Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• German seaplanes spot British reinforcements: nine battlecruisers approaching from three directions.
• Vice Admirals Hipper and Spee express confidence in their fleet's superiority.
• British battleships King George V and Ajax are relentlessly attacked by the German fleet.
• Ajax is critically hit and sinks within minutes, with heavy loss of life.
• Admiral Beatty, aboard the battlecruiser Tiger, vows revenge upon learning of the Ajax's sinking.

Character Developments

• Vice Admirals Hipper and Spee exhibit overconfidence in their fleet's capabilities.
• Rear Admiral Carroll experiences despair and disbelief at the Royal Navy's losses.
• Admiral Beatty's anger and determination grow as he learns of the Ajax's sinking.

Significant Themes

• The disparity in naval power between the British and German fleets.
• The brutal nature of naval warfare and its impact on sailors.
• The psychological toll of battle on naval officers.

Character Interactions

• Vice Admirals Hipper and Spee exchange confident remarks about their fleet's strength.
• Rear Admiral Carroll communicates with his crew, expressing hope for reinforcements.
• Admiral Beatty receives news of the Ajax's sinking from a staff officer and vows revenge.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The British fleet, led by Vice Admiral David Beatty, suffers heavy losses (three out of four King George V-class battleships sunk) against the German Commerce Raiding Fleet's Encirclement Offensive.
• Beatty orders the remaining ships to advance and destroy the German battlecruisers, despite the high stakes.
• The German fleet, led by Vice Admirals Spee and Hipper, damages the last British battleship, King George V, but retreats when British reinforcements arrive.
• The King George V limps away from the battle, while the British and German fleets prepare for a renewed clash.
• Four Iron Duke-class battleships approach the battlefield, prompting the German fleet to retreat temporarily to regroup with Admiral Scheer before engaging in a decisive battle.

Character Developments

• Vice Admiral David Beatty shows determination to press on despite heavy losses, understanding the political consequences of retreat.
• Rear Admiral Carroll, commanding the King George V, feels relieved to escape but anticipates potential blame for the Royal Navy's heavy losses.
• Vice Admirals Spee and Hipper demonstrate strategic thinking, deciding to retreat when faced with overwhelming odds to regroup and fight another day.

Significant Themes

• The high cost of war and the pressure to achieve victory at any cost.
• Strategic retreat as a viable military tactic when faced with superior enemy forces.
• The political implications of military losses and the potential scapegoating of high-ranking officers.

Character Interactions

• Beatty's officers express concern about the heavy losses and the wisdom of continuing the battle.
• Spee and Hipper confer and decide to retreat to avoid encirclement by the British fleet.
• Carroll receives orders from Beatty to withdraw the King George V for repairs and allow the main fleet to continue the fight.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The German High Seas Fleet accelerates northwest, spotting the British Iron Duke-class battleships.
• Vice Admiral Beatty's plan to ambush the German Commerce Raiding Fleet is foiled.
• The British Navy pursues the Germans with nine battlecruisers and four battleships.
• The German Navy's Derfflinger-class battlecruisers, the most powerful in the world, prepare to engage.
• Admiral Reinhard Scheer, commanding the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron, races south to join the battle.

Character Developments

• Vice Admiral Beatty's initial plan is thwarted, forcing him to engage the Germans head-on.
• Admiral Reinhard Scheer is confident in the German Navy's superiority and aims to cripple the British Navy.

Significant Themes

• The power and importance of intelligence and surveillance in naval warfare.
• The strategic value of superior ship design and performance.
• The potential turning point in the naval balance of power between Germany and Britain.

Character Interactions

• Vice Admiral Beatty and his staff discuss and adapt to the changing situation.
• Vice Admirals Spee and Hipper coordinate their forces, confident in their battlecruisers' superiority.
• Admiral Reinhard Scheer communicates with his subordinates and formulates a plan to exploit the British Navy's commitment to the battle.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Admiral Reinhard Scheer splits the German naval force into two to engage the British Royal Navy's battleships and battlecruisers separately.
• The German Derfflinger-class battlecruisers, despite being outnumbered, are sent against the British Iron Duke-class battleships due to their superior performance and armor.
• The German raiding fleet's battlecruisers increase speed to widen the gap between the British battlecruisers and battleships, aiming to engage them separately.
• The British 1st Battleship Squadron, under Rear Admiral Robertson, falls behind the battlecruisers and encounters three German Derfflinger-class battlecruisers.
• Robertson realizes the German trap and sends a telegram to Admiral Beatty warning him about the German heavy warships.

