The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-26
is SAD YULETIDE
Pail of War Hangs Heavily
Over Oberammergau.
Disarmament Only Solution
for World Peace"
BY CARL w. ACKERMAN.

Oberammergau, Bavaria, Dec 20
(Delaved) This is not Gods war;
it is mans war. So long as there are
armies and so long as nations prepare.
there will be war.
So spoke Anton Long, "Christus" in
Oberammergau's world famous pas
sion play, today-on the saddest yule-
tide the little Bavarian village has
ever known. OF her 1900 population.
Oberammergau has given $50 to the
army, including Alfred Bierling, the
Saint John of the play, who is now
an artillery man in the German army.
Thru the press Lang desired that
greetings be sent to his friends in
America and that denial be made that
he had joined a machine gun COM
pany.
Il have never been to the front"
said this bearded man whose face
most nearly resembles the features of
the Savior. Il am still alive. Please
tell my many American friends that
for me-"
And then Lang showed his visitors
book, with the names of thousands of
his friends signed therein. One sigma
ture was that of the king of Rumania-
. Fifty of Village Killed in War.
Fifty of our people have fallen"
end I see no end. f5see another
spring of fighting, bloodier than ever.
And if neither side is defeated-then
more fighting. with millions being
killed and millions of others working
so other millions shall be killed, with
some of those millions becoming rich
in the war.
Il recall Christ's words-'who takes
the sword shall perish by the sword
That does not mean Europe shall per-
ish bv the sword, but l interpret the
phrase to mean that he who starts
war shall perish.
Il would be glad if there were no
militarism in any land. Shall poison
always be used to destroy poison? Is
not there another method? Cannot
all militarism be destroyed by inter-
national agreements? Cannot Ameri-
ca take the first step?
Lang was told how some of Ru
mania's soldiers said they did not be-
lieve in God anymore, because God
would not permit such murder as the
great war has brought about.
Lang replied slowly;
Not Gods War.
Yes, 1 know. I receive similar let
ters from the front But L reply this
is not Gods war; it is mans war. No
where in the Bible are nations told to
murder-on the contrary the Bible
saws thou shalt not kill" But know
how the feeling is growing among sol
diers and 1 fear the wars bad effect
on religion.
Sometimes, L thlnk tne war IS d
necessary evil The world seems to
learn by experience.
Il hope America is never threaten
ed by such a war. AS long as there
are armies and as long as nations pre-
pare, there will be war. Until all
unite and agree to limit. their armies
and navies to mere police forces, wars
will continue. Fifty or sixty years
after this war ends, there may be an
other.
That is the saddest thought today.
Why has England the largest navy?
Why has Germany the largest army?
Because of world trade.
How sad it is to see Christmas
and no end of war.
Lang was dressed in his Red Cross
uniform and had just returned when
interviewed from a cemetery where
he had buried an officer. The face of
the famous Christus was placid-a
picture of patience-but his words re-
vealed his own suffering.