-
Franco - Russian Alliance
This alliance was a political and military pact formed by France and Russia. It started out as friendly contacts in 1891 but then turned into a secret treaty in 1894. It became one of the basic European alignments of pre-World War 1. In the event of war, France wanted support against Germany and Russia, against Austria-Hungary. -
The Lusitania Sinks
The Lusitania was launched in 1906 and its purpose was to carry passengers on transatlantic voyages. When World War 1 began in 1914, the ship remained a passenger ship, although it was secretly modified for war. Then, on May 7, 1915, a German U-boat torpedoed the British-owned ship, killing 1,195 people, including 128 Americans. This was one of the disasters that set off a chain of events, causing the U.S. to enter World War 1. -
Battle of Jutland
This two-day battle was the largest naval battle of World War 1. It was the only time that British and German fleets of battleships had fought. The Battle of Jutland involved around 250 ships and around 10,000 men. Though the ending of this battle failed to achieve the victory each side hoped for, it proved Britain’s naval dominance and secured its control of shipping lanes. This allowed Britain to implement a maritime blockade, that contributed to Germany’s defeat in 1918. -
Battle of the Somme
This battle was one of the bloodiest battles of World War 1. This happened when the Allies developed a plan to have a “Big Push” on the Western Front. That would happen with attacks by Russia and Italy somewhere else. At 7:30 am on July 1, 1916, 14 British divisions attacked. During the first day alone, the British suffered over 57,000 casualties. Many more attacks happened that caused 25,000 more casualties for the British. -
Officially said goodbye to family
He went to Mass and received Holy Communion in the morning, then went to eat breakfast. He stood on the steps of the front porch for 15 minutes before he felt the strength to say goodbye. He only said goodbye to his sister, Mary, because his mom was sick, and was staying at Uncle Patrick’s house. Then later in the morning, at the armory, a few more people came to say goodbye. In the afternoon there was a farewell parade, where he saw many friends and said goodbye. -
Went on guard at Post #4
At 5:00 pm, he went on guard at Post #4. At around midnight, many others came, plenty of them were feeling good. At around 2 am, they went to mess with the officers. Around 15 of them went up to the Officers’ sleeping quarters and each man grabbed a hold of an officer’s cot. When someone blew the whistle, they would tip the officer out of their cot, put the cot upside down on top of them, and then start beating it. Some officers wished the war would be over right then. -
Arrived at Camp for Drills
He arrived in Camp Spartanburg, South Carolina. They had been traveling to various locations before they arrived to camp. It was a very large change. It was the first time that they had become disciplined soldiers. This was because they had never taken the officers seriously. They did a lot of hard work and drilling, digging ditches, cutting down trees, building roads, and many other things. -
First time for actual guard duty
He went on guard at 4:30pm at Post #4. It was raining. They work 2 hours on duty and 4 hours off duty. At all times when they are off, they must stay at the guard house. The guard house is an ordinary squad tent, but it has 14 men in it. -
Getting ready to leave on a ship, sent home a telegram to mom
Those 7 days were spent getting ready to leave since orders could be given at any moment. Everyone seems to be very excited. He knows that it can’t be long before they have to go on the ship so he sends home a telegram to Mom for $25. He knew if he sent something to his mom saying they were going overseas, she would get excited. He also had to pay his insurance and sent home $15 a month for his sister Mary and his mom. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was a peace document signed by the Allied and associated powers and by Germany at the end of World War 1. This treaty was drafted in the spring of 1919 during the Paris Peace Conference. It was signed in the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles, France, on June 28, 1919. Though it took force on January 10, 1920.