We were live earlier today from memorial inr norfolk, virginia. Next youll hear about the wartime role of the u. S. Navy, as well as archaeological work on the trenches of the western front area our symposium concludes with a panel on the war felt like his. The wars legacy. Good morning. How is everyone this fine morning area this fine morning . Welcome to the city of norfolk for those of you who have not been here before. It has been my honor and privilege to be the director here at the macarthur memorial right in the heart of downtown norfolk virginia. We were dedicated back in 1964. Our mission is to interpret the life and times of general Douglas Macarthur and in his words, look toward the future but do not neglect the past. That spirit we are gathered here today. For much of the world, the key events of general macarthurs life this is part of a coordinated strategy lasting from this year, 2014, all the way into 2019 area and stay tuned. Like this be more coming. We have two floors
[inaudible] youre watching American History tv. Like in the conversation us on facebook. In American Hats history tv, today were bringing you live coverage of world war one. Good morning everybody. To the macarthur memorial. For the last 14 months it has be the honor to director here at macarthur memorial. In a ld like to stand special welcome to our audience that is watching around the world in American History tv. In a mission 1964 use general macarthurs words to look for the future based on the past. That is why we are gathered here today. In many ways helped shape his future. Todays event will mark the of the first ial world war. Building next ial to us, the general is buried next to his wife. You can explore the museum while you are here. And this time i want to thank to put this helped symposium, without them we would not be here today. The city of norfolk, southern bank, hampton rd. , museum. You to all partners. [applause] before we get going. First of all, please silence your
From the mcarthur memorial in norfolk, virginia, where the world war i centennial symposium is on its lunch break. Until they return were joined by Sean Mcmeekin, author of july 1914 countdown to war. Mr. Mcmeekin appreciate you joining us on American History tv. Thank you for having me. Its a pleasure to be here. A century since world war i, there continues to be a debate about which nation was responsible for the start of the First World War. Take us back to america in 1914. 1915, 1916. Was that debate about who was responsible taking place in the United States at that time . It was not necessarily the most important question in u. S. Politics. I think probably for the Woodrow Wilson administration, the key thing was to keep the United States out of the war. I think certainly if there had been a different president in the white house, possibly theodore roosevelt, might have taken a different line. He was quite clear about the fact in 1914 that i think he saw the germans as, if not ne
Thank you for having me. Its a pleasure to be here. A century since world war i, there continues to be a debate about which nation was responsible for the start of the First World War. Take us back to america in 1914. 1915, 1916. Was that debate about who was responsible taking place in the United States at that time . It was not necessarily the most important question in u. S. Politics. I think probably for the Woodrow Wilson administration, the key thing was to keep the United States out of the war. I think certainly if there had been a different president in the white house, possibly theodore roosevelt, might have taken a different line. He was quite clear about the fact in 1914 that i think he saw the germans as, if not necessarily to blame for the war, then certainly a greater threat for the United States than the entente powers, france, britain and russia. As far as 1916, again once again Woodrow Wilson was running for office, in part on the pledge of keeping the United States ou
Zigzagging pla noofr th ingin g were taught to avoid being hit by a torpedo. In essence, it is like not being hit by a sniper. In doing this they came across an area called Diamond Shoals. Though the shells werent doing that much damage, the bottom of the ocean did. So it slammed into the shoals and ran aground and was stuck hard aground and still being shelled. Now during the process of this, the Diamond Shoals life ship this was a purposebuilt light ship built in 1899, was anchored over Diamond Shoals for the specific pumps of warning ships that you can run aground there. It was sitting there, crew of five folks on board. They had this huge mushroom anchor. Between firing up the blows and removing that mushroom anchor it generally took them about five hours to get under way. So its not very efficient, as very much considered a stationary vessel. They usually didnt move at all, and was relieved by crew from another vessel. They were close enough to the merrick that they were able to s