America at the same time as the
Treaty of Versailles shall be submitted for as-
sent to ratification. Ratifications shall be ex-
changed at the time of deposit in Paris of the
ratifications of the Treaty of Versailles, or
as soon afterward as possible.
The agreement between England and
France, the text of which was also given
out, corresponds with that between the
United States and France, with an ad-
ditional provision that the treaty im-
poses no obligation upon any of the
dominions of the British Empire unless
and until it be approved by the Parlia-
ment of each dominion interested.
The Polish Treaty. Another impor-
tant treaty was signed on the same day
that the German delegates signed the
treaty ending the great world war.
This was the treaty with Poland, the
terms of which follow.
The United States of America, the British
Empire, France, Italy, and Japan, the prin-
cipal allied and associated powers, on the one
hand; and Poland, on the other hand:
Whereas, The allied and associated powers
have, by the success of their arms, restored to
the Polish Nation the independence of which
it had been unjustly deprived; and
Whereas, By the proclamation of March 30,
1917, the Government of Russia assented to the
re-establishment of an independent Polish
State; and
Whereas, The Polish State, which now, in
fact, exercises sovereignty over those portions
of the former Russian Empire which are in-
habited by a majority of Poles, has already
been recognized as a sovereign and important
State by the principal allied and associated
powers; and
Whereas, Under the treaty of peace con-
cluded with Germany by the allied and asso-
ciated powers, a treaty of which Poland is a
signatory, certain portions of the former Ger-
man Empire will be incorporated in the terri-
tory of Poland; and
Whereas, Under the terms of the said treaty
of peace, the boundaries of Poland not already
laid down are to be subsequently determined
by the principal allied and associated powers;
The United States of America, the British
Empire, France, Italy, and Japan, on the one
hand, confirming their recognition of the Polish
State, constituted within the said limits as a
sovereign and independent member of the fam-
ily of nations and being anxious to insure the
execution of the provisions of Article 93 of the
said treaty of peace with Germany;
Poland, on the other hand, desiring to con-
form her institutions to the principles of lib-
erty and justice, and to give a sure guarantee
to the inhabitants of the territory over which
she assumed sovereignty; for this purpose the
following representatives of the high contract-
ing parties:
The President of the United States of
America; his Majesty the King of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of
the British dominions beyond the seas, Em-
peror of India; the President of the French
Republic; his Majesty the King of Italy; his
Majesty the Emperor of Japan, and the Presi-
dent of the Polish Republic, after having ex-
changed their full powers, found in good and
due form, have agreed as follows:
CHAPTER I
ARTICLE 1.— Poland undertakes that the
stipulations contained in Articles 2 and 8 of
this chapter shall be recognized as fundamental
law, and that no law, regulation, or official
action shall conflict or interfere with these
stipulations, nor shall any law, regulation, or
official action prevail over them.
ARTICLE 2.— Poland undertakes to assure
364
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
full and complete protection to life and lib-
erty to all inhabitants of Poland, without dis-
tinction of birth, nationality, language, race,
or religion.
All inhabitants of Poland shall be entitled
to the free exercise, whether public or private,
of any creed, religion, or belief whose prac-
tices are not inconsistent with public order or
public morals.
ARTICLE 3. — Poland admits and declares
to be Polish nationals ipso facto Hungarian
or Russian nationals habitually resident, at the
date of the coming into force of the present
treaty, in territory which is or may be recog-
nized as forming part of Poland under the
treaties with Germany, Austria, Hungary, or
Russia, respectively, but subject to any provi-
sions in the said treaties relating to persons who
became resident in such territory after a speci-
fied date.
Nevertheless, the persons referred to above
who are over 12 years of age will be entitled
under the conditions contained in the said
treaties to opt for any other nationality which
may be open to them. Option by a husband
will cover his wife and option by parents will
cover their children under 18 years of age.
Persons who have exercised the above right
to option must, except where it is otherwise
provided in the treaty of peace with Germany,
transfer within the succeeding twelve months
their place of residence to the State for which
they have opted. They will be entitled to re-
tain their immovable property in Polish terri-
tory. They may carry with them their movable
property of every description. No export
duties may be imposed upon them in connection
with the removal of such property.
ARTICLE 4.— Poland admits and declares
to be polish nationals, ipso facto and without
the requirement of any formality, persons of
German, Austrian, Hungarian, or Russian na-
tionality who were born in the said territory
of parents habitually resident there, even if
at the date of the coming into force of the
present treaty they are not themselves habit-
ually resident there.
Nevertheless, within two years after the com-
ing into force of the present treaty, these
persons may make a declaration before the
competent Polish authorities in the country in
which they are resident, stating that they aban-
don Polish nationality, and they will then cease
to be considered as Polish nationals. In this
connection a declaration by a husband will cover
his wife, and a declaration by parents will
cover their children under 18 years of age.
ARTICLE 5. — Poland undertakes to put no
hindrance in the way of the exercise of the
right which the persons concerned have, under
the treaties concluded or to be concluded by
the allied and associated powers with Germany,
Austria, Hungary, or Russia, to choose whether
or not they will acquire Polish nationality.
ARTICLE 6.— All persons born in Polish
territory who are not born nationals of an-
other State shall ipso facto become Polish
nationals.
ARTICLE 7.— All polish nationals shall be
equal before the law and shall enjoy the same
civil and political rights without distinction as
to race, language, or religion.
Differences of religion, creed, or confession
shall not prejudice any Polish national in
matters relating to the enjoyment of civil or
political rights, as for admission to public em-
ployments, functions, and honors, or the exer-
cise of professions and industries.
No restriction shall be imposed on the free
use by any Polish national of any language
in private intercourse, in commerce, in religion,
in the press, or in publications of any kind,
or at public meetings.
Notwithstanding any establishment by the
Polish Government of an official language, ade-
quate facilities shall be given to Polish
nationals of non-Polish speech for the use of
their language, either orally or in writing, be-
fore the courts.
ARTICLE 8.— Polish nationals who belong
to racial, religious, or linguistic minorities shall
enjoy the same treatment and security in law
and in fact as the Polish nationals. In par-
ticular they shall have an equal right to estab-
lish, manage, and control at their own expense
charitable, religious, and social 'institutions,
schools and other educational establishments,
with the right to use their own language and
to exercise their religion freely therein.
ARTICLE 9.— Poland will provide, in the
public educational system in towns and dis-
tricts in which a considerable proportion of
Polish nationals of other than Polish speech are
residents, adequate facilities for insuring that
in the primary schools instruction shall be given
to the children of such Polish nationals through
the medium of their own language. This pro-
vision shall not prevent the Polish Government
from making the teaching of the Polish lan-
guage obligatory in the said schools.
In towns and districts where there is a con-
siderable proportion of Polish nationals be-
longing to racial, religious, or linguistic minor-
ities, these minorities shall be assured an equi-
table share in the enjoyment and application
of the sums which may be provided out of
public funds under the State, municipal, or
other budgets, for educational, religious, or
charitable purposes.
The provisions of this article shall apply to
Polish citizens of German speech only in that
part of Poland which was German territory
on Aug. 1, 1914.
ARTICLE 10. — Educational committees ap-
pointed locally by the Jewish communities of
Poland will, subject to the general control of
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
365
the State, provide for the distribution of the
proportional share of public funds allocated to
Jewish schools in accordance with Article 9,
and for the organization and management of
these schools.
The provision of Article 9 concerning the use
of language in schools shall apply to these
schools.
ARTICLE 11.— Jews shall not be compelled
to perform any act which constitutes a viola-
tion of their Sabbath, nor shall be placed
under any disability by reason of their refusal
to attend courts of law or to perform any
legal business on their Sabbath. This provi-
sion, however, shall not exempt Jews from such
obligations as shall be imposed upon all other
Polish citizens for the necessary purposes of
military service, national defense, or the
preservation of public order.
Poland declares her intention to refrain
from ordering or permitting elections, whether
general or local, to be held on a Saturday, nor
will registration for electoral or other pur-
poses be compelled to be performed on a Sat-
urday.
ARTICLE 12.— Poland agrees that the stip-
ulations in the foregoing articles, so far as they
affect persons belonging to racial, religious,
or linguistic minorities, constitute obligations
of international concern, and shall be placed
under the guarantee of the League of Nations.
They shall not be modified without the assent
of a majority of the Council of the League of
Nations. The United States, the British Em-
pire, France, Italy, and Japan hereby agree not
to withhold their assent from any modification
in these articles which is in due form assented
to by a majority of the Council of the League
of Nations.
Poland agrees that any member of the Coun-
cil of the League of Nations shall have the
right to bring to the attention of the Council
any infraction, or any danger of infraction,
of any of these obligations, and that the council
may thereupon take such action and give such
direction as it may deem proper and effective
in the circumstances.
Poland further agrees that any difference of
opinion as to question of law or fact arising
out of these articles, between the Polish Gov-
ernment and any of the principal allied and
associated powers, or any other power a mem-
ber of the Council of the League of Nations,
shall be held to be a dispute of an international
character under Article 14 of the Covenant of
the League of Nations. The Polish Govern-
ment hereby consents that any such dispute
shall, if the other party thereof demands, be
referred to the Permanent Court of Interna-
tional Justice. The decision of the Permanent
Court shall be final and shall have the same
force and effect as an award under Article 13
of the covenant.
CHAPTER II
ARTICLE 13.— Each of the principal allied
and associated powers, on the one part, and
Poland on the other shall be at liberty to
appoint diplomatic representatives to reside in
their respective capitals, as well as Consul
Generals, Consuls, Vice Consuls, and Consular
Agents, to reside in the towns and ports of
their respective territories.
Consul Generals, Consuls, Vice Consuls, and
Consular Agents, however, shall not enter upon
their duties until they have been admitted in
the usual manner by the Government in the
territory of which they are stationed.
Consul Generals, Consuls, Vice Consuls, and
Consular Agents shall enjoy all the facilities,
privileges, exemptions, and immunities of every
kind which are or shall be granted to Consular
officers of the most favored nation.
ARTICLE 14.— Pending the establishment
of a permanent tariff by the Polish Govern-
ment, goods originating in the allied and as-
sociated States shall not be subject to any
higher duties on importation into Poland than
the most favorable rates of duty applicable to
goods of the same kind under either the Ger-
man, Austro-Hungarian, or Russian customs
tariffs on July 1, 1914.
ARTICLE 15.— Poland undertakes to make
no treaty, convention, or arrangement, and to
take no other action, which will prevent her
from joining in any general agreement for
the equitable treatment of the commerce of
other States that may be concluded under the
auspices of the League of Nations within five
years from the coming into force of the present
treaty.
Poland also undertakes to extend to all the
allied and associated States any favors or privi-
leges in customs matters which they may grant
during the same period of five years to any
State with which, since August, 1914, the Allies
have been at war, or to any State which may
have concluded with Austria special customs
arrangements as provided for in the treaty of
peace to be concluded with Austria.
ARTICLE 16.— Pending the conclusion of
the general agreement referred to above, Po-
land undertakes to treat on the same footing
as national vessels, or vessels of the most fa-
vored nation, the vessels of all the allied and
associated States which accord similar treat-
ment to Polish vessels.
By way of exception from this provision, the
right of Poland or any other allied or associ-
ated State to confine her maritime coasting
trade to national vessels is expressly reserved.
ARTICLE 17. — Pending the conclusion, un-
der the auspices of the League of Nations, of
a general convention to secure and maintain
freedom of communications and of transit,
Poland undertakes to accord freedom of tran-
366
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
sit of persons, goods, vessels, carriages, wagons,
and mails in transit to or from any allied or
associated State over Polish territory, includ-
ing territorial waters, and to treat them at least
as favorably as the persons, goods, vessels, car-
riages, wagons, and mails respectively of Polish
or of any other more favored nationality,
origin, importation, or ownership, as regards
facilities, charges, restrictions, and all other
matters.
All charges imposed in Poland on such traffic
in transit shall be reasonable, having regard
to the conditions of the traffic. Goods in tran-
sit shall be exempt from all customs or other
duties. Tariffs for transit traffic across Poland
and tariffs between Poland and any allied or
associated power, involving through tickets or
waybills, shall be established at the request of
that allied or associated power.
Freedom of transit will extend to postal,
telegraphic, and telephonic services.
It is agreed that no allied or associated
power can claim the benefit of these provisions
on behalf of any part of its territory in which
reciprocal treatment is not accorded with re-
spect to the same subject matter.
