Monday, 8 September 2014

Poem ~ The 150 Mile Front - Tuesday, 8 September 1914


As officially released,
By the Press Bureau.
Are plans formulated
By General Joffre,
These are being carried out.

Moving out onto the offensive,
The allies having forced back
The Germans in North easterly
Direction, now form the opening
Battle lines in Northern France.

Details by the French Government
At Bordeaux, shows the struggle
has created a 150 mile front -
From 30 miles North East of Paris,
Reaching to the Verdun fortress.

The British are now engaged,
Allied alongside the French.
Official communication states,
The left wing army is prepared
As the enemies right wing sits,
On the banks of Grand Morin.

Centred at Lorraine and Vosges,
No changes are yet reported.
Between our advanced guard
And the German right flank
Were yesterday, engaged in fight.
Our side advanced towards
The River Ourcq, but no great
Enemy resistance was met.

The crux of the situation
At present, is plainly stated
Lying to the east, from south
Of Chalons, across to Verdun
Where it is predicted
A desperate battle will rage -
For at least a week,
Or a time considerably longer.

A lament is made that decisive
Battles no longer last for a day
From hours of sunrise to sunset
As they did at Waterloo.

by Jamie Mann

Anon., 1914. Great Battle in France. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 8 Sept. p.7. Col.3.  War p.7. Col.1.  Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11075873/Daily-Telegraph-September-8-1914.html  [Accessed: 8th September 2014].

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



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