_Lest We Forget_, the first volume of World War stories, gave an
outline of the struggle up to the time of the signing of the armistice,
November 11, 1918, and contained in general chronological order most of
the stories that to children from ten to sixteen years of age would be
of greatest interest, and give the clearest understanding of the
titanic contest.
This; the second volume of the same series, contains the stories of the
war of the character described, that were not included in _Lest We
Forget_,--stories of the United States naval heroes, of the Americans
landed in France, of the concluding events of the war, of the visit of
President Wilson to Europe, and of the Peace Conference. In a word,
emphasis is placed upon America's part in the struggle.
This volume should be of even greater interest to American children
than the first, for it tells the story of America's greatest
achievement, of a nation undertaking a tremendous and terrible task not
for material gain, but for an ideal.
No more inspiring story has ever been told to the children of men than
the story of America's part in winning the greatest cause for which men
have ever contended. President Wilson said in Europe, "The American
soldiers came not merely to win a war, but to win a cause." Every
child in every home and in every school should be made familiar with
how it was won, and with the separate stories which go to make up the
glorious epic.
The two volumes of the series give for children, in a way that they
will comprehend and enjoy, through stories so selected and so connected
as to build up an understanding of the whole, the causes, the conduct,
and the results of the World War.
The thanks of the authors and publishers are hereby expressed to Mr.
Edwin Rowland Blashfield for the permission to reproduce his poster,
"Carry On"; to Mrs. Ella Wheeler Wilcox for "Song of the Aviator"; to
George H. Doran Company, Publishers, for "Pershing at the Tomb of
Lafayette" from "The Silver Trumpet," by Amelia Josephine Burr,
copyright 1918; for "Where Are You Going, Great-Heart?" from "The
Vision Splendid" by John Oxenham, copyright 1918; for "Trees" from
"Trees and Other Poems" by Joyce Kilmer, copyright 1914; to _Collier's_
for Lieutenant McKeogh's story of "The Lost Battalion"; to Mr. Roger
William Riis for his article "The Secret Service"; and to Mr. John
Mackenzie, Chief Boatswain's Mate, U. S. S. _Remlik_, for the facts in
the story, "Fighting a Depth Bomb."