Character Developments

• Admiral Scheer demonstrates strategic thinking and confidence in his ships' capabilities.
• Rear Admiral Robertson shows determination and quick thinking in recognizing the German trap and alerting Admiral Beatty.

Significant Themes

• The importance of ship performance and design in naval warfare, alongside numerical advantage.
• The strategic use of speed and positioning to gain an advantage in battle.
• The German Navy's confidence in their ships' capabilities and their desire to widen the gap with the British Navy.

Character Interactions

• Admiral Scheer communicates his plan to Vice Admirals Spee and Hipper, who express confidence in his strategy and enthusiasm for the upcoming battle.
• Rear Admiral Robertson interacts with his crew, showing concern for their safety while expressing his desire to engage and defeat the German forces.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Vice Admiral Beatty leads the British battlecruiser fleet in pursuit of the German High Seas Fleet.
• The German fleet slows down and begins to turn, preparing for battle.
• The British fleet also turns to engage the Germans, with both sides moving towards a parallel course.
• The British encounter three powerful German warships equipped with 380mm main guns.
• Vice Admiral Beatty decides to press on, ordering the battlecruiser squadron to close the distance with the Germans and reinforce the fleet facing the powerful German warships.

Character Developments

• Vice Admiral Beatty shows determination to avenge the lost British capital ships and defeat the German Navy.
• He demonstrates strategic thinking and adaptability, ordering his fleet to turn and engage the Germans despite the discovery of powerful enemy warships.
• Beatty also shows concern for the safety of his ships and crew, acknowledging the risk of pushing the boilers too hard.

Significant Themes

• The technological advancements of the German Navy, particularly in oil-fired boilers and steam turbines, which allow them to match or surpass British speeds without compromising protection.
• The importance of intelligence gathering and the consequences of inadequate information, as seen in the British intelligence department's failure to obtain information about the powerful German warships.
• The determination and resolve of the British Navy to defend their nation and the Royal Navy's reputation, even in the face of adversity.

Character Interactions

• Vice Admiral Beatty interacts with his staff officers, receiving reports and issuing orders.
• He also addresses the officers and men of the British Navy, rallying their spirits and emphasizing the importance of their mission.
• The Chief Engineer expresses concern about pushing the boilers too hard, highlighting the tension between Beatty's orders and the ship's safety.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The British Royal Navy is ordered to delay three German battlecruisers to buy time for Admiral Beatty's fleet to defeat the Germans' raiding fleet.
• Rear Admiral Robertson, commanding four Iron Duke-class battleships, decides to engage the Germans head-on, knowing their slow speed puts them at a disadvantage.
• Both the British and German fleets prepare for battle, with each side targeting the other's flagship.
• Vice Admiral Beatty's battlecruiser fleet also engages the German raiding fleet, with the British outnumbering the Germans but facing formidable opponents.

Character Developments

• Rear Admiral Robertson shows determination and strategic thinking but also acknowledges the dire situation and lack of confidence in victory.
• Admiral Reinhard Scheer displays confidence in his fleet's capabilities and orders a decisive attack.
• Vice Admiral David Beatty acknowledges his fleet's weaknesses and devises a strategy to use numerical superiority to compensate for their inferior ships.

Significant Themes

• The challenge of facing overwhelming odds and the need to adapt strategies accordingly.
• The importance of numerical superiority in naval warfare, balanced against the quality and capabilities of individual ships.
• The role of confidence and determination in leadership.

Character Interactions

• Rear Admiral Robertson and Admiral Scheer are both aware of each other's presence and focus on targeting the enemy's flagship.
• Vice Admiral Beatty interacts with his fleet, assigning targets and expressing determination to win despite the challenges posed by their opponents.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Royal Navy's battlecruisers engage the German Navy's battlecruisers at a range of 15,000 meters.
• The German Navy gains an advantage due to their superior armor-piercing capability and the Royal Navy's inferior defenses.
• The Von der Tann scores the first hit on the Australia at 11:45 a.m.
• The Derfflinger-class battlecruisers engage the Iron Duke-class battleships.
• Both sides fight desperately, aware of the battle's decisive nature.