If within a period of five years from the
coming into force of the present treaty no
general convention as aforesaid shall have been
concluded under the auspices of the League of
Nations, Poland shall be at liberty at any time
thereafter to give twelve months' notice to the
Secretary General of the League of Nations
to terminate obligations of this article.
ARTICLE 18. — Pending the conclusion of a
general convention on the international re-
gime of waterways, Poland undertakes to apply
to the river system of the Vistula (including
the Bug and the Narest) the regime applicable
to international waterways set out in Articles
332 to 337 of the treaty of peace with Ger-
many.
ARTICLE 19.— Poland undertakes to ad-
here, within twelve months of the coming into
force of the present treaty, to the international
conventions specified in Annex I.
Poland undertakes to adhere to any new con-
vention, concluded with the approval of the
Council of the League of Nations within five
years of the coming into force of the present
treaty, to replace any of the international in-
struments specified in Annex I.
The Polish Government undertakes within
twelve months to notify the Secretary Gen-
eral of the League of Nations whether or not
Poland desires to adhere to either or both of
the international conventions specified in
Annex II.
Until Poland has adhered to the two con-
ventions last specified in Annex I. she agrees,
on condition of reciprocity, to protect by ef-
fective measures the industrial, literary, and
artistic property of nationals of the allied and
associated States. In the case of any allied or
associated State not adhering to the said con-
ventions, Poland agrees to continue to afford
such effective protection on the same conditions
until the conclusion of a special bilateral treaty
or agreement for that purpose with such allied
or associated State.
Pending her adhesion to the other conven-
tions specified in Annex I., Poland will secure
to the nationals of the allied and associated
powers the advantages to which they would be
entitled under the said conventions.
Poland further agrees, on condition of reci-
procity, to recognize and protect all rights
in any industrial, literary, or artistic property
belonging to the nationals of the allied and
associated States now in force or which, but for
the war, would have been in force in any part
of her territories before their transfer to
Poland. For such purposes they will accord
the extensions of time agreed to in Articles
307 and 308 of the treaty with Germany.
ANNEX I
Telegraphic and Radio-Telegraphic
Conventions
International Telegraphic Convention signed
at St. Petersburg July 10-22, 1875.
Regulations and tariffs drawn up by the
International Telegraph Conference signed at
Lisbon June 11, 1908.
International Radio-Telegraphic Convention,
July 5, 1912.
Railway Conventions
Conventions and arrangements signed at
Berne on Oct. 14, 1890, Sept. 20, 1893, July 16,
1895, and Sept. 19, 1906, and the current sup-
plementary provisions made under those con-
ventions.
Agreement on May 15, 1886, regarding the
sealing of railway trucks subject to custom
inspections, and protocol of May 18, 1907.
Agreement of May 15, 1886, regarding the
technical standardization of railways, as modi-
fied on May 18, 1907.
Sanitary Convention
Convention of Dec. 3, 1903.
Other Conventions
Convention of Sept. 26, 1906, for the sup-
pression of night work for women.
Convention of Sept. 26, 1906, for the sup-
pression of the use of white phosphorus in the
manufacture of matches.
Conventions of May 18, 1904, and May 4,
1910, regarding the suppression of the white
slave traffic.
Convention of May 4, 1910, regarding the
suppression of obscene publications.
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
367
International conventions of Paris of March
20, 1883, as revised at Washington in 1911, for
the protection of industrial property.
International convention of Sept. 9, 1886,
revised at Berlin on Nov. 13, 1908, and com-
pleted by the additional protocol signed at
Berne on March 20, 1914, for the protection
of literary and artistic works.
ANNEX II
Agreement of Madrid of April 14, 1891, for
the prevention of false indications of origin
on goods, revised at Washington in 1911, and
agreement of Madrid of April 14, 1891, for
the international registration of trade marks,
revised at Washington in 1911.
ARTICLE 20. — All rights and privileges ac-
corded by the foregoing articles to the allied
and associated States shall be accorded equally
to all States members of the League of Na-
tions.
The present treaty, of which the French and
English texts are both authentic, shall be rati-
fied. It shall come into force at the same
time as the treaty of peace with Germany.
The deposit of ratifications shall be made at
Paris.
Powers of which the seat of the Government
is outside Europe will be entitled merely to
inform the Government of the French Repub-
lic through their diplomatic representative at
Paris that their ratification has been given. In
that case they must transmit the instrument of
ratification as soon as possible.
A proces-verbal of the deposit of ratifica-
tions will be drawn up.
The French Government will transmit to all
the signatory powers a certified copy of the
proces-verbal of the deposit of ratifications.
ARTICLE 21. — Poland agrees to assume re-
sponsibility for such proportion of the Rus-
sian public debt and other Russian public lia-
bilities of any kind as may be assigned to her
under a special convention between the prin-
cipal allied and associated powers on the one
hand and Poland on the other, to be prepared
by a commission appointed by the above
States. In the event of the commission not
arriving at an agreement, the point at issue
shall be referred for immediate arbitration to
the League of Nations.
In faith whereof the above-named plenipo-
tentiaries have signed the present treaty.
Done at Versailles, [June 28, 1919,] in a sin-
gle copy which will remain deposited in the
archives of the French Republic, and of which
authenticated copies will be transmitted to each
of the signatory powers.
Austrian Peace Treaty. The treaty
of peace between Austria and the Allied
Powers was signed at St. Germain-en-
Laye, a suburb of Paris, on September
10, 1919. The chief signatory for Aus-
tria was Dr. Karl Renner, the Austrian
Chancellor, who had tried every means
known to diplomacy to have the terms
of the treaty modified. Despite his un-
ceasing efforts to bring about funda-
mental changes, the treaty practically
stood as originally drafted. On Sep-
tember 6, the Austrian Assembly by a
vote of 97 to 28 decided to accept the
terms of the treaty. The following
digest of and quotations from the Aus-
trian treaty were taken from the Cur-
rent History magazine.
The treaty consists of 381 articles,
making 181 pages in The Congressional
Record. In general terms it follows the
scheme of the German treaty. Part I.,
consisting of the first twenty-six arti-
cles, is the League of Nations covenant,
already published as part of the treaty
with Germany, which Austria likewise
accepts, though she may not become a
member of the League until admitted
by vote of the other members.
Part II. lays down in detail the new
boundaries of Austria. The frontiers
with Switzerland and Lichtenstein re-
main unchanged. The treaty contains
elaborate clauses covering the cession
of territory to Italy, Poland, Czecho-
slovakia, and Jugoslavia. The frontiers
with Italy, the Klagenfurt area, and
Hungary have undergone much modifi-
cation ; that with Germany remains as
before. Boundary commissions are to
trace the various new lines, to fix points
left undefined by the treaty, and to re-
vise portions defined by administrative
boundaries. The various States in-
volved are pledged to furnish all pos-
sible information to these commissions.
One of the most vital parts of the
treaty is that entitled "Political Clauses
for Europe," referring to Austria's rela-
368
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
tions with neighbor nations. Article 88,
which forbids annexation of Austria by
Germany, save with the consent of the
League of Nations Council, has a direct
connection with Article 61 of the Ger-
man Constitution, which foreshadowed
political union between the two nations,
and which the Peace Conference com-
pelled Germany to modify.
Following is the text of "Part III.:
Political Clauses for Europe" :
SECTION I.— ITALY
Article 36. — Austria renounces, so
far as she is concerned, in favor of Italy
all rights and title over the territory
of the former Austro-Hungarian mon-
archy situated beyond the frontier laid
down in Article 27 (2) and lying be-
tween that frontier, the former Austro-
Hungarian frontier, the Adriatic Sea,
and the eastern frontier of Italy as
subsequently determined.
Austria similarly renounces, so far
as she is concerned, in favor of Italy
all rights and title over other territory
of the former Austro-Hungarian mon-
archy which may be recognized as form-
ing part of Italy by any treaties which
may be concluded for the purpose of
completing the present settlement.
A commission composed of five mem-
bers, one nominated by Italy, three by
the other principal allied and associated
powers, and one by Austria, shall be
constituted within fifteen days from the
coming into force of the present treaty
to trace on the spot the frontier line
between Italy and Austria. The deci-
sions of the commission will be taken by
a majority and shall be binding on the
parties concerned.
Article 37. — Notwithstanding the
provisions of Article 269 of Part X.,
(Economic Clauses,) persons having
their usual residence in the territories
of the former Austro-Hungarian mon-
archy transferred to Italy who, during
the war, have been outside the territories
of the former Austro-Hungarian mon-
archy or have been imprisoned, in-
terned or evacuated, shall enjoy the
full benefit of the provisions of Articles
252 and 253 of Part X., (Economic
Clauses).
Article 38. — A special convention
will determine the terms of repayment
in Austrian currency of the special war
expenditure advanced during the war by
territory of the former Austro-Hun-
garian monarchy transferred to Italy
or by public associations in that terri-
tory on account of the Austro-Hun-
garian monarchy under its legislation,
such as allowances to the families of
persons mobilized, requisitions, billeting
of troops, and relief to persons who
have been evacuated.
In fixing the amount of these sums
Austria shall be credited with the
amount which the territory would have
contributed to Austria-Hungary to
meet the expenses resulting from these
payments, this contribution being cal-
culated according to the proportion of
the revenues of the former Austro-Hun-
garian monarchy derived from the ter-
ritory in 1913.
Article 39. — The Italian Government
will collect for its own account the
taxes, dues, and charges of every kind
leviable in the territories transferred to
Italy and not collected on Nov. 3, 1918.
Article 40. — No sum shall be due by
Italy on the ground of her entry into
possession of the Palazzo Venezia at
Rome.
Article 41. — Subject to the provi-
sions of Article 204 of Part IX., (Fi-
nancial Clauses,) relative to the acqui-
sition of, and payment for, State prop-
erty and possessions, the Italian Gov-
ernment is substituted in all the rights
which the Austrian State possessed over
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
369
all the railways in the territories trans-
ferred to Italy which were administered
by the Railway Administration of the
said State and which are actually work-
ing or under construction.
The same shall apply to the rights
of the former Austro-Hungarian mon-
archy with regard to railway and tram-
way concessions within the above-men-
tioned territories.
The frontier railway stations shall be
determined by a subsequent agreement.
Article 42. — Austria shall restore to
Italy within a period of three months
all the wagons belonging to the Italian
railways which before the outbreak of
war had passed into Austria and have
not returned to Italy.
Article 43. — Austria renounces as
from Nov. 3, 1918, on behalf of herself
and her nationals in regard to terri-
tories transferred to Italy all rights to
which she may be entitled with regard
to the products of the aforesaid terri-
tories under any agreements, stipula-
tions, or laws establishing trusts,
cartels or other similar organizations.
Article 44. — For a period of ten
years from the coming into force of
the present treaty central electric
power stations situated in Austrian ter-
ritory and formerly furnishing electric
power to the territories transferred to
Italy or, to any other establishment the
exploitation of which passes to Italy
shall be required to continue furnishing
this supply up to an amount corre-
sponding to the undertakings and con-
tracts in force on Nov. 3, 1918.
Austria further admits the right of
Italy to the free use of the waters of
Lake Raibl and its derivative water-
course and to divert the said waters to
the basin of the Korinitza.
Article 45. — (1) Judgments ren-
dered since Aug. 4, 1914, by the courts
in the territory transferred to Italy in
civil and commercial cases between the
inhabitants of such territory and other
nationals of the former Austrian em-
pire, or between such inhabitants and
the subjects of the allies of the Austro-
Hungarian monarchy, shall not be car-
ried into effect until after indorsement
by the corresponding new court in such
territory.
(2) All decisions rendered for po-
litical crimes or offenses since Aug. 4,
1914, by the judicial authorities of the
former Austro-Hungarian monarchy
against Italian nationals, including
persons who obtain Italian nationality
under the present treaty, shall be an-
nulled.
(3) In all matters relating to pro-
ceedings initiated before the coming
into force of the present treaty before
the competent authorities of the terri-
tory transferred to Italy, the Italian
and Austrian judicial authorities re-
spectively shall until the coming into
force of a special convention on this
subject be authorized to correspond
with each other direct. Requests thus
presented shall be given effect to so far
as the laws of the public character
allow in the country to the authorities
of which the request is addressed.
(4) All appeals to the higher Aus-
trian judicial and administrative au-
thorities beyond the limits of the ter-
ritory transferred to Italy against de-
cisions of the administrative or judicial
authorities of this territory shall be
suspended. The records shall be sub-
mitted to the authorities against whose
decision the appeal was entered. They
must be transmitted to the competent
Italian authorities without delay.
(5) All other questions as to juris-
diction, procedure, or the administra-
tion of justice will be determined by a
special convention between Italy and
Austria.
370
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
SECTION II.— SERB-CROAT-SLO-
VENE STATE
Article 46. — Austria, in conformity
with the action already taken by the al-
lied and associated powers, recognizes
the complete independence of the Serb-
Croat-Slovene State.
Article 47. — Austria renounces, so
far as she is concerned, in favor of the
Serb-Croat-Slovene State all rights and
title over the territories of the former
Austro-Hungarian monarchy situated
outside the frontiers of Austria as laid
down in Article 27 of Part II., (Fron-
tiers of Austria,) and recognized by the
present treaty, or by any treaties con-
cluded for the purpose of completing
the present settlement, as forming part
of the Serb-Croat-Slovene State.
Article 48. — A commission consisting
of seven members, five nominated by the
principal allied and associated powers,
one by the Serb-Croat-Slovene State,
and one by Austria, shall be constituted
within fifteen days from the coming into
force of the present treaty to trace on
the spot the frontier line described in
Article 27 (4) of Part II., (Frontiers
of Austria).
The decisions of the commission will
be taken by a majority and shall be
binding on the parties concerned.
Article 49. — The inhabitants of the
Klagenfurt area will be called upon, to
the extent stated below, to indicate by
a vote the State to which they wish the
territory to belong.
[The definition of the Klagenfurt
boundaries, and a boundary division of
this area into two zones for the taking
of the plebiscite, follow here.]
Article 50. — The Klagenfurt area
will be placed under the control of a
commission intrusted with the duty of
preparing the plebiscite in that area
and assuring the impartial administra-
tion thereof. This commission will be
composed as follows : Four members
nominated respectively by the United
States, Great Britain, France, and
Italy, one by Austria, one by the Serb-
Croat-Slovene State ; the Austrian
member only taking part in the delib-
erations of the commission in regard to
the second zone, and the Serb-Croat-
Slovene member only taking part there-
in with regard to the first zone. The
decisions of the commission will be taken
by a majority.
The second zone will be occupied by
the Austrian troops and administered
in accordance with the general regula-
tions of the Austrian legislation.
The first zone will be occupied by the
troops of the Serb-Croat-Slovene State
and administered in accordance with
the general regulations of the legisla-
tion of that State.
In both zones the troops, whether
Austrian or Serb-Croat-Slovene, shall
be reduced to the numbers which the
commission may consider necessary for
the preservation of order, and shall
carry out their mission under the con-
trol of the commission. These troops
shall be replaced as speedily as pos-
sible b}^ a police force recruited on the
spot.
The commission will be charged with
the duty of arranging for the vote and
of taking such measures as it may deem
necessary to insure its freedom, fair-
ness, and secrecy.
In the first zone the plebiscite will
be held within three months from the
coming into force of the present treaty,
at a date fixed by the commission.
If the vote is in favor of the Serb-
Croat-Slovene State, a plebiscite will
be held in the second zone within three
weeks from the proclamation of the
result of the plebiscite in the first zone,
at a date to be fixed by the commission.
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
371
If on the other hand the vote in the
first zone is in favor of Austria, no
plebiscite will be held in the second zone,
and the whole of the area will remain
definitely under Austrian sovereignty.
The right of voting will be granted
to every person without distinction of
sex who :
(a) Has attained the age of twenty
years on or before Jan. 1, 1919;
(b) Has on Jan. 1, 1919, his or her
habitual residence within the zone sub-
jected to the plebiscite; and,
(c) Was born within the said zone,
or has had his or her habitual residence
or rights of citizenship (pertinenza)
there from a date previous to Jan. 1,
1912.
The result of the vote will be deter-
mined by the majority of votes in the
whole of each zone.
On the conclusion of each vote the
result will be communicated by the com-
mission to the principal allied and as-
sociated powers, with a full report as
to the taking of the vote, and will be
proclaimed.
If the vote is in favor of the incor-
poration either of the first zone or of
both zones in the Serb-Croat-Slovene
State, Austria hereby renounces, so far
as she is concerned and to the extent
corresponding to the result of the vote,
in favor of the Serb-Croat-Slovene
State all rights and title over these ter-
ritories.
After agreement with the commission
the Serb-Croat-Slovene Government
may definitively establish its authority
over the said territories.
If the vote in the first or second zone
is in favor of Austria, the Austrian
Government, after agreement with the
commission, will be entitled definitively
to re-establish its authority over the
whole of the Klagenfurt area, or in the
second zone, as the case may be.
When the administration of the coun-
try, either by the Serb-Croat-Slovene
State or by Austria, as the case may
be, has been thus assured, the powers of
the commission will terminate.
Expenditure by the commission will
be borne by Austria and the Serb-Croat-
Slovene State in equal moieties.
Article 51. — The Serb-Croat-Slovene
State accepts and agrees to embody in
a treaty with the principal allied and
associated powers such provisions as
may be deemed necessary by these pow-
ers to protect the interests of inhabi-
tants of that State who differ from the
majority of the population in race,
language, or religion.
The Serb-Croat-Slovene State fur-
ther accepts and agrees to embody in
a treaty with the principal allied and
associated powers such provisions as
these powers may deem necessary to
protect freedom of transit and equita-
ble treatment of the commerce of other
nations.
Article 52. — The proportion and na-
ture of the financial obligations of the
former Austrian Empire which the
Serb-Croat-Slovene State will have to
assume on account of the territory
placed under its sovereignty will be de-
termined in accordance with Article 203
of Part IX., (Financial Clauses,) of
the present treaty. .»*•
Subsequent agreements will decide all
questions which are not decided by the
present treaty and which may arise in
consequence of the cession of the said
territory.
SECTION III.— CZECHOSLOVAK
STATE
Article 53. — Austria, in conformity
with the action already taken by the
allied and associated powers, recognizes
the complete independence of the
Czechoslovak State, which will include
372
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
the autonomous territory of the Ru-
thenians to the south of the Carpathi-
ans.
Article B4. — Austria renounces so
far as she is concerned in favor of the
Czechslovak State all rights and title
over the territories of the former Aus-
tro-Hungarian Monarchy situated out-
side the frontiers of Austria as laid
down in Article 27 of Part II., (Fron-
tiers of Austria,) and recognized in
accordance with the present treaty as
forming part of the Czechoslovak
State.
Article 55. — A commission composed
of seven members, five nominated by the
principal allied and associated powers,
one by the Czechoslovak State, and one
by Austria, will be appointed fifteen
days after the coming into force of the
present treaty to trace on the spot the
frontier line laid down in Article 27,
(6,) of Part II., (Frontiers of Aus-
tria,) of the present treaty.
The decisions of this commission will
be taken by a majority and shall be
binding on the parties concerned.
Article 56. — The Czechoslovak State
undertakes not to erect any military
works in that portion of its territory
which lies on the right bank of the
Danube to the south of Bratislava,
(Pressburg. )
Article 57. — The Czechoslovak State
accepts and agrees to embody in a
treaty with the principal allied and as-
sociated powers such provisions as may
be deemed necessary by these powers
to protect the interests of inhabitants
of that State who differ from the ma-
jority of the population in race, lan-
guage, or religion.
The Czechoslovak State further ac-
cepts and agrees to embody in a treaty
with the principal allied and associated
powers such provisions as these powers
may deem necessary to protect free-
dom of transit and equitable treatment
for the commerce of other nations.
Article 58. — The proportion and na-
ture of the financial obligations of the
former Austrian Empire which the
Czechoslovak State will have to assume
on account of the territory placed
under its sovereignty will be determined
in accordance with Article 203 of Part
IX., (Financial Clauses,) of the pres-
ent treaty.
Subsequent agreements will decide all
questions which are not decided by the
present treaty and which may arise
in consequence of the cession of the said
territory.
SECTION IV.— RUMANIA
Article 59. — Austria renounces, so
far as she is concerned, in favor of Ru-
mania all rights and title over such
portion of the former Duchy of Buko-
vina as lies within the frontiers of
Rumania which may ultimately be fixed
by the principal allied and associated
powers.
Article 60. — Rumania accepts and
agrees to embody in a treaty with the
principal allied and associated powers
such provisions as may be deemed neces-
sary by these powers to protect the
interests of inhabitants of that State
who differ from the majority of the
population in race, language, or re-
ligion.
Rumania further accepts and agrees
to embody in a treaty with the prin-
cipal allied and associated powers such
provisions as these powers may deem
necessary to protect freedom of transit
and equitable treatment for the com-
merce of other nations.
Article 61. — The proportion and na-
ture of the financial obligations of the
former Austrian Empire which Ru-
mania will have to assume on account
of the territory placed under her sov-
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
373
ereignty will be determined in accord-
ance with Article 203 of Part IX., (Fi-
nancial Clauses,) of the present treaty.
Subsequent agreements will decide all
questions which are not decided by the
present treaty and which may arise in
consequence of the cession of the said
territory.
SECTION V.— PROTECTION OF
MINORITIES
Article 62. — Austria undertakes that
the stipulations contained in this sec-
tion shall be recognized as fundamental
laws, and that no law, regulation, or
official action shall conflict or inter-
fere with these stipulations, nor shall
any law, regulation, or official action
prevail over them.
Article 63. — Austria undertakes to
assure full and complete protection of
life and liberty to all inhabitants of
Austria, without distinction of birth,
nationalty, language, race, or religion.
All inhabitants of Austria shall be
entitled to the free exercise, whether
public or private, of any creed, religion,
or belief, whose practices are not incon-
sistent with public order or public
morals.
Article 64. — Austria admits and de-
clares to be Austrian nationals ipso
facto and without the requirement of
any formality all persons possessing at
the date of the coming into force of the
present treaty rights of citizenship,
(pertinenza,) within Austrian terri-
tory who are not nationals of any other
State.
Article 65. — All persons born in Aus-
trian territory who are not born na-
tionals of another State shall ipso facto
become Austrian nationals.
Article 66. — All Austrian nationals
shall be equal before the law and shall
enjoy the same civil and political rights
without distinction as to race, lan-
guage, or religion.
Differences of religion, creed, or con-
fession shall not prejudice any Aus-
trian national in matters relating to
the enjoyment of civil or political
rights, as for instance admission to
public employments, functions, and
honors, or the exercise of professions
and industries.
No restriction shall be imposed on
the free use by any Austrian national
of any language in private intercourse,
in commerce, in religion, in the press,
or in publications of any kind, or at
public meetings.
Notwithstanding any establishment
by the Austrian Government of an offi-
cial language, adequate facilities shall
be given to Austrian nationals of non-
German speech for the use of their lan-
guage, either orally or in writing, be-
fore the courts.
Article 67. — Austrian nationals who
belong to racial, religious, or linguistic
minorities shall enjoy the same treat-
ment and security in law and in fact as
the other Austrian nationals. In par-
ticular, they shall have an equal right
to establish, manage, and control at
their own expense charitable, religious,
and social institutions, schools, and
other educational establishments, with
the right to use their own language
and to exercise their religion freely
therein.
Article 68. — Austria will provide in
the public educational system in towns
and districts in which a considerable
proportion of Austrian nationals of
other than German speech are resi-
dents adequate facilities for insuring
that in the primary schools the instruc-
tion shall be given to the children of
such Austrian nationals through the
medium of their own language. This
provision shall not prevent the Austrian
374
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
Government from making the teaching
of the German language obligatory in
the said schools.
In towns and districts where there is
a considerable proportion of Austrian
nationals belonging to racial, religious,
or linguistic minorities, these minorities
shall be assured an equitable share in
the enjoyment and application of the
sums which may be provided out of
public funds under the State, municipal,
or other budgets for education, reli-
gious, or charitable purposes.
Article 69. — Austria agrees that the
stipulations in the foregoing articles
of this section, so far as they affect
persons belonging to racial, religious,
or linguistic minorities, constitute obli-
gations of international concern and
shall be placed under the guarantee of
the League of Nations. They shall not
be modified without the assent of a ma-
jority of the Council of the League of
Nations. The allied and associated
powers represented on the council sev-
erally agree not to withhold their as-
sent from any modification in these ar-
ticles which is in due form assented to
by a majority of the Council of the
League of Nations.
! Austria agrees that any member of
the Council of the League of Nations
shall have the right to bring to the
attention of the council any infraction,
or any danger of infraction, of any of
these obligations, and that the council
may thereupon take such action and
give such direction as it may deem
proper and effective in the circum-
stances.
