The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-04-02

a handbook for ready reference on
the great war, and contains in some
800 pages a great mass OF informa-
tion simply arranged and clearly
stated. 1t is issued in response to
an insistent demand from many stu
dents, writers clergymen, lawyers,
business men and the public at large
for authentic statements OF the out
standing facts concerning the war in
alphabetical arrangement.
The War Cyclopedia' was edited
by Frederic l.. Paxton, University
OF Wisconsin; Edwin 5. Corwin,
Princeton University, and Samuel
b. Harding, Indiana University, the
editors drawing freely upon their
time and the patriotic goodwill OF
a large number OF special writer's
from all parts OF the country. Be
cause OF its special value and the
high cost OF printing small price
of Is cents a copy has been fixed by
the government to cover the cost OF
production and distribution. 1t may
be obtained from the committee on
public information, 10 Jackson place,
Washington d. {.
In ioreword Chairman George
Creel, of the committee, says: 9th
er handbookS have been and will be
made by other agencies; all will
serve their end, for this war is not
to be won by an established doc
trine nor by an official theory, but
by an enlightened opinion based on
the truth. The facts OF history and
life are the only arsenal to which
Americans need resort in order to
defend their cause. The deeper their
study, the tirmer becomes their con-
viction. The War Cyclopedia' rep
resents an effort to arrange in sim
pie form the facts most needed
Articles on persons have been
left out except as the editors have
deemed biographical notes to be alb
solutely indispensable; knowledge OF
American public men in particular
has been assumed.
An indication Of the character
and the wide range OF the informa-
tion provided may be had from the
following citations made at random
through the alphabetical arrange
ment.
Under the title AlSace-Lorraine
something OF the history and the
character OF that province now in
world dispute is given, and Pro-
fessor Otfried Nippold, a German
scholar formerly in the diplomatic
service but now of Berne, is quoted
as saying: "When one looks back
into the history of Europe during
the last forty years, it seems incon-
ceivable that anyone can be unwill-
ing to admit that the annexation of
AlSace-Lorralne was a political mis-
take and that the Germans have
shown themselves incompetent in
their government of the people OF
Alsace-Lorraine." A
In connection with Alsace-Lor-
raine the Cyclopedia refers the read
er to the Iabern affair. This is ex-
planned under its proper classi6ca-
tion as oppressive acts on the part
OF the German garrison officers at
Saverne German Iazern, a town in
| Alsace) against the native popula-
ton. 1t eliminated in the wound
ing of a lame cobbler by young
lieutenant named Gorstner because
OF "contemptuous cries, though the
mayor OF the town asserted that il
was only children who had ieered
the officer. Forstner'S unpopularity
had arisen from an overzealous
espousal of his superior officers con-
tempt for the civilian population and
his instructions to his command that
if they stabbed an AlSatian who in
suited them they would not only 90
unpunishcd, but receive reward
A great hue and cry followed the
wounding of the lame cobbler and
the matter reached the reichstag
where a vote OF censure was passed ;
but while ForStner was sentenced by
court-martial to detention for a
short period, he was soon afterward
promoted, thus receiving the prom
ised reward.
The term "Boche,' now so com
monty appearing in American news
paper dispatches as familiar desig-
nation of the Germans, is shown tC
have originated before the war in
Paris. The German assistants oil
Paris printers were so designated
The term "Boche' was probably also
used in the Franco-Prussian War il
1870, for Zola, in his novel La De
bacle,' put the term in the mouth,
of French soldiers to designate
Germans. The term "ce boche' wa.
used, before the Franco Prussiar
War at least, as equivalent to thai
chump.' "Tete de boche' is tn,
French slang for wooden pate" OF
"blockhead."
The War Cyclopedia" gives re
markably succinct and comprehen
sive story OF the execution OF Editl
Cavell.
All OF the great war measures il
the United States, such as the Es
pionage Act, the various acts con
cerning alien enemies, the Selectiv,
Draft, the Voluntary Censorship o
the Press, etc, and all of the insti
tutionS that have been created t
carry on the activities of the war
such as the War Trade Board, Wa
Risk Insurance Bureau, Red Cros