The Man Who Ended War

The Secretary of War ended his statement. "That is all there is to tell, gentlemen, concerning the building of the new transports." I had closed my notebook and was rising, as Ordway, the private secretary, entered. "May I give the correspondents that freak letter that came this morning?" he asked. His chief nodded indulgently and left the room. I opened my notebook expectantly. "This is a very serious matter, and a great piece of news," Ordway remarked in a mock grandiose manner. "It is a declaration of war against the civilized world in the interests of peace." He threw himself into an oratorical posture and began: "To the United States of America and to all other nations-Greeting " "Whereas war has too long devastated the earth and the time has now come for peace, I, the man destined to stop all war, hereby declare unto you that you shall, each and all, disarm; that your troops shall be disbanded, your navies sunk or turned to peaceful ends, your fortifications dismantled. One year from this date will I allow for disarmament and no more. At the end of that time, if no heed has been paid to my injunction, I will destroy, in rapid succession, every battleship in the world. By the happenings of the next two months you shall know that my words are the words of truth. "Given under my hand and seal this first of June, 19- "Signed- "THE MAN WHO WILL STOP ALL WAR."