Austria further agrees that any dif-
ference of opinion as to questions of
law or fact arising out of these articles
between the Austrian Government and
any one of the principal allied and as-
sociated powers or any other power,
a member of the Council of the League
of Nations, shall be held to be a dis-
pute of an international character un-
der Article 14 of the covenant of the
League of Nations. The Austrian Gov-
ernment hereby consents that any such
dispute shall, if the other party thereto
demands, be referred to the Permanent
Court of International Justice. The
decision of the permanent court shall
be final and shall have the same force
and effect as an award under Article
13 of the covenant.
SECTION VI.— CAUSES RELAT-
ING TO NATIONALITY
Article 70. — Every person possess-
ing rights of citizenship (pertinenza)
in territory which formed part of the
territories of the former Austro-Hun-
garian monarch}' shall obtain ipso facto
to the exclusion of Austrian nationality
the nationality of the State exercising
sovereignty over such territory.
Article 71. — Notwithstanding the
provisions of Article 70, Italian na-
tionality shall not, in the case of terri-
tory transferred to Italy, be acquired
ipso facto;
(1) by persons possessing rights of
citizenship in such territory who were
not born there :
(2) by persons who acquired their
rights of citizenship in such territory
after May 24, 1915, or who acquired
them only by reason of their official
position.
Article 72. — The persons referred to
in Article 71, as well as those who (a)
formerly possessed rights of citizenship
in the territories transferred to Italy,
or whose father, or mother if the father
is unknown, possessed rights of citizen-
ship in such territories, or (b) have
served in the Italian Army during the
present war, and their descendants, may
claim Italian nationality subject to the
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
375
conditions prescribed in Article 78 for
the right of option.
Article 73. — The claim to Italian na-
tionality by the persons referred to
in Article 72 may in individual cases be
refused by the competent Italian au-
thority.
Article 74. — Where the claim to Ital-
ian nationality under Article 72 is not
made, or is refused, the persons con-
cerned will obtain ipso facto the nation-
ality of the State exercising sovereignty
over the territory in which they pos-
sessed rights of citizenship before ac-
quiring such rights in the territory
transferred to Italy.
Article 75. — Juridical persons estab-
lished in the territories transferred to
Italy shall be considered Italian if they
are recognized as such either by the
Italian administrative authorities or by
an Italian judicial decision.
Article 76. — Notwithstanding the
provisions of Article 70, persons who
acquired rights of citizenship after Jan.
1, 1910, in territory transferred under
the present treaty to the Serb-Croat-
Slovene State, or to the Czechoslovak
State, will not acquire Serb-Croat-Slo-
vene or Czechoslovak nationality with-
out a permit from the Serb-Croat-Slo-
vene State or the Czechoslovak State
respectively.
Article 77. — If the permit referred to
in Article 76 is not applied for, or is
refused, the persons concerned will ob-
tain ipso facto the nationality of the
State exercising sovereignty over the
territory in which they previously pos-
sessed rights of citizenship.
Article 78. — Persons over 18 years
of age losing their Austrian nationality
and obtaining ipso facto a new nation-
ality under Article 70 shall be entitled
within a period of one year from the
coming into force of the present treaty
to opt for the nationality of the State
in which they possessed rights of citi-
zenship before acquiring such rights in
the territory transferred.
Option by a husband will cover his
wife and option by parents will cover
their children under 18 years of age.
Persons who have exercised the above
right to opt must within the succeeding
twelve months transfer their place of
residence to the State for which they
have opted.
They will be entitled to retain their
immovable property in the territory of
the other State where they had their
place of residence before exercising their
right to opt.
They may carry with them their mov-
able property of every description. No
export or import duties may be imposed
upon them in connection with the re-
moval of such property.
Article 79. — Persons entitled to vote
in plebiscites provided for in the present
treaty shall within a period of six
months after the definitive attribution
of the area in which the plebiscite has
taken place be entitled to opt for the
nationality of the State to which the
area is not assigned.
The provisions of Article 78 relating
to the right of option shall apply equal-
ly to the exercise of the right under
this article.
Article 80. — Persons possessing
rights of citizenship in territory form-
ing part of the former Austro-Hunga-
rian monarchy, and differing in race
and language from the majority of the
population of such territory, shall with-
in six months of the coming into force
of the present treaty severally be en-
titled to opt for Austria, Italy, Poland,
Rumania, the Serb-Croat-Slovene State,
or the Czechoslovak State, if the major-
ity of the population of the State se-
lected is of the same race and language
as the person exercising the right to
376
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
opt. The provisions of Article 78 as
to the exercise of the right of option
shall apply to the right of option given
by this article.
Article 81. — The high contracting
parties undertake to put no hindrance
in the way of the exercise of the right
which the persons concerned have under
the present treaty, or under treaties
concluded by the allied and associated
powers with Germany, Hungary or Rus-
sia, or between any of the allied and
associated powers themselves, to choose
any other nationality which may be
open to them.
Article 82. — For the purposes of the
provisions of this section, the status of
a married woman will be governed by
that of her husband, and the status of
children under 18 years of age by that
of their parents-.
SECTION VII.— CLAUSES RELAT-
ING TO CERTAIN NATIONS
[Section VII. binds Austria to accept
all allied terms relating to Belgium,
Luxemburg, Schleswig, Turkey, Bul-
garia, and the Russian States.]
SECTION VIII.— GENERAL PRO-
VISIONS
Article 88. — The independence of
Austria is inalienable otherwise than
with the consent of the Council of the
League of Nations. Consequently Aus-
tria undertakes in the absence of the
consent of the said Council to abstain
from any act which might directly or
indirectly or by any means whatever
compromise her independence, particu-
larly, and until her admission to mem-
bership of the League of Nations, by
participation in the affairs of another
power.
Article 89. — Austria hereby recog-
nizes and accepts the frontiers of Bul-
garia, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Ru-
mania, the Serb-Croat-Slovene State,
and the Czechoslovak State as these
frontiers may be determined by the prin-
cipal allied and associated powers.
Article 90. — Austria undertakes to
recognize the full force of the treaties
of peace and additional conventions
which have been or may be concluded
by the allied and associated powers
with the powers who fought on the side
of the former Austro-Hungarian mon-
archy, and to recognize whatever dis-
positions have been or may be made
concerning the territories of the former
German Empire, of Hungary, of the
Kingdom of Bulgaria and of the Otto-
man Empire, and to recognize the new
States within their frontiers as there
laid down.
Article 91. — Austria renounces so far
as she is concerned in favor of the
principal allied and associated powers
all rights and title over the territories
which previously belonged to the for-
mer Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and
which, being situated outside the new
frontiers of Austria as described in
Article 27 of Part II., (Frontiers of
Austria,) have not at present been as-
signed to any State.
Austria undertakes to accept the set-
tlement made by the principal allied
and associated powers in regard to
these territories, particularly in so far
as concerns the nationality of the in-
habitants.
Article 92. — No inhabitant of the
territories of the former Austro-Hun-
garian Monarchy shall be disturbed or
molested on account either of his polit-
ical attitude between July 28, 1914, and
the definite settlement of the sovereign-
ty over these territories, or of the de-
termination of his nationality effected
by the present treaty.
Article 93. — Austria will hand over
without delay to the allied and associ-
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
377
ated Governments concerned archives,
registers, plans, title-deeds, and docu-
ments of every kind belonging to the
civil, military, financial, judicial or
other forms of administration in the
ceded territories. If any one of these
documents, archives, registers, title-
deeds or plans is missing, it shall be re-
stored by Austria upon the demand
of the allied or associated Government
concerned.
In case the archives, registers, plans,
title-deeds or documents referred to in
the preceding paragraph, exclusive of
those of a military character, concern
equally the administrations in Austria,
and cannot therefore be handed over
without inconvenience to such adminis-
trations, Austria undertakes, subject to
reciprocity, to give access thereto to
the allied and associated Governments
concerned.
Article 94. — Separate conventions
between Austria and each of the States
to which territory of the former Aus-
trian Empire is transferred, and each of
the States arising from the dismember-
ment of the former Austro-Hungarian
Monarchy, will provide for the interests
of the inhabitants, especially in connec-
tion with their civil rights, their com-
merce, and the exercise of their profes-
sions.
PART IV.— AUSTRIAN INTER-
ESTS OUTSIDE EUROPE
Article 95. — In territory outside her
frontiers as fixed by the present treaty
Austria renounces so far as she is con-
cerned all rights, titles and privileges
whatever in or over territory outside
Europe which belonged to the former
Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, or to its
allies, and all rights, titles and privileges
whatever their origin which it held as
against the allied and associated powers.
Austria undertakes immediately to
recognize and to conform to the meas-
ures which may be taken now or in the
future by the principal allied and asso-
ciated powers, in agreement where neces-
sary with third powers, in order to car-
ry the above stipulation into effect.
SECTION I.— MOROCCO
Article 96. — Austria renounces so
far as she is concerned all rights, titles
and privileges conferred on her by the
General Act of Algeciras of April 7,
1906, and by the Franco-German agree-
ments of Feb. 9, 1909, and Nov. 4,
1911. All treaties, agreements, ar-
rangements and contracts concluded by
the former Austro-Hungarian Mon-
archy with the Sherifian Empire are re-
garded as abrogated as from Aug. 12,
1914.
In no case can Austria avail herself
of these acts and she undertakes not to
intervene in any way in negotiations
relating to Morocco which may take
place between France and the other
powers.
Article 97. — Austria hereby accepts
all the consequences of the establish-
ment of the French protectorate in
Morocco, which had been recognized by
the Government of the former Austro-
Hungarian Monarchy, and she re-
nounces so far as she is concerned the
regime of the capitulations in Morocco.
This renunciation shall take effect as
from Aug. 12, 1914.
Article 98. — The Sherifian Govern-
ment shall have complete liberty of ac-
tion in regulating the status of Austrian
nationals in Morocco and the conditions
in which they can establish themselves.
Austrian protected persons, semsars,
and "associes agricoles" shall be con-
sidered to have ceased, as from Aug. 12,
1914, to enjoy the privileges attached
to their status and shall be subject to
the ordinary law.
378
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
Article 99. — All movable and immov-
able property in the Sherifian Empire
belonging to the former Austro-Hun-
garian Monarchy passes ipso facto to
the Maghzen without compensation.
For this purpose, the property and
possessions of the former Austro-Hun-
garian Monarchy shall be deemed to in-
clude all the property of the crown,
and the private property of members
of the former royal family of Austria-
Hungary.
All movable and immovable property
in the Sherifian Empire belonging to
Austrian nationals shall be dealt with
in accordance with Sections 3 and 4 of
Part X. (Economic Clauses) of the
present treaty.
Mining rights which may be recog-
nized as belonging to Austrian nation-
als by the Court of Arbitration set up
under the Moroccan Mining Regula-
tions shall be treated in the same way
as property in Morocco belonging to
Austrian nationals.
Article 100. — The Austrian Govern-
ment shall insure the transfer to the
person nominated by the French Gov-
ernment of the shares representing Aus-
tria's portion of the capital of the State
Bank of Morocco. This person will
repay to the persons entitled thereto
the value of these shares, which shall
be indicated by the State Bank.
This transfer will take place without
prejudice to the repayment of debts
which Austrian nationals may have con-
tracted toward the State Bank of Mo-
rocco.
Article 101. — Moroccan goods enter-
ing Austria shall enjoy the treatment
accorded to French goods.
SECTION II.— EGYPT
Article 102. — Austria declares that
she recognizes the protectorate pro-
claimed over Egypt by Great Britain
on Dec. 18, 1914, and that she re-
nounces so far as she is concerned the
regime of the capitulations in Egypt.
This renunciation shall take effect as
from Aug. 12, 1914.
Article 103. — All treaties, agree-
ments, arrangements and contracts con-
cluded by the Government of the for-
mer Austro-Hungarian Monarchy with
Egypt are regarded as abrogated as
from Aug. 12, 1914.
In no case can Austria avail herself
of these instruments, and she undertakes
not to intervene in any way in negotia-
tions relating to Egypt which may take
place between Great Britain and the
other powers.
Article 104. — Until an Egyptian law
of judicial organization establishing
courts with universal jurisdiction comes
into force, provision shall be made, by
means of decrees issued by his Highness
the Sultan, for the exercise of jurisdic-
tion over Austrian nationals and prop-
erty by the British Consular tribunals.
Article 105. — The Egyptian Govern-
ment shall have complete liberty of ac-
tion in regulating the status of Austrian
nationals and the conditions under which
they may establish themselves in Egypt.
