In the Ganlois paper, is
mention
Of a young man, a Lorrainer -
A native of the Lorraine province
Of North Eastern France -
Who found himself serving against
His will in the German forces.
When wounded, he was given
Convalescent leave – when
He visited his Parisian friends.
The Lorrainer in Paris on Friday
Walked about the Grand Boulevards,
To come upon an officer in uniform
Of the French Artillery, seated
At a café terrace, whom he promptly
Saluted –the Lorrainer, accidently
Gave the automatic German salute,
Instead of the French mode. About
Correct his mistake, the officer
Saluted in the Germanic manner.
With suspicions raised he thought
Further on how the officer’s salute
Seemed stranger - the Lorrainer
Turned about – to find a policeman
Standing by a nearby street corner.
The young man asked if he might
Quiz the uniformed artillery officer,
As to his identity - yet the policeman
Had no power to make such action.
Deciding on his own course,
The young Lorrainer went across
To the Artillery officer, pushing him
Throwing his drink to the ground -
Prompting his defensive reaction.
The policeman then stepped over
And led them both to the station;
This being a plan of the Lorrainer.
On investigating was the discovery
That this artillery officer was a spy.
The defected German soldier, gained
Extended leave from military authority
(Assuming he had joined the French?)
The written reason of the note states,
He had contributed to arresting a spy.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1914. Betrayed
by a Salute – A Smart Capture. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 7 Nov.
p.12. Col.6. Available at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11208721/Daily-Telegraph-November-7-1914.html
[Accessed: 7 November 2014].
Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication,
7 November 2014).
#WW1Paris #WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered
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