eves that war is a
virtue, and that Germany is called by God to go to war; she worships
the War God; she rejoices in it; lives for it. It is preached from her
pulpits; it is taught in her schools; it is interwoven into the warp
and woof of German life. Because of this they have altered the New
Testament. Instead of preaching, 'Blessed are the peace-makers,' they
preach, 'Blessed are the war-makers,' and they believe that the
Almighty intends them to make war."

"Yes," replied Mr. Scarsfield, "I must admit that. I have read those
writers you mention; read them with a sad heart."

"When I read them," said Bob, "I was obliged to throw them away from
me, as if I had been touching unclean things. I too was brought up to
believe in peace at any price, and I hated war as I hate hell itself;
so much did I hate it, that I refused to enlist in the English Army and
alienated those who were dearest to me. Before I enlisted, I fought
the biggest battle of my life. Presently I realised the meaning of the
German creed; I saw the inwardness and ghastliness of their so-called
Gospel of War; I saw that to carry out their purpose they were willing
to sacrifice honour and to crush humanity. I saw that they professed
friendship in order to betray us; I saw that while they accepted our
hospitality in England, they filled our country with spies in the hope
that when the time was ready, and they made war upon us, they would use
those spies for our destruction. I saw that they regarded a treaty as
something that could be thrown off like an old garment, and I saw they
were determined on war. What could we do? You do not believe, I
suppose, that the murder of the Crown Prince of Austria was the cause
of this war? No one believes that it was anything but a pretext.
Germany made war--a war for which she had been preparing for a quarter
of a century. She signed the Treaty to protect Belgium; she gave her
word of honour as a nation that Belgium's neutrality and integrity
should be maintained. Then she signed her ultimatum to Belgium, and
told her that if she did not allow the German Army to pass through
Belgium country in order to crush France, she should be treated as an
enemy. When our Ambassador in Berlin pleaded that Germany had signed a
treaty to protect Belgium, what was the reply? 'Will you go to war
with us just for a scrap of paper?' That is what the war spirit means
in Germany. They cannot understand how the honour of a n