Article 106. — Austria consents so far
as she is concerned to the abrogation of
the decree issued by his Highness the
Khedive on Nov. 28, 1904, relating to
the Commission of the Egyptian Public
Debt, or to such changes as the Egyp-
tian Government may think it desirable
to make therein.
Article 107. — Austria consents, in so
far as she is concerned, to the transfer
to his Britannic Majesty's Government
of the powers conferred on his Imperial
Majesty the Sultan by the convention
signed at Constantinople on Oct. 29,
1888, relating to the free navigation of
the Suez Canal.
She renounces all participation in the
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
379
Sanitary, Maritime, and Quarantine
Board of Egypt, and consents, in so far
as she is concerned, to the transfer to
the Egyptian authorities of the powers
of that board.
Article 108. — All property and pos-
sessions in Egypt of the former Austro-
Hungarian monarchy pass to the
Egyptian Government without payment.
For this purpose, the property and
possessions of the former Austro-Hun-
garian monarchy shall be deemed to in-
clude all the property of the crown,
and the private property of members
of the former royal family of Austria-
Hungary.
All movable and immovable property
in Egypt belonging to Austrian nation-
als shall be dealt with in accordance
with Sections III. and IV. of Part X.,
(Economic Clauses,) of the present
treaty.
Article 109. — Egyptian goods enter-
ing Austria shall enjoy the treatment
accorded to British goods.
SECTION III.— SIAM
Article 110. — Austria recognizes, so
far as she is concerned, that all treaties,
conventions, and agreements between the
former Austro-Hungarian monarchy
and Siam, and all rights, titles, and
privileges derived therefrom, including
all rights of extraterritorial jurisdic-
tion, terminated as from July 22, 1917.
Article 111. — Austria, so far as she
is concerned, cedes to Siam all her rights
over the goods and property in Siam
which belonged to the former Austro-
Hungarian monarchy, with the excep-
tion of premises used as diplomatic or
consular residences or offices, as well as
the effects and furniture which they con-
tain. These goods and property pass
ipso facto and without compensation
to the Siamese Government.
The goods, property, and private
rights of Austrian nationals in Siam
shall be dealt with in accordance with
the provisions of Part X., (Economic
Clauses,) of the present treaty.
Article 112. — Austria waives all
claims against the Siamese Government
on behalf of herself or her nationals
arising out of the liquidation of Aus-
trian property or the internment of
Austrian nationals in Siam. This pro-
vision shall not affect the rights of the
parties interested in the proceeds of any
such liquidation, which shall be gov-
erned by the provisions of Part X.,
(Economic Clauses,) of the present
treaty.
SECTION IV.— CHINA
Article 113. — Austria renounces, so
far as she is concerned, in favor of
China all benefits and privileges result-
ing from the provisions of the final
protocol signed at Peking on Sept. 7,
1901, and from all annexes, notes, and
documents supplementary thereto. She
likewise renounces in favor of China
any claim to indemnities accruing there-
under subsequent to Aug. 14, 1917.
Article 114. — From the coming into
force of the present treaty the high
contracting parties shall apply, in so
far as concerns them respectively :
( 1 ) The arrangement of Aug. 29,
1902, regarding the new Chinese cus-
toms tariff.
(2) The arrangement of Sept. 27,
1905, regarding Whang-Poo, and the
provisional supplementary arrange-
ment of April 4, 1912.
China, however, will not be bound to
grant to Austria the advantages or
privileges which she allowed to the for-
mer Austro-Hungarian monarchy un-
der these arrangements.
Article 115. — Austria, so far as she
is concerned, cedes to China all her
rights over the buildings, wharves and
380
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
pontoons, barracks, forts, arms and
munitions of war, vessels of all kinds,
wireless telegraphy installations and
other public property which belonged
to the former Austro-Hungarian mon-
archy, and which are situated or may
be in the Austro-Hungarian concession
at Tientsin or elsewhere in Chinese ter-
ritory.
It is understood, however, that prem-
ises used as diplomatic or consular resi-
dences or offices, as well as the effects
and furniture contained therein, are not
included in the above cession, and, fur-
thermore, that no steps shall be taken
by the Chinese Government to dispose
of the public and private property be-
longing to the former Austro-Hunga-
rian monarchy situated within the so-
called Legation Quarter at Peking
without the consent of the diplomatic
representatives of the powers which, on
the coming into force of the present
treaty, remain parties to the final pro-
tocol of Sept. 7, 1901.
Article 116. — Austria agrees, so far
as she is concerned, to the abrogation
of the leases from the Chinese Govern-
ment under which the Austro-Hungarian
concession at Tientsin is now held.
China, restored to the full exercise of
her sovereign rights in the above area,
declares her intention of opening it to
international residence and trade. She
further declares that the abrogation of
the leases under which the said conces-
sion is now held shall not affect the
property rights of nationals of allied
and associated powers who are holders
of lots in this concession.
Article 117. — Austria waives all
claims against the Chinese Government
or against any allied or associated Gov-
ernment arising out of the internment
of Austrian nationals in China and
their repatriation. She equally re-
nounces, so far as she is concerned, all
claims arising out of the capture and
condemnation of Austro-Hungarian
ships in China, or the liquidation, se-
questration or control of Austrian
properties, rights and interests in that
country since Aug. 14, 1917. This
provision, however, shall not affect the
rights of the parties interested in the
proceeds of any such liquidation, which
shall be governed by the provisions of
Part X., (Economic Clauses,) of the
present treaty.
MILITARY AND NAVAL CLAUSES
The disarmament of Austria is re-
quired in as great detail as in the case
of Germany. The Austrian Army is
not to exceed 30,000 men. The number
of guns and machine guns is strictly
limited, mobilization is forbidden and
compulsory military service is abolished.
Surplus armament and munitions must
be turned over to the Allies. The manu-
facture of arms is restricted to one fac-
tory controlled by the State, and the
use of gases for warfare is prohibited.
The Austrian Navy henceforth will
consist of three patrol boats on the
Danube. All warships and submarines
are declared finally surrendered to the
Allies and the treaty names thirty-two
cruisers and fleet auxiliaries, including
the President Wilson, (ex-Kaiser Franz
Joseph,) which are to be disarmed and
treated as merchant ships. All warships
begun must be broken up.
'Austria will not be allowed to main-
tain any military or naval air forces
nor any- dirigibles, and all such equip-
ment and material must be delivered to
the Allies.
The disarmament of Austria will be
carried out under the supervision of an
interallied commission, on which the
United States will be represented.
The repatriation of Austrian prison-
ers of war and interned civilians is fully
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
381
provided for under a joint commission.
Austrians accused of violating the
laws and customs of war are to be de-
livered to the Allies for trial by military
tribunals, together with all documentary
evidence.
REPARATIONS
Details of reparations to be made by
Austria are given in Part VII., notably
in the following articles:
Article 177. — The allied and associ-
ated Governments affirm, and Austria
accepts the responsibility of Austria
and her allies for causing the loss and
damage to which the allied and associ-
ated Governments and their nationals
have been subjected as a consequence of
the war imposed upon them by the ag-
gression of Austria-Hungary and her
allies.
Article 178. — The allied and associ-
ated Governments recognize that the re-
sources of Austria are not adequate,
after taking into account the permanent
diminutions of such resources which will
result from other provisions of the pres-
ent treaty, to make complete reparation
for such loss and damage.
The allied and associated Govern-
ments, however, require and Austria
undertakes that she will make compensa-
tion as hereinafter determined for dam-
age on to the civilian population of
the allied and associated powers and
to their property during the period of
the belligerency of each as an allied and
associated power against Austria by
the said aggression by land, by sea, and
from the air, and in general damage as
defined in Annex 1 hereto.
Article 179. — The amount of such
damage for which compensation is to
be made by Austria shall be determined
by an interallied commission to be
called the Reparation Commission and
constituted in the form and with the
powers set forth hereunder and in an-
nexed Nos. II.-V. inclusive hereto. The
commission is the same as that provided
for under Article 233 of the treaty with
Germany, subject to any modifications
resulting from the present treaty. The
commission shall constitute a section to
consider the special questions raised by
the application of the present treaty.
This section shall have consultative
power only, except in cases in which the
commission shall delegate to it such
powers as may be deemed convenient.
The Reparation Commission shall
consider the claims and give to the
Austrian Government a just opportu-
nity to be heard.
The commission shall concurrently
draw up a schedule of payments pre-
scribing the time and manner for se-
curing and discharging by Austria with-
in thirty years dating from May 1,
1921, that part of the debt which shall
have been assigned to her, after the
commission has decided whether Ger-
many is in a position to pay the balance
of* the total amount of claims presented
by Germany and her allies and ap-
proved by the commission. If, however,
within the period mentioned Austria
fails to discharge her obligations, any
balance remaining unpaid may within
the discretion of the commission be
postponed for settlement in subsequent
years, or may be handled otherwise in
such manner as the allied and associ-
ated governments acting in accordance
with the procedure laid down in this
part of the present treaty shall deter-
mine.
MODIFICATION POSSIBLE
Article 180. — The Reparation Com-
mission shall after May 1, 1921, from
time to time consider the resources and
capacity of Austria and, after giving
her representatives a just opportunity
382
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
to be heard, shall have discretion to ex-
tend the date and to modify the form
of payments, such as are to be provided
for in accordance with Article 179, but
not to cancel any part except with the
specific authority of the several Gov-
ernments represented on the commis-
sion.
Article 181. — Austria shall pay in
the course of the year 1919, 1920, and
the first four months of 1921, in such in-
stallments and in such manner (whether
in gold, commodities, ships, securities
or otherwise) as the Reparation Com-
mission may lay down, a reasonable sum
which shall be determined by the com-
mission.
Out of this sum the expenses of the
armies of occupation subsequent to the
armistice of Nov. 3, 1918, shall first
be met, and such supplies of food and
raw materials as may be judged by the
Governments of the principal allied and
associated powers essential to enable
Austria to meet her obligations for rep-
aration may also, with the approval of
said Government, be paid for out of the
above sum. The balance shall be reck-
oned toward the liquidation of the
amount due for reparation.
ANNEXES
Annex No. 1 to the reparation arti-
cles schedules in detail the damages
which may be claimed of Austria for
injuries to persons or property result-
ing from acts of war, including naval
and military pensions paid by the Al-
lies, and also including repayment of
levies or fines on civilian populations.
Annex No. 2 sets forth the organiza-
tion of the Reparation Commission, its
procedure in assessing damage pay-
ments by Austria and the financial ar-
rangements Austria is required to make
to secure to the Allies the discharge of
its obligations.
Annex No. 3 provides for the replace-
ment by Austria "ton for ton (gross
tonnage) and class for class of all mer-
chant ships and fishing boats lost or
damaged owing to the war," and the
Austrian Government cedes to the Allies
the property in all merchant ships and
fishing boats "belonging to nationals of
the former Austrian Empire."
Under Annex No. 4 Austria under-
takes to devote her economic resources
directly to the physical restoration of
invaded allied territory.
In partial reparation Austria is re-
quired under Annex No. 5 to make an-
nual deliveries of timber and manufac-
tures of iron and magnesite.
Annex No. 6 provides for the renun-
ciation to Italy of all Austrian cables
in Italian ports and of other specified
cables to the allied powers.
By special provisions laid down by
Article 191-196 (including annex) Aus-
tria is required to surrender all loot
from invaded allied territory, particu-
larly objects of art and historical rec-
ords taken from Italy by the Haps-
burgs, not only in this but in previous
wars. Some of the loot from Italy which
the Austrians are required to return
are the Crown jewels of Tuscany and
the private jewels of the Princess Elec-
tress of Medici and other Medici heir-
looms removed to Vienna in the eight-
eenth century ; the furniture and silver
plate belonging to the House of Medici
and the "jewel of Aspasius" in pay-
ment of debt owed by the House of Aus-
tria to the Crown of Tuscany, and also
the "ancient instruments of astronomy
and physics belonging to the Academy
of Cimento, removed by the House of
Lorraine and sent as a present to the
cousins of the imperial house of
Vienna."
This annex also specifies the return
to Italy of "The Virgin" by Andrea
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
383
del Sarto, and four drawings by Cor-
reggio belonging to the Pinacothek of
Modena and removed in 1859 by Duke
Francis V. ; numerous manuscripts and
rare books and bronzes stolen from
Modena and "objects made in Palermo
in the twelfth century for the Norman
Kings and employed in the coronation
of the Emperors."
Austria also is required to restore to
Belgium various works of art removed
to Vienna in the eighteenth century.