Character Developments

• Vice Admiral David Beatty faces a difficult situation after the German Navy's trap nearly wipes out the bait fleet.
• Imperial Crown Prince Oscar hopes to secure an early advantage for the German Navy.

Significant Themes

• The importance of defensive capability and survivability in naval combat.
• The decisive nature of the battle and its potential impact on the war's outcome.
• The Royal Navy's struggle against the German Navy's superior tactics and weapons.

Character Interactions

• The Royal Navy and German Navy crews engage in intense combat, with both sides aware of the battle's significance.
• Vice Admiral Beatty and Imperial Crown Prince Oscar both fight to secure victory for their respective nations.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A brutal naval battle ensues between British and German battlecruisers.
• HMS Queen Mary and SMS Goeben achieve straddles, but neither gains a decisive advantage.
• HMS Indomitable is hit and damaged, eventually forced to withdraw.
• HMS Indefatigable is later hit and destroyed by SMS Blücher.

Character Developments

• Vice Admiral David Beatty prays for victory, initially lacks confidence, but ultimately makes strategic decisions to preserve his fleet.
• Vice Admiral Hipper and Vice Admiral Spee work together, focusing on crippling British ships to gain an advantage.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of prioritizing speed and firepower over armor in warship design.
• The brutal nature of naval warfare and the high stakes involved.
• The importance of strategic decision-making in battle.

Character Interactions

• Beatty and his staff discuss the battle's progress and Indomitable's withdrawal.
• Hipper and Spee collaborate, ordering Lothringen to attack Indefatigable and later Blücher to target Indefatigable.
• No significant interactions between British and German characters are depicted in this chapter.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The British and German fleets engage in a battlecruiser duel at a range of 15,000 meters.
• The German 380mm Main Gun outclasses the British 343mm Main Gun in range and destructive power.
• HMS Marlborough struggles to hit the German battlecruiser Derfflinger under pressure.
• German battlecruisers SMS Lützow and Hindenburg achieve straddles and begin concentrated fire on British battleships HMS Benbow and HMS Emperor of India.
• A British shell hits Derfflinger's conning tower but fails to penetrate, demonstrating the German ship's formidable armor.
• A German shell hits HMS Emperor of India, destroying its No. 2 and No. 1 main turrets, incapacitating 40% of its firepower.

Character Developments

• Rear Admiral Robertson hopes for a victory to gain merit and promotion but is disheartened by the German ships' resilience.
• Admiral Scheer, commanding the German fleet, remains unharmed after the British shell hits his conning tower.

Significant Themes

• The power and range of the 380mm Main Gun as a decisive factor in naval combat.
• The psychological impact of pressure on performance, as seen in HMS Marlborough's struggles.
• The resilience and thick armor of German battlecruisers, challenging British assumptions.

Character Interactions

• Rear Admiral Robertson orders HMS Marlborough to fire on Derfflinger, placing immense pressure on the ship's captain and crew.
• The German battlecruisers coordinate their fire, demonstrating precision and clinical efficiency.
• The British and German fleets engage in a brutal, intense duel, with each hit claiming countless lives.

Key Plot Points and Events

• HMS Emperor of India is heavily damaged and later sunk by SMS Hindenburg.
• Rear Admiral Robertson realizes the futility of engaging three German battlecruisers with four Iron Duke-class battleships.
• Admiral Reinhard Scheer orders SMS Hindenburg to sink HMS Emperor of India within ten minutes.
• HMS Emperor of India is sunk, with no survivors.
• Admiral Scheer orders a shift in targets, making it a three-on-three battle.
• Vice Admiral Beatty receives news of HMS Emperor of India's sinking and realizes the dire situation.

Character Developments

• Rear Admiral Robertson becomes increasingly desperate as his ships are destroyed.
• Admiral Scheer grows more confident and aggressive as the battle progresses.
• Vice Admiral Beatty starts to understand the gravity of the situation and the power of the German ships.

