The World War has led to an intense sharpening of interest among Americans in international relations and world history. Races, countries, and policies hitherto almost unknown to the great body of American citizens, have in a moment become of vital importance to all. And with this new importance has come a truly American desire to understand the significance of the new world movements. Hence, Hence, from the public generally, from students in schools and colleges, from teachers, lecturers, and conductors of classes in clubs and camps, has come the demand for information and interpretation. The aim of the compiler of the following pages has been to present in brief compass such materials as will best meet this demand.

President Wilson's principal addresses in wartime have been included not only because they present the official statements upon the entrance of the United States into the war and upon the war aims of America, but also because of their incomparable style

and diction. No condensations or omissions have been undertaken in any of the addresses.

In Part II is presented what is by far the best analysis of the immediate antecedents and principal events of the war which has yet been prepared. Professor Harding has adopted a topical form for his study of the war, but he has so woven together the evidence, and accompanied it with such telling quotations that he has made a most interesting narrative. This outline has already been made the basis of study in hundreds of classes throughout the country, and it will soon, doubtless, be adopted on a still wider scale. Mr. Hoskins, in his Syllabus, in Part III, goes back to an earlier date in order to get an adequate background for the present conflict. Beginning with the Middle Ages he analyzes the steps by which modern Europe has come into existence and the manner in which its institutions have developed. Particular attention is called to the "problem questions given under each topic. These thought-provoking questions will stimulate any intelligent person into a new attitude toward historical events and personages.

Next to a demand for information concerning the historical origins of the war has come that for an understanding of world geography. Places and districts hitherto unnoticed by even well-informed persons have in a day become of world-wide importance. German colonies in distant parts of the world have been seized by the Allies; battle-lines in Europe have shifted back and forth; and German armies have occupied great districts whose very names previously were hidden within the large bulk of the Russian state. Geography has helped in an understanding of the war by showing racial boundaries as well as political; it has brought us to realize the value of physical land and water features in the conduct of military campaigns; and of the economic background which has exercised such a deep influence upon German annexationists. Professors Harding and Lingelbach, in Part IV, have

prepared and described a series of maps bearing upon the military, economic, racial, and political aspects of the war. To these have been added a number of outline maps which may be used in depicting further military and political changes.

Professor Dutcher, in Part V, has prepared an extensive critical bibliography of the war. While the list of seven hundred titles may seem formidable to some, yet it is so closely sub-divided that the student can readily gain an appraisal of the books upon any phase of the war.

Part VI contains statutes and joint-resolutions of the Congress of the United States from April, 1917, to May, 1918. The aim has been to include those laws and parts of laws whieh show the manner in which the country has been legally reorganized to meet war conditions. It cannot be hoped that the selection of statutes will be satisfactory to all, but the list has been made as inclusive as space limitations would permit. No attempt has been made to include all the laws on a given subject, but rather to pick out typical statutes, from which the reader or student can gain an idea of the vastly important legislation of the Sixty-fifth Congress. It has been impossible, too, to print the full text of the longer statutes, some of which, like the Revenue Act of 1917, would occupy fifty of the large pages of the present work. The parts omitted have been indicated in the usual manner (...). The sections included are those which contain general principles of legislation; qualifying clauses and sections have in some cases been cut out. Persons desiring to consult the statutes for legal reasons rather than for general information or historical facts should read the official text published in the "Statutes at Large" or the "slip-laws" of the United States.

What has been said above concerning the laws, holds true also of the Executive Proclamations in which recite a statute or part of a statute have been Part VII. To save space the parts of proclamations omitted, as well as the usual form of subscription and seal by the President and Secretary.

The material in Parts II, IV, and V of this collection was prepared in co-operation with the National Board for Historical Service of Washington, D. C. It was first published in THE HISTORY TEACHER'S MAGAZINE for January, March, and April, 1918, and later reprinted in pamphlet form. Acknowledgment is cheerfully made of assistance in the preparation of Part IV received from Professor G. B. Roorbach, Mr. Randolph G. Adams, Messrs. Henry Holt and Co., the C. S. Hammond Co., and the Atlantic Monthly Press.

The several parts of this collection have been issued by the publishers in separate pamphlet form (except that Parts VI and VII are included in one pamphlet), and these separates may be obtained in single copies or in quantities for class use where the adoption of the entire collection is impracticable.