Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/800

 BOOK X. THE TWENTIETH CENTURY AND THE WORLD WAR CHAPTER XLV ORIGIN OF THE WAR OF 1914 I. THE ARMIES AND NAVIES OF EUROPE 1089. The Incredible War of 1914. In August, 1914, the most terrible and destructive war in the history of the world broke out. Never before had millions and millions of men been ready to march against an enemy at a moment's notice ; never before had any European army been supplied with such deadly weapons ; never before had any war, however serious, so disturbed the affairs of the whole globe. The war came to most people as a horrible surprise. They could not believe that the European governments would dare take the fearful responsibility of entering upon a struggle which they all knew would involve untold woe and de- struction. Nevertheless war was declared, and since it is, perhaps, the most important single event in the whole history of the world, we must endeavor to see how it came about and what were the great questions involved. 1090. Prussia and the Growth of Militarism. After Germany defeated France in 1870-1871, nearly fifty years of peace had followed in western Europe. Meanwhile all the powers had been spending vast sums each year to train and equip soldiers. Prussia was the chief promoter of militarism. Following her defeat at Jena ( 832) it had become clear to her statesmen that Prussia could no longer rely on an old-fashioned standing army, but must depend on the " nation in arms." Accordingly her men were given 600