reach his own
conclusions.

The reader will readily see that these chapters are day-to-day issues
aiming to present that news from the standpoint of finance. But under
all sound finance must be primarily the truth of humanity. They do not
claim to be from beginning to end a harmonious book-presentation of the
war, but it is believed that they contain the essential fundamental
war-facts; and the aim was to present them in most condensed expression.

They cover the first six months of this most Audacious War. Whether it
is to continue for another six months or another sixteen months is not
so material as the character of the peace and what is to follow.

No greater problem can be placed before the world than that of how the
peace of nations may be maintained. Having cleared my own mind upon
this subject, I submit it in the final chapter, which naturally follows
after that treating of the lessons for the United States from this war.

Only in an international organization, with power to make decrees of
peace and enforce them, and with insurance of powers above those of all
dissenters, can we find the peace of nations as we have found the peace
of cities. This Audacious War has forced such an alliance as can yield
this power. Its transfer to the support of an International tribunal
can make and keep the peace of Europe and eventually of the world.

Then may the earth cease to be, in history, that steady round of
Prosperity, Pride, and War.

C. W. Barron.

February 15, 1915.

CONTENTS

I. THE WORLD'S GREATEST CONTEST
II. TARIFFS AND COMMERCE THE WAR CAUSES
III. THE POLITICAL CAUSES OF THE WAR
IV. PEACE PROPOSALS
V. FRANCE AND THE FRENCH
VI. THE POSITION OF FRANCE
VII. FRENCH FINANCE
VIII. THE BELGIAN SACRIFICE
IX. RUSSIA AND THE RUSSIANS
X. THE ENGLISH POSITION
XI. ENGLISH WAR FORCES
XII. ENGLISH WAR FINANCE
XIII. GERMAN RESOURCES
XIV. IS IT THE PEOPLE'S WAR?
XV. THE GERMAN POSITION
XVI. THE LESSONS FOR AMERICA
XVII. WHAT PEACE SHOULD MEAN

THE AUDACIOUS WAR

CHAPTER I

THE WORLD'S GREATEST CONTEST

The Censorship--The Warship "Audacious"--Mine or Torpedo?--The Battle
Line--War by Gasolene Motors--The Boys from Canada--The Audacity of it.

The war of 1914 is not only the greatest war in history but the
greatest in the political and economic sciences. Indeed, it is the
greatest war of all the sciences, for it invo