To Poland, Austria is required to re-
store the gold cup of King Ladislas IV.,
No. 1,114 of the Court Museum at
Vienna.
Czechoslovakia will get back many
historical documents removed by Maria
Theresa and works of art taken from
the Bohemian royal castles by various
Austrian Emperors in the eighteenth
century.
The remainder of the treaty is taken
up by financial, economic, legal, river
and maritime, transport, labor and gen-
eral miscellaneous clauses subsidiary to
the main provisions of the treaty sum-
marized or quoted above. These sec-
tions are essentially similar to those in
the German peace treaty.
THE BULGARIAN TREATY
On November 27, 1919, the treaty
of peace between the Entente Allies
and Bulgaria was signed in the May-
or's office at Neuilly, near Paris. Al-
though the United States had not de-
clared war on Bulgaria, the treaty was
signed by Frank L. Polk, Henry
White, and General Bliss for that coun-
try. The chief Bulgarian signature
was that of M. Stambuliwsky, the
Prime Minister of Bulgaria. A sum-
mary of the terms handed Bulgaria in
the middle of September follows.
Bulgaria agrees to —
Reduce her army to 20,000 men and
gendarmerie to 10,000.
Surrender her warships and subma-
rines to the Allies.
Recognize the independence of Jugo-
slavia and return property taken from
that state during the war.
Cede Western Thrace to the Allies
for future disposition.
Modify her frontier at four places in
favor of Serbia and compensate Serbia
for stolen coal.
Pay $450,000,000 in gold as repara-
tion for damages.
Renounce the treaties of Brest-
Litovsk and Bucharest.
The treaty which was handed to
the Bulgarian delegation in Paris fol-
lowed the same general plan as the Aus-
trian treaty. Many clauses are iden-
tical with the Austrian pact, except for
the substitution of names, such as the
League of Nations, labor, aerial navi-
gation, penalties, prisoners of war and
graves.
Minority Races Protected. The Bul-
garians are required to recognize the
independence of the Serb, Croats and
Slovene state, and provisions are made
to change the nationality of the inhabit-
ants of the territory formerly Bulga-
rian and transferred to other states.
Provisions are made for protection of
the minorities of race, language, na-
tionality and religion. Within three
months the Bulgarians are required to
demobilize the army and substitute vol-
unteer enlistments.
The Bulgarian army is reduced to
20,000 men, exclusively for the main-
tenance of order and frontier control.
The manufacture of war material is con-
fined to one establishment, the other
establishments to be closed or converted.
Bulgaria agrees to return to Greece,
Roumania and the Serb, Croat and Slo-
vene state the records, archives and ar-
384
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
tides of historical and artistic value
which were taken from these countries
during the war, and livestock shall be
returned within six months. As special
compensation for the destruction of the
Serbian coal mines Bulgaria shall for
five years deliver 50,000 tons of coal
annually to the Serb, Croat and Slo-
vene state.
The financial clauses are similar to
those of the Austrian treaty and pro-
vide priority over the charges against
assets of Bulgaria for reparation shall
be given to the cost of all armies of
occupation of the Allies, and to serv-
ices of the external pre-war Ottoman
public debt. Bulgaria renounces the
benefits of the Bucharest and Brest-
Litovsk treaties and agrees to sur-
render the moneys and securities re-
ceived according to those treaties.
Rumanian Frontier Unchanged. The
frontier with Rumania remains the same
as before the war, although it is under-
stood the question of inducing Ru-
mania to cede to Bulgaria that portion
of Dobrudja which is wholly Bulga-
rian in character will be taken up later.
In the Timok Valley, at the north,
Bulgaria cedes to Serbia a narrow ter-
ritory sufficient to provide for proper
policing of the important Serbian rail-
way running through that valley. In
the vicinity of Dragoman Pass Bul-
garia cedes a small area, sufficient to
protect Nish from Bulgarian attack. A
little further south, in the vicinity of
Varanye, where the Bulgarians in the
war occupied the only railway that
makes possible the defence of Northern
Serbia, Bulgaria is required to cede a
small area of mountainous territory
sufficient to protect the Serbian fron-
tier from similar [word missing] in the
future. At the south of this frontier,
where a projecting lobe of the Bulgarian
territory came within six miles of the
same vital railway, Bulgaria cedes the
western projecting lobe to Serbia, so
her frontiers are removed ten or twelve
miles eastward.
Changes in South Important. The
most extensive territorial change is
to the south. The frontier with Greece
remains the same, except for slight rec-
tification to afford proper protection
to the Greek town Buk.
It is stipulated that, whatever solu-
tion is adopted with regard to West-
ern Thrace, an economic outlet to the
iEgean Sea will be guaranteed to Bul-
garia, the powers having the right to
return all or part of the territory to
Bulgaria, transfer part to Greece, in-
corporate the remainder with Eastern
Thrace in an international state, or to
make any other solution ultimately
agreed upon.
Greece agrees to embody in a treaty
with the Allies such provisions to pro-
tect the interest of the minorities of
race, language or religion, and make
provisions necessary to protect the
freedom of transit and equitable treat-
ment of the commerce of other na-
tions.
The number of Bulgarian gendarmes,
customs officials and other armed
guards shall not exceed 10,000 and
there must exist only one military
school. The importation or exportation
of arms, munitions and war materials
of all kinds is forbidden.
All existing Bulgarian warships, in-
cluding submarines, will be surrendered
to the Allies and warships or subma-
rines under construction will be broken
up. Construction or acquisition of any
submarines, even for commercial pur-
poses, will be forbidden. All naval
arms, munitions and other war material
belonging to Bulgaria at the date of the
armistice will be surrendered to the Al-
lies.
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
385
Bulgaria may have no military or
naval air forces, including dirigibles,
must demobilize all existing air forces
within two months and must surrender
to the principal Allied and associated
powers such aviation material.
Bulgaria recognizes that by joining
the war of aggression which Germany
and Austria-Hungary waged against
the Allied and associated powers, she
caused the latter losses and sacrifices
of all kinds for which she ought to
make adequate reparation. As it is rec-
ognized that Bulgaria's resources are
not sufficient to make adequate repara-
tion, the reparation agreed upon, two
and a quarter billion francs in gold
($450,000,000) is agreed to be paid
in thirty-seven years in half yearly
payments, beginning January 1, 1920.
Payments are to be permitted
through the inter-Allied commission to
the Reparation Commission created by
the German treaty. The inter-Allied
commission shall consider the resources
from time to time of Bulgaria, and shall
have power to recommend to the repara-
tion commission the cancellation or
postponement of any payments to be
made by Bulgaria. The livestock to be
surrendered, totalling 73,126 animals,
goes to Greece, Rumania and the Serb,
the Croat and Slovene states.
The inter-Allied commission shall be
established at Sofia as soon as possible
after the coming into force of the pres-
ent treaty. The commission shall con-
sist of three members nominated by
Great Britain, France and Italy, with
a right to withdraw upon six months'
notice. Bulgaria will be represented by
a commissioner, who may be invited to
take part in the sittings but will have
no vote. Cost and expenses of the com-
mission will be paid by Bulgaria and will
be a first charge on the revenues pay-
able to the commission.
The economic clauses are of the
same general import as those in the
Austrian treaty, except that for one
year customs duties on imports from
the Allied and associated states will
not be higher than the favorable duties
when the war began.
Danube is Internationalized. The
general provisions of the ports, water-
ways and railways clauses are similar
to those of the Austrian treaty, provid-
ing that Danube is to be international
from Ulm.
The European commission of the
Danube shall reassume the powers it
had before the war, but with only rep-
resentatives of Great Britain, France,
Italy and Rumania.
All disputes which may arise through
carrying out provisions of these clauses
shall be settled as provided by the
League of Nations and without preju-
dice to the obligations of the present
treaty. Bulgaria must agree to any
general convention in regard to trans-
portation concluded within five years by
the Allied and associated powers with
the approval of the League of Nations.
See above.
XIV. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Historical Background: Carleton Hayes,
History of Modern Europe (2 vols., New York,
1916); A. Bullard, Diplomacy of the Great
War (ib., 1916); Charles Seymour, Diplomatic
Background of the War (New Haven, 1916);
B. E. Schmitt, England and Germany, 1140-
1914 (Princeton, 1916). Histories of the war:
New York Times' Current History Magazine
(New York, monthly); Nelson's History of the
War (London, 1914 et seq.); F. H. Simonds,
The Great War (2 vols., ib., 1915) ; Allen and
Whitehead, The Great War (Philadelphia,
1915); London Times History of the War
(London, weekly) ; Hilaire Belloc, General
Sketch of the European War, First Phase (ib.,
1915); Gabriel Hanotaux (ed.), Histoire illus-
tree de la guerre de 1914 (Bordeaux, 1914-15);
Chronik des deutschen Krieges, vol. i (Munich,
1915) ; H. F. Helmolt, Der Weltkrieg in Bild-
ern und Dokumenten (Leipzig, 1915); F. A.
Mumby, The Great War: A History, vols, i-iii
(London, 1915-16). Documentary collections
and criticisms: Collected Diplomatic Docu-
ments Relating to the Outbreak of the Euro-
pean War (London, 1915); American Journal
of International Law, vol. ix (New York,
1915); E. C. Stowell, The Diplomacy of the
War of 1914, vol. i (Boston, 1915), containing
an exhaustive analysis. Causes of the war —
British point of view: E. P. Barker and others,
"Why we are at War: Great Britain's Case,"
in Oxford Pamphlets (London, 1914); J. M.
Beck, The Evidence in the Case (New York,
1915), a severe indictment of Germany; H. A.
L. Fisher, The War: Its Causes and Issues
(London, 1914); R. Muir, Britain's Case
against Germany (Manchester, 1914) ; J. H.
Rose, Origins of the War (London, 1914);
J. H. Muirhead, German Philosophy in Rela-
tion to the War (ib., 1915). German point of
view: H. F. Helmolt, Die geheime Vorge-
schichte des Weltkrieges (Leipzig, 1914); G. S.
Fullerton, Why the German Nation has Gone
to War (Munich, 1914); P. Rohrbach, Der
Krieg und die deutsche Politik (Dresden,
1914); J. W. Burgess, The European War: Its
Causes, Purposes, and Probable Resirfts (ib.,
1915). French point of view: G. Arnoult, "Les
origines historiques de la guerre," in Pages
d'histoire, 1914-15 (Paris, 1915); Henri Char-
riaut, Le droit contre la force (ib., 1915); E.
Denis, La guerre, causes immediates et loin-
taines (ib., 1915). Italian point of view: G. A.
Borgese, Italia e Germania (Milan, 1915); G.
Ferreno, La guerra Europea: studi e discorsi
(ib., 1915) ; id., Le origini della guerra presente
(ib., 1915). United States and the war: Theo-
dore Roosevelt, America and the World War
(New York, 1915); Norman Angell, America
and the New World State (ib., 1915) ; Hugo
Miinsterberg, The War and America (ib.,
1915); R. G. Usher, Pan-Americanism (ib.,
1915); Lange and Berry, Books on the Great
War (ib., 1915-16). Woodrow Wilson, Why
We Are at War (New York, 1917), a reprint
of the president's addresses to Congress, etc.;
G. W. Prothero, German Policy Before the
War (ib., 1917); K'ung Yuan Ku'suh, The
Judgment of the Orient (ib. 1917); Gustave
Le Bon, The Psychology of the Great War
(ib. 1917), translated by E. Andrews; Count
Ernst zu Reventlow, The Vampire of the Con-
tinent (ib. 1917), translated by George Chat-
terton-Hill; A. H. Granger, England's World
Empire (Chicago, 1917) ; Jacques Bainville,
Italy and the War (New York, 1917), trans-
lated by Bernard Miall; David J. Hill, The
Rebuilding of Europe (ib., 1917). Andre
Cheradame, The Pan-German Plot Unmasked
(New York, 1917); John W. Burgess, Amer-
ica's Relations to the Great War (Chicago,
1917); David Starr Jordan, Alsace-Lorraine
(Indianapolis, 1917) ; Ian Hay, Getting To-
gether (Garden City, 1917); Edmund von
Mach (editor), Official Diplomatic Documents
Relating to the Outbreak of the War (New
York, 1917). E. de Schelking, Recollections
of a Russian Diplomat (New York, 1918); H.
