Word War I

Information Director Elmer Davis, who has a purist's regard for history and one of the driest humors in Washington, last week handed his assistants a sly rebuke. Said a Davis memo:

In material issued by OWI, the phrase World War I is not to be used unless referring to the War of the Grand Alliance, nor the phrase World War II unless referring to the War of the Spanish Succession.

Only danger was that some literal-minded OWI newcomer might some day refer to the defeat of the French armies at Blenheim by Austria's Prince Eugene, might label it a World War II* development, might thus thoroughly mystify the U.S. public.

*The locutions World War I and World War II originated in the pages of TIME.

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