The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-27
BLOCTON PASTOR DEFENDS GERMANY Rev. s. A. Muller Writes From Cologne, Germany ASKS FOR FAIR PLAY Has Brother Who Left Bride of Six Weeks to Go to Front-Declares
 Belgium Broke Its Own
 Neutrality
 
ASKS FOR FAIR PLAY


 following passionate defense of the course of Germany during the early stages of the European war from the Rev. S. A. Muller, pastor of the Catholic church at Blocton, but who is now in Cologne Germany. un- able to return to America on account of the war.
 The letter was written in English, which is in violation of the rule adopted at the outbreak of hostilties that all comnun,- cations must be written in German. 1t came by way of Italy in an unsealed en- velope in order to allow censors oppor- tunity of examining 1t. Cologne is within a comparatively short distance of the Netherlands border, but MT. Muller evi- dently preferred to send the missive bs' way of Italy
 The letter is addressed to the editer of The Age-Herald and reads as follows
 Dear Sir: Not long ago I sent you a letter, telling you about my trip over the ocean and about the prosperity of Flu rope. Now everything has changed, Eu- rope stands in flames. None of us dreamed of 1t some months ago. How did it all happen?
 First of al let me tell you that Ger many is not responsible for the war. Many American papers have blamed our Emperor. have blamed the German nation for the war. This was not just; this was rot right. History later on will show and everyone will have to believe. The great war of 1914 was forced upon Germany. The German Emperor tried up to the last minute to avoid the crisis. History wilt bis title-lover of peace. When Austria declared war on Servia-to punish nur- derors of Kings Russia interfered imme- diately. Russia had no right to do so. It was q question between Austria and Servia. Austria could prove that the as- 3 ssination of the Archdukn Ferdinand was systematically prepared and planned and that the Servian government knew about it. Austria found revolutionary organ ization in the provinces of southern Aus. tria and insisted upon peace, addressing a number of demands to Servia to sup press the anti-Austrian propaganda. Servia was ready to submit-then a dis
 
 fused. Servia mobilized Not only that few days later Germany heard: The Russian army Is being mobilixed. And then again: France mobilizes, too. Here in Germany everything was quiet and peaceful until then. But now Germany had to act. The Emperor sent one tele- gram after the other to the Czar asking him to preserve the peace and not to mo- bilize his army. All in vain. The crisis was nearing. William II thought the Czar friend: he proved himself an en- cmy. So Emperor William proclaimed the state of war for Germany. But still hopes were there that Russia would recall the mobilization. Russia did not. Russia let pass the time set to answer the ultima tum. France gave an answer that did not speak of peace. There remained nothing else to do: the war was come. And so or, the first day of August the message went like a storm through Germany: Berlin, August IA. Emperor William has ordered the mobilization of the German army" never shall forget that day and the days that followed. when our churches wero filed day and night, when thousands and thousands and thousands of young Ger mans left homo to protect the fatherland, to fight for Germany's existence. A brother of mine. too, left to join the army, left his young wife-he was mar ried only for six weeks--left his home, went to give everything if necessary to defend his country and everything dear tc him. This mobilization is the most wonderful thing, the most gigantic work l have ever seen.
 Belgium broke it's own neutrality French troops were in Liege in Brussels etc. Belgium joined Russia and France; Belgium wanted the war. too. American papers speak much of the cruelties of our soldiers in Belgium. They are lies-thev are not true. No military indecencies." as the New York Tribune said in an edi- torial some weeks ago (see Literary Di- gest, September 12), have yet happened. Soldiers fight soldiers. In Belgium civil ians tnterfered and killed and murdered from behind our soldiers. Therefore they were punished; therefore their villages were burned. So 1t was in Louvain The German officers warned the population again and again to keep quiet and not to interfere. The Louvainists did not care. They did fire. did kill and murder. Lou vain had to suffer for it. But the city house still stands intact. and the cathe- dral has not suffered much. There are laws of war The greatest law is: Only soldiers fight-civilians never must inter fere. In war like this many things hap pen, many lies are told. The German sol. diers do not commit any cruelties: they are not barbarians.
 What about England? England. too. wanted the war England always was jealous of Germany. England joined Rus sia and France that Germany may bo wiped out and Moscovite barbarism may rule Europe.
 appeal to you not to believe all the lies of Germany's enemies. There Is no cable at our disposition; we cannot de- fend ourselves. It's a funny thing to read the American papers that come over here with the news from our enemies islanders and lies. America should not believe them. The end of the war will force those papers anyhow to admit the truth. American papers should be real good, fine papers, intellectual papers ana not funny" papers. It's not fair, it's not right
 Now the war is going on. believe HI Gods minister that my country is fight ing for just cause. fighting for its ex- istence. Therefore we have success, Ger man arms. German prayers. God Al mighty will give us victory. Sincerely,