C. Woods, The Cradle of the War (New York,
1918); Dr. William Miihlon, The Vandal of
Europe (translated by William L. McPherson,
New York, 1918); M. Prince, The Creed of
Deutschtum and Other War Essays (New
York, 1918); H. J. Suter-Lerch, Germany Her
Own Judge (New York, 1918); J. Adam, The
Schemes of the Kaiser (New York, 1918); J. S.
Bassett, The Lost Fruits of Waterloo (New
York, 1918); Karl Lichnowsky, The Guilt of
Germany (New York, 1918) ; J. W. Gerard,
Face to Face with Kaiserism (New York,
1918); A. G. Keller, Through War to Peace
(New York, 1918); M. Smith, Militarism and
Statecraft (New York, 1918); T. Tittoni, Who
Is Responsible for the War? The Verdict of
History (Paris, 1918); O. A. Marti, Anglo-
German Rivalry as a Cause of the Great War
(Boston, 1918); O. Ferrara, Causes and Pre-
texts of the World War (New York, 1918);
386
BIBLIOGRAPHY
387
F. W. Halsey, Balfour, Viviani, and Joffre
(New York, 1918) ;. J. B. Scott, A Survey of
International Relations Between the United
States and Germany . . . (Oxford, 1918);
Princess C. Radziwill, Rasputin and the Rus-
sian Revolution (New York, 1918) ; G. Negu-
lesco, Rumania's Sacrifice (New York, 1918);
Ambassador Morgenthau's Story (New York,
1918).
Military Operations. General: F. H. Si-
monds, The Great War: The First Phase (2d
ed., New York, 1914); id., The Great War:
The Second Phase (ib., 1915) ; Edmund Dane,
Trench Warfare: The Effects of Spade-Power
in Modern Battles (London, 1915); Joachim
Delbriick, Der deutsche Krieg in Feldpost-
briefen, vols, i-vi (Munich, 1915); C. W. Bat-
tine, Military History of the War, vol. i (Lon-
don, 1916); Wilhelm Eisenberg, Zum Land-
sturm nach Belgien und Nord-Frankreich
(Brunswick, 1916). In the West: Sir John
French, "Dispatches: Official Records of the
Great Battles of Mons, the Marne, and the
Aisne," in the Graphic, special no. 1 (London,
1914); Pierre Dauzet, Guerre de 1914: de Liege
a la Marne, avec croquis et carte en couleur
des positions successives des armies (Paris,
1915); Le martyre de Reims: I'occupation alle-
mande, le bombardement (parts i-xxviii, ib.,
1915); La campagne de I'armee beige (31 juil-
let, 1914-ler Janvier, 1915) . . . d'apres les
documents ofpZciels (ib., 1915). In the East:
John Morse, An Englishman in the Russian
Ranks: Ten Months' Fighting in Poland (Lon-
don, 1915); G. R. Fortescue, Russia, the Bal-
kans, and the Dardanelles (ib., 1915); E. Ser-
man, Mit den Turken an der Front (Berlin,
1915) ; Hermann Blumenthal, Galizien, der
Wall im Osten: Kriegserzdhlungen (2d ed.,
Munich, 1915); also Oxford Pamphlets (Lon-
don, 1914 et seq.) ; Daily Telegraph War Books
(ib., 1914 et seq.); Daily Chronicle War Li-
brary (ib., 1914 et seq.). In the Far East:
Jefferson Jones, The Fall of Tsingtau, with a
Study of Japan's Ambitions in China (Boston,
1915); Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, A History of
the Great War (London and New York, 1917);
F. Coieman, With Cavalry in the Great War
(Philadelphia, 1917); Jules Destrees, Britain
in Arms (New York, 1917); S. Washburn, The
Russian Advance (New York, 1917); Freder-
ick Palmer, My Second Year of the War (New
York, 1917); E. Y. Priestman, With a B. P.
Scout in Gallipoli (New York, 1917) ; C.
Snouck, The Revolt in Arabia (ib., 1917);
Count C. de Souza, Germany in Defeat (ib.,
1917); H. W. Allen, The Unbroken Line (Lon-
don, 1917); H. E. Brittain, To Verdun from
the Somme (New York, 1917); R. M. McRae,
Offensive Fighting (Philadelphia, 1918); C. Le
Goffic, General Foch at the Marne (translated
by L. Menzies, New York, 1918) ; J. Rouvier,
Present Day Warfare (New York, 1918) ; R. M.
Johnston, General Foch (New York, 1918) ; S.
Lauzanne, Fighting France (New York, 1918) ;
Mario Alberti, etc., Italy's Great War and Her
National Aspirations (Milan, 1918); W. T.
Massey, The Desert Campaigns (New York,
1918); R. Radiguet, The Winking of a Modern
Army (ib., 1918); I. F. Marcosson, The Busi-
ness of War (ib., 1918); P. Azan, The War-
fare of To-day (ib., 1918); F. Dodd, Generals
of the British Army (ib., 1918); A. T. Clark,
To Bagdad with the British (ib., 1918) ; F. H.
Simonds, History of the World War (ib.,
1918); G. Fortescue, France Bears the Burden
(ib., 1918); The Story of the Anzacs (Mel-
bourne, 1918) ; G. Blanchon, The New Warfare
(New York, 1918).
Naval Operations. The best account of the
naval operations of the war is given in Gli
avvenimenti navali nel conflitto europeo by R.
Mazzinghi. This is a monthly supplement to
the Rivista Marittima (Rome, monthly). The
most complete accounts published in English
will be found in the War Notes of the United
States Naval Institute Proceedings (Annapo-
lis, bimonthly). See also: The Battles of the
South Seas, containing the Official Narratives
of the Three Engagements, published by the
Yachting Monthly (London, 1915) ; L. C. Corn-
ford, With the Grand Fleet (ib., 1915); Sir
Ian Hamilton, Despatches from the Darda-
nelles (ib., 1915) ; H. Kirshhoff, Der Seekrieg,
1914-15 (Leipzig, 1915) ; O. Guiheneuc, Dread-
naught ou submersible (Paris, 1916) ; T. D.
Parker, Naval Handbook as Bearing on Na-
tional Defense and the European War (San
Francisco, 1916); S. Lake, The Submarine in
War and Peace (New York, 1918) ; G. Fiennes,
Sea Power and Freedom (ib., 1918) ; W. M.
Dixon, The British Navy at War (ib., 1918)*f
J. Leyland, The Achievement of the British
Navy in the World War (ib., 1918) ; W. J. Ab-
bot, Aircraft and Submarines (ib., 1918).
Aerial Operations: "Aeroplanes et dirigea-
bles de nos ennemis et de nos allies," in Cor-
respondant, vol. cclxi (Paris, 1915); W. E.
Dommett, Aeroplanes and Airships, Including
Steering, Propelling, and Navigating Appara-
tus . . . (London, 1915); Graham-White and
Harper, "Zeppelin Airships: Their Record in
the War," in Fortnightly Review, n. s., vol.
xcviii (New York, 1915); id., Aircraft in the
Great War: A Record and Study (Chicago,
1915); R. P. Hcarne, Zeppelins and Super-
Zeppelins (New York, 1916); H. Bannerman-
Phillips, "Progress in Aeronautics," a monthly
summary in the United Service Magazine (Lon-
don, monthly) ; for abstracts of technical and
other articles, International Military Digest
(ib., monthly, 1915 et seq.); Francis A. Col-
lins, The Air Man (New York, 1917); C. D.
Winslow. With the French Flying Corps (New
388
A REFERENCE HISTORY OF THE WAR
York, 1917); J. R. McConnell, Flying for
France (ib., 1917) ; E. Middleton, Aircraft of
To-day and of the Future (ib., 1918).
Political, Social and Economic Aspects:
W. J. Ashley, "The War and its Economic As-
pects," in Oxford Pamphlets (London, 1914) ;
E. J. Schuster, Efect of War and Moratorium
on Commercial Transactions (2d rev. ed., ib.,
1914); E. L. M. Meignen, Les contrats et fa
guerre (Paris, 1914) ; G. D. H. Cole, Labour
in War Times (ib., 1915); containing a bib-
liography; F. W. Hirst, Political Economy of
War (ib., 1915); A. W. Kirkaldy (ed.), Credit
Industry, and the War (ib., 1915); J. E.
Barker, Modern Germany: Her Political and
Economic Problems, her Foreign and Domestic
Policy . . . (5th ed., ib., 1915) ; A. L. Bowley,
Effect of the War on the External Trade of
the United Kingdom (Cambridge, 1915) ; E. J.
Clapp, Economic Aspects of the War: Neutral
Rights, Belligerent Claims, and American Com-
merce in the Years 191J/-1915 (New Haven,
1915) ; Paul Beauregard, "La vie economique
en France pendant la guerre actuelle," in
Pages d'histoire, 1914-1915, part lxii (Paris,
1915); F. Blanc, he danger national: notre sit-
uation Sconomique genSrale, avant la guerre,
pendant la guerre (2d ed., Saint-Etienne,
1915); Mario Alberti, "Adriatico e Mediter-
raneo," in Problemi italiani, No. 5 (2d ed.,
Milan, 1915); Friedrich Lenz, 1st Deutschlands
Krieg ein Wirtschaftkrieg? Ueber die okono-
mischen Griindlagen des deutsch-britischen
Konflicts (ib., 1915); Eduard Kuhn, Die
Rechtsfolgen der Kriegswirren in der Schweiz
(Zurich, 1915); J. F. Fraser, Russia of To-Day
(New York, 1916) ; T. J. Hughes, State Social-
ism after the War (Philadelphia, 1917) ; J. C.
Brown, The Tarif and the Coming Trade
War . . . (New York, 1917); I. F. Marcosson,
The War after the War (New York, 1917);
Phillipe Millet, Comrades in Arms (New
York, 1917); Boyd Cable, Grapes of Wrath
(ib., 1917) ; H. L. Reed, Serbia, A Sketch (Bos-
ton, 1917); Bertrand Russell, Why Men Fight
(New York, 1917); J. B. Pratt, Democracy
and Peace (Boston, 1917); Emile Boutroux,
Philosophy and War (New York, 1917), trans-
lated by F. Rothwell; Roland Hugins, The
Possible Peace (ib., 1917) ; E. A. Victor, editor,
Canada's Future, etc., (ib., 1917) ; H. G. Wells,
Italy, France, and Great Britain at War (ib.,
1917); Donald Hankey, A Student in Arms
(ib., 1917) ; A. N. Hyamson, Palestine (ib.,
1917) ; S. Grumbach, Germany's Annexationist
Aims (trans, by J. E. Barker, New York,
1918) ; G. D. Herron, Woodrow Wilson and
the World Peace (ib., 1918); G. Stone (ed-
itor), Women War Workers (ib., 1918); H.
Fraser, Women and War Work (ib., 1918) ; D.
Blumenthal, Alsace-Lorraine (ib., 1918); T.
Marburg, League of Nations (ib., 1918) ; R.
Goldsmith, A League to Enforce Peace (ib.,
1918) ; E. H. Griggs, The Soul of Democracy
(ib., 1918); A. Petrunkevitch, and others, The
Russian Revolution (ib., 1918) ; I. C. Clarke,
American Women and the World War (ib.,
1918); A. G. Keller, Through War to Peace
(ib., 1918) ; H. L. Gray, War-Time Control of
Industry (ib., 1918); A. Henderson, The Aims
of Labor (ib., 1918); C. W. Ackerman, Mex-
ico's Dilemma (ib., 1918) ; M. Jastrow, Jr.,
The War and the Coming Peace (Philadelphia,
1918) ; J. Spargo, Americanism and Social
Democracy (New York, 1918); Norman An-
gell, The Political Conditions of Allied Suc-
cess (ib., 1918); W. H. P. Faunce, Religion
and War (ib., 1918); W. S. Howe, War and
Progress (Boston, 1918); S. Herzog, The Fu-
ture of German Industrial Exports (New
York, 1918) ; G. F. Nicolai, The Biology of
War (ib., 1918).
Finance: W. R. Lawson, British War Fi-
nance, 1914-15 (ib., 1915); W. W. Wall, The
War and our Financial Fabric (ib., 1915);
Daniel Bellet, Comment payer les frais de
guerre: la fortune de I'Allemagne et celle des
allies (2d ed., Paris, 1915) ; Gaston Jeze and
others, ProbUmes de politiques et finances de
guerre (ib., 1915) ; Ugo Ancona, "L'aspetto
finanziario della guerra," in Quaderin delta
guerra, No. 21 (Milan, 1915) ; Meisel und
Spiethoff, Oesterreichs finanzen und der Krieg
(2d ed., Munich, 1915); K. Helfferich, How
Germany Raises Billions (Eng. trans., 2d ed.,
New York, 1915).
