"That is debatable, isn't it, sir?" "Debatable? No! You are not such a fool as to believe that this war is on account of the Servian assassination? That is a mere flimsy pretext--one of the flimsiest ever known. I have read all about it to-day. Austria had practically agreed to live at peace with Servia, to allow Servia to retain her independence. The trouble was, to all intents and purposes, patched up, and then Germany insisted on an impossible ultimatum. Austria would never have declared war on Servia had not Germany given her orders to do so. Here is a letter written by Sir Maurice de Bunsen, on July 26. He states plainly that Germany wanted war, that she had schemes in Asia Minor which she wanted to carry out. She believed that by war with Servia she would be able to accomplish her purposes. She believed that Russia would keep quiet during the time Austria worked her will, and as de Bunsen says, 'Germany knew very well what she was about in backing up Austria-Hungary in this matter.'" "Yes, sir, that is all very well, but that does not make war right. Personally, I find it easy to believe that Germany was the aggressor in this case; I believe, too, that Russia decided to stand by Servia not for the sake of the Servians, but for her own interests; that does not justify her in dragging the whole of Europe into war." "Yes, but are you mad, my boy? The Servian business was only the beginning of it. Of course, when Russia prepared to protect Servia, Germany, knowing that the war she had been trying to bring about must come some time, declared war on Russia. Then, without giving France a chance, she invaded Luxemburg and French territory; don't you see?" "I do not see how that makes war right, sir." "No, but when Germany invaded Belgium, broke all treaty rights, and Belgium asked us to protect her what were we to do?" "Admiral," said Bob, "I believe you pretend to be a Christian." "Yes, of course I do, but what has that to do with it?" "Do you happen to believe in 'The Sermon on the Mount'?" "Good Lord, yes! Isn't it our Lord's own words?" "Then I want to ask you how a man can reconcile the teaching of 'The Sermon on the Mount' with bloody warfare such as this is to be?" The Admiral was nonplussed for a moment; he was a simple seaman, and not versed in the philosophy of ethics. "Look here, my boy!" he cried passionately, "if I know anything about Christianity, it teaches a man to be honourable, truthful, and to keep his word. I would not give a fig for any Christian who did not keep his word. Well, we gave our word to Belgium. The Germans did so, too, but, like the brutes they are, they violated theirs, and when Belgium appealed to us, and asked us to keep our word, could we refuse? Could any Christian refuse? No, by gad, no!" "But, Admiral, don't you see that----" "Look here, Bob, I want no more talking. Are you going to back out of your duty, or are you going to play the game like a man?"