Significant Themes

• The power of modern naval artillery and its impact on battleship durability.
• The importance of numerical advantage in naval warfare.
• The desperation and urgency of the situation, with both sides pushing for victory.

Character Interactions

• Rear Admiral Robertson and his staff discuss the battle's progress and send urgent messages to Vice Admiral Beatty.
• Admiral Scheer and his staff celebrate their victories and plan their next moves.
• Vice Admiral Beatty receives updates from Rear Admiral Robertson and considers his options.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Royal Navy, led by Vice Admiral David Beatty, engages the German Navy in a fierce battle.
• The British battlecruisers Indomitable and Indefatigable are heavily damaged and sunk, leaving the Royal Navy with seven battlecruisers.
• The German battlecruiser SMS Seydlitz is damaged and withdraws from the battle.
• The British battlecruisers Australia and Indomitable are sunk, leaving both sides with five battlecruisers each.
• Vice Admiral Beatty orders a retreat.

Character Developments

• Vice Admiral David Beatty shows resilience and strategic thinking, first rallying his troops and later ordering a retreat to preserve strength.
• Vice Admiral Hipper and Vice Admiral Spee exhibit confidence in the German Navy's superiority and make strategic decisions based on that belief.

Significant Themes

• The theme of life and death in battle, with both sides fighting fiercely and suffering heavy losses.
• The importance of strategic retreat to preserve strength, as demonstrated by Vice Admiral Beatty's decision.
• The belief in one's own strength and the underestimation of the enemy, shown by the German admirals' overconfidence.

Character Interactions

• Vice Admiral Beatty interacts with his staff officers, rallying their spirits and later accepting their assessment of the situation.
• Vice Admiral Hipper and Vice Admiral Spee interact, discussing the battle's progress and making joint decisions.
• The interactions between the admirals and their respective fleets show the impact of their leadership on morale and combat effectiveness.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Vice Admiral Beatty orders a retreat, saving some battlecruisers but sacrificing three Iron Duke-class battleships.
• The German Navy, confused by the British retreat, decides not to pursue and instead focuses on sinking the remaining British battleships.
• Rear Admiral Robertson, commanding the Iron Duke, curses Beatty's order but holds position until his ship is sunk.
• The German Navy successfully sinks the three remaining British battleships, ending the battle with a decisive victory.

Character Developments

• Vice Admiral David Beatty: Shows strategic thinking by ordering a retreat to save some ships, accepting losses on the Iron Duke-class battleships.
• Rear Admiral Robertson: Resists Beatty's order but follows it, fighting until his ship is sunk, displaying loyalty and resilience.
• Admiral Reinhard Scheer: Shows determination to maximize German gains, ordering the pursuit and sinking of the remaining British battleships.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice for the greater good: Beatty's decision to save some ships at the cost of others.
• Loyalty and duty: Robertson's resistance to Beatty's order but ultimate compliance, fighting until the end.
• Determination and resilience: Both sides display unyielding resolve, fighting despite knowing the odds are against them.

Character Interactions

• Beatty and Robertson: Beatty's order and Robertson's resistance highlight the tension between strategic decisions and individual feelings of duty.
• German Navy Commanders (Hipper, Spee, and Scheer): They discuss the British retreat, decide not to pursue, and plan to finish off the remaining battleships, showing unity in command.

Key Plot Points and Events

• British merchant ships, carrying urgent war supplies, need to safely return to Britain after completing their decoy mission.
• Six British Navy Destroyers, led by Major Edward on the 'Lafrey' Destroyer, are tasked with protecting the merchant ships.
• German submarines, including Dönitz's U-039, are sent as a backup plan to attack the British Navy's main fleet or the merchant convoy.
• Dönitz's submarine spots the British convoy and prepares to attack.

Character Developments

• Major Edward: Confident in the Royal Navy's victory but aware of the threat posed by German capital ships.
• Dönitz: Eager to sink British capital ships, sees the merchant convoy as a valuable target.

Significant Themes

• The importance of war supplies and their safe transportation.
• The vulnerability of merchant ships compared to capital ships.
• The desperation of both sides to gain an advantage in the war.

