ll, what then?'

'Has there been any appeal to the nation to repent of its sins? There
have been Proclamations from the throne: has there ever been one calling
upon the people of the British Empire to pray? Have we, as a nation,
been asked to link ourselves to the power of Almighty God? Has the
Government ever endeavoured to make the people feel that our victory is
in God's hands, and that we must look to Him for help? Have we not, I
ask, as far as the Government is concerned, been fighting this war as
though God didn't exist?'

'But, my dear man,' said the Cabinet Minister, 'you as a soldier must
know that chaplains are sent out with the Forces, that the soldiers have
to attend Church Parade, and that prayer is offered by the chaplains for
our victory? How can you say then that the war has been conducted as
though God didn't exist?'

'I know what all that means,' replied Edgecumbe. 'I have been at the
front for a good many months, and I know what it means. I recognize,
too, all the splendid work that has been done by the chaplains; many of
them are fine fellows. But I want to get a bit deeper. I want to know
what steps have been taken to make the nation realize that primarily
victory is in the hands of Almighty God. I want to know, too, what steps
have been taken to make the soldiers know what they are fighting for. We
have in the Army now several millions, and they are all being instructed
in the use of rifle shooting, machine-guns, bayonet work, and so on.
Have any steps been taken to instruct them as to the nature of the cause
we are fighting for, and of our ultimate aims and purposes? Have they
ever been imbued with the idea of what Germanism means, and of our
ultimate aims and ideals? In a word, have the soldiers been instructed
that this is God's war, and that they are fighting for a holy cause?'

The Cabinet Minister laughed. Edgecumbe's question seemed too absurd to
answer. Then he said somewhat uneasily, 'Prayers are said in the
churches every Sunday.'

'And from what I hear, only about one person in ten goes to Church.'

'What are you driving at?' and there was a touch of impatience in the
Minister's voice.

'Only this,' replied Edgecumbe, 'if this is simply a war of brute force
against brute force, then doubtless the Government is going on the right
tack. But if it is more,--if it is a war of God against the devil, of
right against wrong, of the forces of heaven against the forces of h