INDEX
Aerial Operations, 207
Africa, Campaigns in, 174
Agadir, 12
Aisne Offensive, 1917, 75
Aisne River, 2
Albert I., King of the Belgians, 26
Albrecht, Duke of Wurttemberg, 45
Algeciras Conference, 10
Allied Unity, 80
Alsace-Lorraine, 2; 5; 282
Amance, 49
American Ambulance, The, 300
American Expeditionary Force, 80
American Foreign Trade, 315
American War Finance, 319
Amiens, 2
Anglo-French-American Treaty, 362
Anti-Submarine Operations, 191
Antwerp, 45
Approach to Paris, 48
Archangel, 3
Argonne-Meuse Offensive, 100
Armed Merchantmen, Question of, 257
Armed Neutrality, (United States), 238
Armenia, Atrocities in, 222
Armistices
With Austria-Hungary, 153
With Bulgaria, 159
With Germany, 106
With Turkey, 173
Arras, Battle of, 74
Art and Architecture, Destruction of, 225
Artillery, 43
Artois, Battle of, 60
Asia Minor, 4
Asquith, Henry Herbert, 32
Atrocities, Alleged, 219
Australia, Finance, 328
Austria-Hungary, 1 et seq.
Austria-Hungary, Complete Collapse of, 153
Austrian Demands on Serbia, 19
Austrian Failure in Italy, 151
Austrian Peace Move, 293
Austro-Hungarian Peace Treaty, 367
Bagdad, 4
Bainsizza, 4
Balkan Wars, 12
Baltic Campaign, 119
Baltic, Naval Operations in, 192
Battleships and Battle Cruisers, 205
Beatty, Sir David, 183
Belgian Neutrality, Question of, 24
Belgium, 1 et seq.
Belgium, German Retreat from, 104
Belgium Relief Fund, 299
Berchtold, Count von, 18
Bernhardi, Friedrich von, 8
Bethmann-Hollweg, Theobald von, 26
Bibliography, 386
Bismarck, Prince von, 6
389
Bissing, Ferdinand Baron von, 222
Black Sea, Naval Operations in, 196
Blockade and Neutral Trade, 227
Bolsheviki, 130; 136
Bosnia, 11
Brazil, 268
Brest-Litovsk, Treaty of, 131
Brusiloff, Alexei Alexeievitch, 112
Bucharest, Treaty of, 164
Bukowina, 3
Bulgaria, 1 et seq.
Bulgarian Campaigns, 156
Bulgarian Peace Treaty, 383
Biilow, Prince von, 7
Cadorna, Count Luigi, 144
Calais, 54
Cambrai, Battle around, 79
Canada, Finance, 324
Carso Plateau, 4
Castelnau, General de, 45
Casualties, Estimated, 217
Caucasus, Campaigns in, 164
Cavell, Edith, 222
Central-American Countries, 269
Central Powers, 1 et seq.
Champagne, Battle of, 62
Charleroi, 2
Charles I, King of Rumania, 31
Chemin des Dames, 2
Chile, 267
China, 270
Commission for Relief in Belgium, 298
Compiegne, 54
Concentration of Military Forces, 40
Concert of Powers, 9
Congress of Vienna, 5-9
Constantine I, King of Greece, 21
Constituent Assembly (Russia), 140
Coronel, 2
Costa Rica, 1
Cost of the War, 317
Coudouriotis, Admiral, 35
Council of National Defense, 244
Craddock, Sir Christopher, 200
Cramb, John Adam, 9
Crown Prince of Prussia, 45
Cuba, 1
Cyrenaica, 12
Czecho-Slovakia, 36
Czecho-Slovaks, 3
Dardanelles, 166
Dardanelles, Naval Operations in, 196
Debts of Belligerents, 330
Declarations of War, 37
Deimling, General von, 45
Deutschland, 233
Dixmude, 54
Dobrudja, 3
Dogger Bank, 2
390
INDEX
Draft Acts, United States, 246
Drang nach Oesten, 11
Dubail, General, 45
Dubno, 3
Dunkirk, 54
d'Urbal, General, 54
Dwinsk, 3
Eastern Theatre, Military, 109
East Prussia, Invasion of, 110
Economic Aspects of the War, 304
Economic Causes of the War, 14
Egyptian Campaigns, 164
Embargo and Blockade of German Trade, 252
Emden, 201
Emmich, General von, 45
Employment and Wages, 311
Enemy Aliens, (United States), 245
Entente Allies, 1 et seq.
Equipment of the Armies, 43
Erzerum, 4
Erzingan, 4
Events before the Marne, 48
Falkenhayn, General von, 41
Federal Council of Allied War Charities, 299
Ferdinand I, King of Bulgaria, 31
Financial Aspects of the War, 304
Finland, 135
Fiume Controversy, 358
Flanders, Battle of, 77
Foch, Ferdinand, 86
Forcing the Aisne and Marne, 90
Foreign Credits, 315
"Fourteen Peace Points," 277
France, 1 et seq.
France, Atrocities in, 224
France, Finance, 328
Francis Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria, 5; 18
Fraudulent Charities, 302
French, General Sir John, 55
French Three Year Law, 13
Galicia, Conquest of, 112
Galicia, Second Offensive in, 115
General Strategy and Resources, 41
German and American Peace Notes, 289
German Army Bill (1913), 13
German East Africa, 4
German Intrigues and Propaganda, (United
States), 250
German Peace Treaty, 341
German Southwest Africa, 4
German Withdrawal, The (1917), 74
Germany, 1 et seq.
Ghent, 53
Giolitti, Giovanni, 28
Giuliano, Marquis di San, 29
Gorizia, 145
Grand Duke Nicholas, 4
Grand Pre, 52
Great Britain, 1 et seq.
Great Britain, Finance, 325
Greece, 33
Grey, Eir Edward, 1 et seq.
Guatemala, 1
Haig, Sir Douglas, 55
Haiti, 1
Hamadan, 4
Hapsburg Empire, 1 et seq.
Harden, Maximilian, 16
Hausen, General von, 45
Heeringen, General von, 45
Herzegovina, 11
Hindenburg Line, Breaking of, 102
Hindenburg, Paul von Beneckendorf, 111
Honduras, 7
Hoover, Herbert, 244
House, Edward Mandell, 262
Howitzer, 43
Industrial Revolution, 14
Intervention in Russia and Siberia, 141
Invasion of Belgium, 46
Invasion of France, 47
Italian Campaigns, 143
Italian Retreat, 1917, 149
Italian Spring and Summer Campaigns, 1917,
147
Italy, 1 et seq.
Italy, Finance, 329
Japan, 1 et seq.
Japan, Finance, 327
Jerusalem, 4
Jewish Relief, 299
Joffre, General, 48
Jutland, 2
Kamerun, 4
Kerensky, Alexander, 124
Kermanshah, 4
Kiachow, 30
Kluck, General von, 45
Knocke, 54
Krupps, 77
Kut-el-Amara, 4
La Bassee, 53
Ladies' Way, See Chemin des Dames
Laibach, 4
Lambros, Spyridon, 35
Langemarck, 54
Langle de Cary, General, 51
Lassigny, 53
League of Nations, The, 333
Leman, General, 46
Lenine, Nikolai, 125
Lens, 2
Liberia, 272
Lichnowsky Memorandum, 27
Liebknecht, Karl, 17
Liege, 43
Lille, 53
Longwy, 47
Loos, Battle of, 64
Louvain, 46
Lusitania, Sinking of the, 254
Lutsk, 3
Luxemburg, 43
Lys River, Battle of the, 87
Lys Salient, Withdrawal from, 102
Machine Guns, 44
Mackensen, General von, 3
Mail, Interference with, 231
Manoury, General, 48
Marne, First Battle of, 43
INDEX
391
Marne, Second Battle of, 93
Masaryk, Thomas G., 37
Maubeuge, 45
Maud'lmy, General, 53
Mediterranean, Naval Operations in, 194
Mercier, Desire Joseph, Cardinal, 222
Mesopotamian Campaigns, 169
Metternich, Prince, 5
Metz, 48
Meuse River, 2
Mexican Note, 237
Military Alliances, 8
Military Operations, 39
Milyukov, Paval N., 124
Missions from Europe to the United States, 248
Mobilization, 39
Moltke, Helmuth von, 41
Monastir, 3
Monitors, 205
Mons, 47
Montenegro, 1
Moritz, Ritter von AufFenberg, 112
Moroccan Question, 10
Motor Trucks, 44
Murman, 3
Namur, 45
National Antagonisms, 5
Naval Lessons of the War, 205
Naval Operations, 177
Naval Strategy of the War, 204
Navies, Constitution of, 177
Netherlands, The, 264
Netherlands, The, Finance, 330
Neutral Flags, Use of, 231
Neutral Nations at Beginning of the War, 227
Neuve Chapelle, Battle of, 58
New Zealand, Finance, 329
Nicaragua, 1
Nicholas, Grand Duke, 110
Nieuport, 54
North Sea, Naval Operations in, 182
Official Papers, 21 et seq.
Ostend, 53
Ourcq, 48
Pacific, German Possessions in, 176
Pacific, Naval Operations in, 199
Palestine, Campaigns in, 171
Panama, Republic of, 1
Pan-Germanism, 7
Pan-Serbianism, 18
Pan-Slavism, 18
Participants, Estimated, 217
Passchendaele, 54
Peace Conference, 331
Peace Proposals, 273
Peace Treaties
Germany. 341
Anglo-French-American, 362
Poland, 363
Austria-Hungary, 367
Bulgaria, 383
Peronne, 53
Petain, Henry Philippe, 66
Piave River, 4
Picardy, Campaigns in, 2
Picardv, Second Battle of, 82
Plava,146
Poelcapelle, 54
Poineare, Raymond, 24
Poland, Atrocities in, 223
Polish Treaty, 363
Pope Benedict, 273
Portugal, 36
Prices and Food Supplies, 315
Pripet, 3
Przemysl, 115
Quakers in War Relief, 300
Ramscappelle, 56
Ratification of Treaty in United States Senate,
359
Red Cross, 301
Relief Measures, 298
Rennenkampf, Paul K., 110
Resources of Combatants, 41
Rheims, 2
Rifles, 44
Riga, 120
Riga, Fall of, 129
Riga, Gulf of, 2
Rodoslavnoff, Vaseil, 32
Root Mission to Russia, 125
Roye, 53
Ruffey, General, 45
Rumania, 39
Rumanian Campaigns, 160
Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria, 45
Russia, 1 et seq.
Russian Poland, 3
Russian Revolution, 123
Russo-Japanese War, 10
St. Mihiel, 99
St. Quentin, 2
Saloniki, 3
San Marino, 1
Sarrail, General, 49
Scandinavian Countries, 262
Scheldt River, 53
Serbia, 1 et seq.
Serbia, Atrocities in, 223
Serbian Campaigns, 143
Serbian Reply to Austrian Demands, 20
Shantung Dispute, 357
Siam, 270
Siberia, 3
Sims, William S., Admiral, 189
Sixtus Letter, 280
Skouloudis, Stephanos, 34
Soissons, 2
Solf, Dr., 296
Somme, Battle of, 72
Sonnino, Sidney, Baron, 29
South American Countries, 267
Southeastern Theatre, Military, 164
Southern Theatre, Military, 143
Statements of War Aims,*273
Stiirmer, Baron von, 3
Submarine Campaign and Losses, 190
Suez Canal, 4
Switzerland, 266
Switzerland, Finance, 330
Tannenberg, 111
Togoland, 4
Tolmino, 145
392
INDEX
Townshend, General, 4
Transylvania, 3
Trebizond, 4
Trentino, 4
Trieste, 29
Triple Alliance, 28
Triple Entente, 10
Tripoli, 12
Trotzky, Leon, 130
Turco-Italian War, 12
Turkey, 1 et seq.
Turkish Campaigns, 164
Ukraine, The, 132
United States, 1 et seq.
United War Work Drive, 302
Vardar River, 3
Venizelos, Eleutherios, 33
Verdun, 66; 76
Vilna, 3
War Message of President Wilson, 241
Warsaw, Battles around, 114 et seq.
War Zone, 231
Western Theatre, Military Operations,
William II., 8
William of Wied, 31
World Trade, 314
Wytsehaete, 54
Young Turk Revolution, 11
Ypres, Battle of, 56
Yser, Battle of the, 54
Zaimis, Alexander, 34
Zimmermann Note, 237
Zonnebeke, 54