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A Serbian terrorist group named the Black Hand sent troops to assassinate the Archduke. The first grenade attempt failed because it was dodged. Later, Serbian; Gavrilo Princip killed Franz and his wife. This caused Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia. Then that war caused Germany to declare war on Russia. This was the immediate cause of WWI.
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Italy signed the Treaty of London and by doing that, they committed themselves as allies. Therefore, Italy was first to attack. Italy also wanted territory from Austria-Hungary. During the Battle of Caporetto, Italian forces were forced to retreat because of many casualties. Italy's allies helped them during that time and gained back initiative.
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French women and young girls were deported from their industrial cities to preform agricultural work in other parts of France. Women in France weren't safe in their own homes or any location because of the German troops. Rape and assault was very common. The girls would have to do work but to get "light work", they'd have to agree to sleep with German soldiers. Occupied women that were in occupied France were degraded and humiliated daily.
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The U.S. had enough of the German Empire committing acts of war against Americans. But first, Germany declared war first. Germany's submarine attacks and merchant ships led to the decision. A German troop leader didn't want submarine warfare because it would put the U.S. on behalf of the Allies, resulting in Germany's defeat. America won by trapping the German army in France and Belgium.
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During WWI, there was a disease going around but nobody knew from where. Kansas was the first to report the influenza. That era was often called the 1918 flu pandemic. Just like ours today. This was important because it was a flu killing millions of people and it was most likely found in a military personnel. So, there it was killing civilians, the army, everyone. It killed about 50 million people worldwide. Other than the war going on, people still had to worry about their health and safety.
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"The current takes the three barges in its grasp & threatens to sweep the entire convoy ashore. With the mate on the last barge working frantically with his pole to keep us in the center of the river." Him and his troops were traveling by river alike many other army soldiers. He got to feel the anxiousness about if he's getting swept away into the current or the feeling of teamwork helping his troops through the river.
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"Antwerp was made through the battle zone with most of the towns leveled to the ground. We passed Bras at 1:30 PM where not a house was standing, which had a cemetery with 10,000 French soldiers. We stopped at 6:10 PM and spent the night at Samogneux." During Edward's travels, he passed through a battle zone and sees houses burned to the ground and many dead soldiers. He starts realizing that this is real and many are fighting for their lives.
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"The governor made a speech after which I was pushed up on a box to thank the people for their kind reception given our dead, in my poor French. The barges were then literally covered with beautiful wreaths and flowers. The band then played the American and Belgium anthems as we proceeded to the next lock with the cavalry still accompanying us." Edward & some troops showed up to a town and they were welcomed with a celebration and a thank you. He loved what they were doing for him & others.
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"We finally pulled into our quai at 3:30 PM—22 days after we had started from Toule, France—where I turned over the three barges and papers into the care of the officer in charge. As long as I live I will never forget this trip and the kindness, courtesy and thoughtfulness of the Belgium people and the sympathy they exhibited to our American Dead." This was the end of his journey. He knew who he was fighting for and always remembered his lost friends and soldiers in the end.
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"I was mustered out of the army in France and obtained a job with the American Graves Registration Service which was just being organized in Paris. I worked in the field with Section #1, covering most of France and Belgium". This is important because he was in the army and he had to find a regular job too. There were many people like him that got out of the army or retired and had to find a new living before they are out on the streets with no money.
