New York Times Current History; The European War, Vol 2, No. 5, August, 1915

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

22460

Title

New York Times Current History; The European War, Vol 2, No. 5, August, 1915

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This August 1915 issue of Current History examines the escalating European War through diplomatic crises, military developments, and cultural commentary. It features the pivotal Lusitania case, debates on neutrality, and vivid accounts of trench warfare, gas attacks, and naval losses, offering a comprehensive view of global tensions.

Summary up to 500 words

The August 1915 issue of *Current History* offers a comprehensive examination of the European War, centering on the escalating diplomatic crisis following the sinking of the *Lusitania*. The text details the exchange of notes between the United States and Germany, highlighting the core conflict: Germany's justification for unrestricted submarine warfare based on British blockades and the existential threat to its civilian population versus the U.S. insistence on strict accountability for attacks on passenger vessels. Beyond the *Lusitania*, the magazine chronicles attacks on other ships, including the *Nebraskan* and *Orduna*, and provides a chronology of events across Europe, Canada, India, and the United States. The issue delves into the moral complexities of neutrality, featuring an article by Friedrich Curtius. Curtius argues that true neutrality is impossible in a democratic age, where governments are morally responsible for their citizens' actions. He critiques the American policy of supplying weapons to England while allowing the blockade of German food imports, labeling it a morally untenable passivity. The publication also addresses the controversial use of asphyxiating gases. It presents German claims that the Allies initiated gas warfare, citing French military instructions from February 1915 as evidence, alongside reports of French preparations for countermeasures. Literary contributions include a poem by C. Huntington Jacobs titled "Gott Mit Uns," which portrays the German people as instruments of divine will, and an essay by Curtius on the psychological burden placed upon neutrals. Military reports detail heavy casualties, the mobilization of British labor for munitions production, and strategic developments in Africa and Asia. The issue concludes with a chronology of the war, reflecting the magazine's role as a monthly chronicle of the conflict's political, military, and social dimensions. The text captures the intense polarization of the era, juxtaposing German appeals to humanity against Allied accusations of hypocrisy, while documenting the growing American preparedness and the internal tensions regarding neutrality.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• History
• Politics