OF THE GREAT WAR 1914- THE GENESIS OF THE WAR JUNE, 1914-AUGUST, 1915 THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS CAUSES, THE FAILURE OF BY BRIGGS DAVENPORT PUBLIC G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS PREFACE O experienced reader nor any intelligent thinker needs to be told of the difficulties N° of writing a history of contemporaneous events which can be worth the while. A certain mental detachment from the passions and prejudices and credulities of the time is primarily necessary. It is not everyone, whatever his other qualities, who possesses the temperament which would make such detachment possible. The author, in his own case, must leave the reader to judge of this question by the volume which is before him. He is conscious of having undertaken an exacting and delicate task. He hopes that the verdict upon the performance will at least be that it bespeaks honesty and diligence. It would be impossible for the self-respecting historian absolutely to conceal his sympathies as to the matters which he recounts. This should not mean that he is partisan, any more than is the judge who must form an opinion of the causes before him. The writer of this volume sees faults and errors and crimes to the debit of the contestants on either side of the Great War. He sees, with absolute certainty, he believes, on which side is the |