Show of August I Makes Exciting WWI Volume Periodically We will bring you the review of a significant book to be found on the shel shel- shel yes ves of the Uintah County Pub Pub- lie Hc Library The book chosen I Ifor for this week is entitled The Guns of by Barbara Darbara W I The review begins with a aj at t j quotation from Sir Winston I S Churchill No part of the great war compares In inter inter- interest I est cst with its opening the first collision was a drama never surpassed and all that happened afterwards consisted in battles which however formidable and de de- de devastating were but desperate and vain appeals against the decision of fate THE SHOCK OF the open open- opening ing clash in August 1914 1014 and th thirty days battle whiCh followed determined the fut are ure course of the First World War and the shape of nations In our aur time lime Its tense drama Is the subject of this magnificent history I English The German French Eng lish and Russian general staffs had had their plans for forwar forwar war completed as early as ten years before hostilities began Germany intended to invade not France across their com com com- common mon man but border by a giant sweep through Belgium Eng land through her military conversations had committed her army to cooperation with the French Army France bolstered by her alliance with Russia and her entente with Britain and dreaming of regaining Alsace and Lorraine designed her strategy in terms solely of the offensive and the brusque Russia planned a pin pin- pincer invasion of East Prussia while the main German ar ar- ar armies mies were involved In the west NONE OF THESE plans al el- el lowed for the contingencies of af the others athers or recognized their own intrinsic errors Yet for perhaps five years be be- be before fore faro the war began each General Stall Staff knew what the others would do all was planned the campaign the number of at divisions the de deployment of troops the lines of transportation the mono men straus siege guns the shine on cavalry sabers every every- everything thing down dawn to the last but but- button ton on the last infantryman's uniform In the summer of 1914 Europe pe was a heap of swords piled as delicately as jack Jack- Jackstraws straws and not one could be beI I drawn out without upsetting the others Still national were prouder than they were wise End the impetus and hopes contained in each nations natlan's plans were stronger than the Ule impulse to ate Statesmen field marshals admirals kings and patriots believed what they wanted to or believe what they dared not to and believe waited in profound ignar ance for victory to reveal ib it self within a matter maUer of weeks They were to be un an- deceived The holocaust of August was the prelude to four bitter years of deadlock deadlock- deadlocked ed war that cost a generation of European lives THE BLOODY catalogue of the battles of August 1914 includes the Ule almost mythic names of Leige Tannenberg Mons the Battle Dattle of the Fran Fron tiers and Charleroi each name signifying also carters careers made or broken opportunities ties grasped or missed in heroism or personal blindness Here Is Joffre indomitably ably rebuilding his shattered French armies annies and Sam Sam- dying a suicide after the annihilation of the Rus- Rus Russian Russian sian 2nd Army von van Kluck stubbornly committing his fatal mistake and Admiral choosing his desper ate and fateful course for Constantinople Here is tIle the valor of at Belgium personified in her hero king and the ardor of Britain expressed In her Expeditionary Force Farce Mrs I has mad made her book doubly exciting in tile the revelation of the human re- re reasons re for the disaster of war |