ailors, a service of
scarcely less magnitude was rendered to the civilian populations of
France, Belgium and Italy. Tuberculosis in France was a real plague,
taking a toll of 80,000 lives every year. American physicians and nurses
preached the doctrine of fresh air, care of the teeth and proper food
for children. Almost immediately this campaign of sanitation had its
effect in a decreasing death-rate from tuberculosis.

European nations generally were benefited by the stay of the American
army overseas. The straightforward manner in which the social evil was
attacked had direct benefits. The important detail of dental care also
received an interest through the advent of the American soldier. The
London Daily Mail made this comment on that question:

"One thing about the American soldiers and sailors must strike English
people when they see these gallant fighters, and that is the soundness
and general whiteness of their teeth. From childhood the 'Yank' is
taught to take care of his teeth. He has 'tooth drill' thrice daily and
visits his dentist at fixed periods, say, every three or four months. If
by chance a tooth does decay, the rot is at once arrested by gold or
platinum filling. American dentists never extract a tooth. No matter how
badly decayed it may be, they save the molar by crowning it with gold.

"The United States soldiers have set us a splendid example in this
matter. They fairly shame the ordinary 'Tommy' by the brilliance of
their molars, but they will do so no longer if young English mothers
will only wake up to the fact that bad teeth cause bad health, and that
doctors' and dentists' bills will be saved by the regular use of the
tooth-brush."

CHAPTER L

THE PIRATES OF THE UNDER-SEAS

Germany relied upon the submarine to win the war. This in a nut-shell
explains the main reason why the United States was drawn into the World
War. Von Tirpitz, the German Admiral, obsessed with the theory that no
effective answer could be made to the submarine, convinced the German
High Command and the Kaiser that only through unrestricted submarine
warfare could England be starved and the war brought to an end with
victory for Germany. Since August, 1914, the theory held by von Tirpitz
and his party of extremists had been combated by Prince Maximilian of
Baden and by Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg and by others high in the
council of the Kaiser. These men pointed out that, leaving out such
questions as piracy o