Character Interactions

• Major Edward and Captain Martin discuss the safety of the merchant ships and express confidence in the Royal Navy's victory.
• Dönitz and his crew discuss their mission, the ongoing battle, and the sighting of the British convoy.

Key Plot Points and Events

• U-039, commanded by Dönitz, trails a British convoy and reports its position to other German submarines.
• A coordinated attack by nine German submarines (a 'wolf pack') is launched on the convoy.
• The submarines sink several British merchant ships using torpedoes.
• British destroyers counterattack, dropping depth charges, but the German submarines evade and withdraw after running out of torpedoes.

Character Developments

• Dönitz demonstrates strategic planning and calm decision-making under pressure.
• Major Edward and Captain Martin show concern for their ships and crew, ordering counterattacks against the submarines.

Significant Themes

• Stealth and Surprise: German submarines use their stealth to launch surprise attacks, while the British struggle to locate and counter them.
• Coordination vs. Disorganization: The German submarines' coordinated attack causes chaos and disorganization among the British convoy.
• Limited Resources: Both sides face limitations—German submarines must withdraw once they run out of torpedoes, while British destroyers struggle to locate submerged submarines.

Character Interactions

• Dönitz communicates efficiently with other submarines, directing their movements.
• Major Edward and Captain Martin work together, trying to protect their convoy and counter the submarine threat.
• There's no direct interaction between German and British forces, as the submarines attack from underwater and withdraw before significant surface engagement.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The British Naval Ministry awaits news of a critical naval battle against Germany.
• Vice Admiral David Beatty's fleet, consisting of nine battlecruisers and eight battleships, engages the German Navy.
• The British receive news of their defeat, plunging the Naval Ministry into crisis.

Character Developments

• Winston Churchill (First Sea Lord): Becomes increasingly anxious and concerned about the outcome of the battle, showing his commitment to Britain's naval dominance and the empire's survival.
• Admiral John Jellicoe (Commander of the Grand Fleet): Demonstrates strategic thinking by proposing alternative plans if Beatty's mission fails, displaying his dedication and resilience in the face of potential defeat.

Significant Themes

• British Naval Supremacy: The British Empire's reliance on its powerful navy for global dominance is challenged by Germany, leading to a crisis of confidence.
• Unacceptability of Defeat: The British government and public view defeat as intolerable, highlighting their determination to maintain their status as a world power.
• Strategic Planning and Adaptation: Both Churchill and Jellicoe consider and discuss contingency plans, showing their ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Character Interactions

• Churchill and Jellicoe: They discuss the battle's outcome, potential consequences, and alternative strategies, demonstrating their collaborative approach to leadership and mutual respect.
• Churchill and the Staff Officer: The staff officer delivers the news of defeat, highlighting Churchill's initial shock and disbelief at the outcome.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The British Navy suffers a catastrophic defeat, losing seven battleships and three battlecruisers, with two more heavily damaged.
• The Germans fielded battlecruisers with 380mm guns, catching the British off guard.
• The British merchant convoy is attacked by German submarines, resulting in the loss of fourteen ships.

Character Developments

• Winston Churchill (First Sea Lord) is shocked and panicked by the extent of the naval defeat.
• Admiral John Jellicoe (First Sea Lord's deputy) provides detailed reports on the battle and the need for new, better-armored ships.

Significant Themes

• The importance of intelligence and preparedness in warfare.
• The consequences of prioritizing firepower and speed over defense in warship design.
• The impact of naval defeats on a nation's morale and resources.

Character Interactions

• Churchill and Jellicoe discuss the battle's details, the Royal Navy's current state, and the need for new ships.
• Churchill curses the intelligence department and vows to settle accounts with them.
• Churchill and Jellicoe are both shocked and panicked by the additional losses of merchant ships.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The British Cabinet meets to discuss a devastating naval defeat.
• The Royal Navy has lost several capital ships, including battlecruisers and battleships, and more are severely damaged.
• The Germans ambushed the British fleet with superior firepower, exploiting a fundamental flaw in British ship design that prioritizes speed and firepower over defense.

