Chapter IX Nom de Guerre

* * * * * On April 2nd, 1917, the United States declared war upon Germany, and the cork was out of the bottle at last. Altogether a fine effervescent moment. Conscription was passed by acclamation—there was no sentimental time-wasting over the Voluntary System in this case—and within a few weeks some twelve million able-bodied young Americans had registered for service. For the moment they could do no more. They had no arms or equipment: as in England, the peace-at-any-price party had se…