Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-10-26
BOOKS AND MAGAZINES

With the progress of the great war
in Europe there is an increasing de-
mand for some authoritative work
upon the causes and effects of the
titanic struggle. Recently the Tele-
graph in this department referred to
the publication George Barries Sons,
Philadephia) of The Great War" by
Dr. George II. Allen, of the history de-
partment of the University of Penn
sylvania and Captain Henry c. White
head, of the United States Army, who
served in Europe by official assign
ment for observation, etc.
A closer study of the first volume of
this work, which will be concluded in
five volumes with a chronological ta-
Bile and analytical index for each vol
ume, justifies all that has been said of
| it by eX-P-esident Taft and others who
have perused its pages. 1t is certain
to be one of the important contribu-
tions to the literature of the war and
will be increasingly valuable as the con-
fiict develops and reaches its climax
DIR. Allen has travelled extensively and
resided for long periods in Europe and
has an intimate acquaintance with the
peoples who are now engaged in this
tremendous conflict for positions in the
| family of nations.
In the first volume, which deals with
the causes and motives of the war, he
rapidly reviews the history of each
belligerent nation in the last half CEN
tury and thus, as suggested by eX-
President Taft, brings out the con-
| fiicts of prejudice and interest between
the nations as we'll as the offensive and
defensive alliances. AS a trained his
torian he has had great opportunities
| of studying the European situation.
In the preliminary volume, which is
a most complete work of itself Dr.
! Allen discusses the building up of the
! German empire and also the union of
the various States of Italy. Also, he
goes into thorough discussion of the
various races wedged into the present
ustria-Hungary coalition. 1t is re-
markable how clearly he has antici-
pated in this first volume the develop
ments which are now attracting the
attention of the world in the Balkans.
He observes:
"1t is true that definite history of
the war is impossible untif we can
view the events with calmer detach-
ment and truer perspective, after they
have dropped we'll astern in the wake
of the progress of time. But IL is Just
as truly incumbent upon us to corre-
] late the events of the mighty present,
and to endeavor to understand, as
adequately as our limited perception
will allow, the forces in action WHICH
are reshaping the framework of So
ciety for future generations of man
kind"
This work is easily the most thor
ough and impartial that has yet come
out of the mass of war materials that
has left the presses of the United
States since the opening of the con-
fict. AS stated by the publishers, DIR.
Allen stands as a historian should,
aloof from the passions aroused since
the outbreak of hostilities and his sole
object is to arrive at the truth. He
makes plain many things obscure to
the average person.: for example, he
shows how the struggle for the con-
troll of the Dardanelles and the Near
East" is one of the most important
pivotal points and that the result OF
this struggle may be the final controll-
ing factor in ending the war.
The Popular Science Monthly fol
November is mine of interest for al
who like to delve into the mysteries
of invention and scientific discovery
With this number and hereafter it Is
the purpose of the editor to take ur
not only the purely scientific subject:
) of the day. as in the past but alsC
achievements in engineering. industry
and invention. Each subject is to bG
treated in a brief, simple, nontechni
cal way. The illustrations are fine anc
the general excellence of the MONTH,
lis attracting more and more attention