Character Developments

• Winston Churchill (First Sea Lord) delivers the grim report and explains the strategic mistakes leading to the defeat.
• Prime Minister Asquith is shocked and furious, realizing the gravity of the situation and the potential loss of British sea power and empire.
• Cabinet ministers express panic and disbelief, recognizing the dire consequences of a Royal Navy defeat.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of strategic mistakes and underestimating the enemy.
• The potential loss of British sea power and empire due to military defeat.
• The responsibility of leaders in times of crisis and the potential fallout from their decisions.

Character Interactions

• Churchill briefs the Cabinet on the naval defeat and its causes.
• Prime Minister Asquith questions and reprimands Churchill and the intelligence head.
• Cabinet ministers discuss the implications of the defeat and express their concerns and fears.
• Churchill honestly assesses the dire situation and the likelihood of further defeats.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The British Cabinet discusses the possibility of negotiating with Germany to end the war, but Foreign Minister Sir Edward Grey and Minister of War Richard Haldane argue against it, stating that Germany's ambitions are too great.
• Prime Minister Asquith decides to continue the war, and the Cabinet agrees.
• Naval Minister Churchill presents a plan to rapidly build new battleships and battlecruisers to counter Germany's naval advantage.

Character Developments

• Prime Minister Asquith shows determination to defend the British Empire's interests and hegemonic status.
• Churchill demonstrates his commitment and urgency in rebuilding the Royal Navy's strength.

Significant Themes

• The British Empire's survival and hegemonic status.
• The necessity of maintaining a strong naval force to protect the Empire's interests.
• The determination to continue the war despite significant losses.

Character Interactions

• Asquith and Churchill: Asquith supports Churchill's naval expansion plan, and Churchill works tirelessly to present and secure approval for the plan.
• The Cabinet: The ministers initially consider negotiating with Germany but ultimately unite behind Asquith's decision to continue the war.
• Sir Edward Grey and Richard Haldane: They provide realistic assessments of Germany's ambitions and the current situation, influencing the Cabinet's decision.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty, presents a plan to build 12 battleships and 10 battlecruisers in two years to Prime Minister Asquith.
• The plan includes three classes of battleships (Iron Duke, King George V, Lion) and three classes of battlecruisers (Centurion, Glorious, Hood).
• The cost of these warships is estimated at seven million Pounds Sterling.
• King George V summons Prime Minister Asquith to discuss the recent naval defeat and the Royal Navy's future.

Character Developments

• Churchill demonstrates his confidence in the Royal Navy's capabilities and his determination to win the war.
• Prime Minister Asquith shows his commitment to supporting the Royal Navy despite the high costs and the empire's financial struggles.
• King George V reveals his concern for the empire's naval power and desire for victory.

Significant Themes

• The arms race between the British Empire and Germany.
• The financial strain of war and naval expansion.
• The determination to win the war and maintain the empire's dominance.

Character Interactions

• Churchill presents his shipbuilding plan to Prime Minister Asquith, who supports it despite the high costs.
• King George V expresses his worries about the Royal Navy's future to Prime Minister Asquith, who reassures him of victory.
• Churchill and Prime Minister Asquith share a commitment to winning the war and strengthening the Royal Navy.

Key Plot Points and Events

• King George V approves the Royal Navy's shipbuilding plan, and the royal family contributes £20 million to support it.
• Prime Minister Asquith seeks solutions to protect Britain's maritime supply lines from German commerce raiding.
• Churchill and Sir Edward Grey propose using American ships and trying to drag the U.S. into the war.

Character Developments

• King George V shows enthusiasm for supporting the military and takes pride in Britain's naval power.
• Prime Minister Asquith demonstrates strategic thinking and determination to protect the Empire's interests.
• Churchill and Sir Edward Grey display diplomatic and military acumen in suggesting solutions to Britain's maritime supply crisis.

Significant Themes

• The importance of naval power and maritime supply lines in maintaining Britain's global empire.
• The strategic value of drawing the United States into the war to strengthen the Allied position.
• The challenges of balancing military spending, economic strain, and diplomatic maneuvering during wartime.

Character Interactions

• King George V and Prime Minister Asquith discuss naval matters and the royal family's financial contribution.
• Prime Minister Asquith, Churchill, and Sir Edward Grey collaborate to find solutions to Britain's maritime supply crisis and consider involving the United States in the war.