New York Times Current History; The European War, Vol 2, No. 3, June, 1915 April-September, 1915 — Inside the Classic

Diplomatic Documents and Editorial Framing

The first major section, 'The Lusitania Case,' includes Wilson's note, survivor accounts, and German press opinion. The note itself is described as 'written consequent on the torpedoing' and dated six days later, with the President's secretary emphasizing 'careful deliberation.' This framing suggests the editors aimed to present a measured, documentary record. The inclusion of 'Germany Justifies the Deed' and 'German Press Opinion' indicates an effort to show both sides, though the selection of materials—such as the phrase 'A Policy of Murder' in the contents—reveals an underlying editorial stance. Readers should compare the language of official statements with the more emotive headlines to gauge the magazine's perspective.

Eyewitness Accounts of the Gallipoli Landing

The fourth dispatch from the Dardanelles, dated April 27, provides a vivid, first-person narrative of the Australian and New Zealand troops under fire. The writer describes 'the enemy had been very largely reinforced' and notes that 'the Turks will never face' the bayonet. The account focuses on naval bombardment: 'Seven warships had moved in close to the shore, while the Queen Elizabeth, further out, acted as a kind of chaperone.' The sensory details—'the noise, smoke, and concussion produced was unlike anything you can even imagine'—and the observation that 'we picked up many bullets on the deck afterward' ground the report in immediate experience. This dispatch exemplifies the magazine's blend of official reporting and personal observation.

The War's Human and Political Dimensions

Beyond battle accounts, the volume includes pieces on 'War With Poisonous Gases,' 'The Canadians at Ypres,' and 'German Women Not Yet For Peace.' The contents list 'The Drowned Sailor' and 'The Soldier's Epitaph' alongside 'Diagnosis of the Englishman' and 'Bernard Shaw's Terms of Peace.' This range shows the magazine covering not only military events but also social and cultural reactions. The inclusion of 'Alleged German Atrocities' and 'Scriabin's Last Words' suggests an interest in both propaganda and high culture. Readers should note how these shorter pieces contrast with the longer documentary sections, offering a more opinionated or literary take on the war.

Structure and Reader Navigation

The table of contents lists items under broad headings like 'The Lusitania Case' and 'Seven Days of War East and West,' but the excerpts show that within each section, documents are arranged chronologically or thematically. For example, the Lusitania section moves from Wilson's note to survivor descriptions to German justifications. The Gallipoli dispatches are numbered (first through fourth), indicating a serialized report. The volume also includes a 'Chronology of the War' and 'Notes,' suggesting an editorial effort to provide context. Readers should use the contents as a map, noting that the magazine's monthly format means each issue covers a specific period (April-September 1915) and may assume familiarity with earlier events.

This volume rewards readers who approach it as a primary source rather than a retrospective history. The juxtaposition of official notes, battlefield dispatches, and opinion pieces reveals how information was curated for an American audience in mid-1915. Pay attention to the dates and sources of each document; the magazine's editorial choices—what to include, how to headline, and where to place emphasis—are as revealing as the texts themselves.

I keep thinking about that June 1915 issue—the raw dispatches, the disbelief in the headlines, how the world seemed to tilt in real time. It felt like watching history breathe. That same weight stayed with me in Turkey, the Great Powers, and the Bagdad Railway: A study in imperialism — A Closer Reading—how quiet ambitions and old maps slowly tightened into something enormous, almost by accident.