1. The U.S. was hoping to stay out of the war, which the public regarded as a European conflict. But when we discovered documents showing that Germany was trying to enlist Mexico to attack the U.S., Pres. Wilson asked Congress for the right to declare war. Public opinion was divided on the matter, but when the vote came, Congress chose a near-united front. War, when it is perceived as just, brings a country together, partly out of necessity, but also out of a patriotism that goes cold during times of internecine peace.
2. The U.S. had very little modern warfare experience and had to be trained by the French and the British. What progress we have made! We now know so much about the art of war that we are obliged to train the world.
3. There was a school of thought that Darwinism applied to nations as well as species--that war was part of the natural selection process and the the fittest would rightly survive for the benefit of the planet. The German author Thomas Mann referred to the coming war as a potential blessing and a cleansing, demonstrating once again that ideas, like women's make-up, are often misused to cover an unattractive truth.
4. Pres. Wilson chose John "Black Jack" Pershing over several other more senior generals to lead the efforts in Europe. Pershing had most recently led troops tracking Pancho Villa in Mexico, and once had commanded a regiment of "buffalo soldiers" in the Spanish American War (hence his nickname). An interesting tidbit: After the war, as Chief of Staff for the Army, he created the Pershing Map, which later, under Eisenhower, served as the vision for our Interstate highway system.
5. As in all wars up to that time, the most common causes of death were disease and infection. Diseases spread rapidly in the close quarters of the trenches. When the battles moved to the heavily-manured fields of France and Belgium the trenches became particularly deadly. This is like a Greek tragedy, with the horses and farmers playing an unwitting role.
6. Italy at first stayed on the sidelines, with Mussolini opposing the war. However, midway he saw an opportunity, as the Allies promised Italy territory on the Adriatic Sea as part of the secretive Treaty of London. Unfortunately, Italy's military performance was almost completely ineffectual, which proved to be a national embarrassment, and when the Treaty of Versailles was signed, they got nothing for their efforts. Interesting quote from Mussolini, urging the nation to war: "Do you want to be spectators in this great drama, or do you want to be fighters?" I'm reminded of Shakespeare's observation: "All the world's a stage. And all the men and women merely players ..."
7. The war was a defining moment for America, which was largely a nation of immigrants. The country pulled together to support the effort, with extraordinary volunteerism not just in the military, but in supporting services back home. There was partly the result of an intense propaganda effort by Wilson, including hiring writers to create anti-German pamphlets and hiring "four-minute men" to deliver patriotic messages at schools, movie theaters, etc. Most interesting was the encouragement of people to grow backyard "victory gardens" (also called "war gardens" and "food gardens for defense") to reduce the demand on the food supply in support of the war. It is extraordinary what sacrifices people will make when fueled by hate for a villain, a well-known lesson today by those who cultivate gang-bangers and suicide bombers.
We also visited the Fort Douglas Museum, which covers the military history of Utah. The most interesting thing I learned: President Lincoln recommended the fort be named after Stephen Douglas, his historical political adversary. The more I learn about Lincoln the more impressed I am by his greatness of character. I keep searching in vain for a politician of similar ilk today.
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