Called from a twenty-year oblivion, the name of Von Kluck appears again on the front pages of newspapers over the world a reminder of the momentous days of September, 1914. While military strategists and historians still dispute the significance of his achievements and defeats, he lies in state in Germany.

The world which he leaves today is as portentous of fear and uncertainty as that in which he rose to prominence, with rampant nationalism, vainglorious leaders, increasing armaments, clamoring minorities, and assassinated royalty. It is useless to debate whether or not Von Kluck might have changed the history of the world in 1914, as he stood--threatening at the gates of Paris. The fact is that he did not and through his failure the war came to a long, frightfully wasting deadlock. Today the world must guard against the possible resurge of that spirit which the name of Von Kluck connotes--that spirit which drove Prussia on in 1914, under frenzied leaders and wild ambitions, till her armies were sweeping East and West across Europe like huge machines, and general staffs and supreme commands directed the human slaughter from safe posts in the rear.

Von Kluck was a soldier, an old veteran, leading his army in the field, yet he was only a cog in the awful machine that took no account of the destruction and sacrifice it tolled. He was a patriotic man serving his country. He took orders and asked no questions. His name will be associated in the annals of history with that impersonal and brutal engine of destruction which disrupted the entire world. Unfortunately there are others to take his place, others eager to defend their nation's honor, ready to make the supreme sacrifice for a cause they neither understand or care about. The myth of patriotism still supplies cannon with their fodder and armies with their generals. Will it always be thus? Alas, yes, until men begin to ask why they are fighting and refuse to give way to an indefinite emotional sentiment instilled in them by men who sit in easy chairs miles behind the line of action and direct the merciless and senseless slaughter.