Poem ~ German Advance over North France –Tuesday, 15 September 1914

The German advance through Northern France,

Before they were repulsed by Allies, is described

By an official’s return from across the channel.

The enemy’s passing through towns in move of rapid

Advance include; Tourcoing, Roubaix, Douais, Lille,

Amiens and Arras - met with hardly any resistance.

Each town has 'leniency' shown - with charged levies

Of war – amounts of monies demanded include,

Two million Francs From Amiens, and from Lille

Seven million Francs.

In making communication with town authorities

The German's promise respect to all inhabitants -

This will be on condition that no hostile act is made

Against any German soldier – In each settlement

The German stay was short, as at Lille from Sept 2nd,

To Sept 5th – but some areas suffered fighting.

The Aisne Department at Hirson, Wassigny, Vervius,

And Bohain experienced various elements of damage.

Crumbling under 12,000 shells – Guise being first hit

By the Germans who then quickly occupied the town,

Followed by another bombardment, to be occupied

By the allies – only again to be retaken by Germans.

Part of the town of Saint Quentin was shelled, but saved

The museum - Senlis was burning, as Laon put up great

Resistance - yet Soissons and Compiegne undamaged -

While the forest of Compiegne reported to have burned

Down did not happen - thick black smoke from the trees

Made the impression, to the town’s people, of a forest fire.

In fact it was the destruction of petrol tins, burning - Allies

Set them alight, and whatever they could not take,

Before their retreat, to prevent their fall into enemy hands,

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1914. 'Northern France – The German Occupation'. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 15 Sept. p.9. Col.2. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11077896/Daily-Telegraph-September-15-1914.html  [Accessed: 15th September 2014].

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 15 August 2014). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11077896/Daily-Telegraph-September-15-1914.html

http://worldwaroneblogger.blogspot.co.uk/

#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered