to the 6/12 GREAT WAR HISTORY FROM THE ARMISTICE together with a series of New World Maps in Colors Compiled by NEW YORK THE CHRISTIAN HERALD BIBLE HOUSE W FOREWORD. ITH the signing of the Armistice there appeared, as if by magic, a large number of histories of the World War. Through all the long weary months of conflict authors had been patiently compiling and publishers had been waiting for the opportunity to market the books. Some were modest one-volume stories of this conflict into which nearly all the nations had been drawn. Others were ambitious sets of several volumes, but all ended with the fighting. It has always been true that the history of war comprises two principal elements, the fighting and the making of the peace. Often the victor in the battle has been the loser in the council. In this armistice which was the signal for the avalanche of histories, lay possibilities innumerable. Initiated on a statement of principles more unselfish than the world had yet known, the perfection of the peace depended upon the ability of statesmen to hold their course toward the ideal through all the devious ways of self-interest and national self-consciousness. Would a real and enduring peace come from the council table or would another armed truce ensue? The world hoped for the best and expected something less. But all of these books were marketed before the first meeting of the Peace Conference was called in session. For this reason all the books issued at the end of the fighting are incomplete as histories of the war. In selling our own book on the Great War we recognized this fact and promised this supplementary volume, to be issued when Peace was at last declared. We expected that this would be within six months; but events have lagged. The task of the Peace Conference more than covered the six months and then the ratification and proclamation of the peace dragged on. We have been forced, most unwillingly, to close the volume with the mere fact of final declaration of peace under the treaty, a declaration that leaves the United States still technically at war. We have waited and hoped for final affirmative action by the American Senate; but we must go to press with these pages with the treaty still waiting upon the inevitable compromise. No matter what history of the war you may have purchased, this book will serve to complete it. We have not aimed at exhaustive treatment; but have endeavored to give the connected story of events, with sufficient detail to convey a correct understanding of the work and results of the Peace Conference. It has also been possible to able to anyone at the time most of these histories were issued. We have reprinted the official reports of General Pershing, Sir Douglas Haig, and General Allenby and have quoted liberally from the official story of the American Army's part in the war by Colonel Ayres issued by the United States War Department. There is also much material about all our various units especially about the Air Service, which has come to light bit by bit during these months of peace making. This book, with almost any well compiled book ending at the armistice, will give you a fairly complete record of the greatest war in the history of mankind and a reasonably good idea of the peace, regarded in many quarters as the greatest event since Calvary. We have carefully checked the facts, dates and names. Credit is given for all quotations. We put the book in your hands, confident that you will feel well repaid for the time spent in reading it; and that you will find it valuable for reference, fair in its statements and unprejudiced in its facts. L. E. O. FOREWORD. ITH the signing of the Armistice there appeared, as if by W magic, a number of histories of World War. large the Through all the long weary months of conflict authors had been patiently compiling and publishers had been waiting for the opportunity to market the books. Some were modest one-volume stories of this conflict into which nearly all the nations had been drawn. Others were ambitious sets of several volumes, but all ended with the fighting. It has always been true that the history of war comprises two principal elements, the fighting and the making of the peace. Often the victor in the battle has been the loser in the council. In this armistice which was the signal for the avalanche of histories, lay possibilities innumerable. Initiated on a statement of principles more unselfish than the world had yet known, the perfection of the peace depended upon the ability of statesmen to hold their course toward the ideal through all the devious ways of self-interest and national self-consciousness. Would a real and enduring peace come from the council table or would another armed truce ensue? The world hoped for the best and expected something less. But all of these books were marketed before the first meeting of the Peace Conference was called in session. For this reason all the books issued at the end of the fighting are incomplete as histories of the war. In selling our own book on the Great War we recognized this fact and promised this supplementary volume, to be issued when Peace was at last declared. We expected that this would be within six months; but events have lagged. The task of the Peace Conference more than covered the six months and then the ratification and proclamation of the peace dragged on. We have been forced, most unwillingly, to close the volume with the mere fact of final declaration of peace under the treaty, a declaration that leaves the United States still technically at war. We have waited and hoped for final affirmative action by the American Senate; but we must go to press with these pages with the treaty still waiting upon the inevitable compromise. No matter what history of the war you may have purchased, this book will serve to complete it. We have not aimed at exhaustive treatment; but have endeavored to give the connected story of events, with sufficient detail to convey a correct understanding of the work and results of the Peace Conference. It has also been possible to |