Poem ~ Special Press Bureau - Saturday, 8 August 1914

Now fully borne on this day comes the propaganda war.

Not subtle or half hidden, but planted indicators,

Dictating the degrees of brutalism and brutality -

Both Germany's chauvinism and dire dealings of Austria

Are made known - as in the sinking of the Amphion:

Condemned as a crime against civilization.

Such future stories, in the progress of war and conflict,

Will be placed under control of a Special Press Bureau.

Where only official releases of military and naval affairs,

Will be allowed to the reading public.

Even this day an article of a Dutch account,

Is made more colourful by a Rotterdam correspondent;

Glorifying gallant General Lieman's defence of Liege,

And how Belgium forces are fiercely holding out.

While the German invasion is failing in its plan,

France appears stronger with 3 more days of preparation.

At home the price war has now hit the officer class,

In a rising surge of complaints to Earl Kitchener,

For the extortionate prices of essential officer kit:

Unpatriotic sellers doubling prices of service revolvers.

So now keen writers turn to make new Empires songs.

'An Englishman's home' sung by Mr. Joseph Cheetham

Whose proceeds are in aid of the National Fund.

While patriotism for Englishman, Welshman, Irishman,

Sings Mr. Scott for 'One United Front'.

Across the seas Australia's offer of 20,000 men,

Are accepted for service by this Imperial Government.

Now in time of stress and emergency comes Ford,

Who unveils the universal car in the claim of

Transport built solid for all "light and powerful"

Suit all organizations, civil, local and military.

Receiving Royal patronage come organizations

For the Prince of Wales Funds for National Relief,

Disclose their gains for £250,000 in the first day alone.

While Queen Alexandra makes a Red Cross appeal,

And peers donate their country house and homes

For hospitals and convalescence -

A vision of things to come?

by Jamie Mann.

Anon., 2014. Daily Telegraph August 8 1914. The Telegraph, [online] 8 Aug. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11019813/Daily-Telegraph-August-8-1914.html  [Accessed: 8th August 2014].

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 8 August 2014). 

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