An exchange of telegrams,
Made on 31 December 1914,
Between by King George
And Pope Benedict, agreed
On principal of prisoners be freed.
The Bishop of Rome declared,
In the closing years day, 1914
Was proved as a disastrous year.
That to inaugurate 1915,
He asks, for reasons of Christian
Charity, that opposing nations,
Take steps, to exchange all those
Prisoners no longer able,
To undertake any military service.
On 1 January came his reply
From majesty King George -
with address to his Holiness,
His appreciation of proposals -
Which added to the weight
Already made out to Germany.
That country’s government,
Since had provided consent
In the hope of being actioned.
In the hope of being actioned.
Five days later - by Tuesday’s
Edition of Observatore Romano -
Came replies to the pope from
Britain, France and Belgium.
The French President, Raymond
Poincare, confirmed their own
Consideration to exchange,
Soldiers of permanent disabilities -
To whom humane treatment,
Had been given by France.
Sent via Belgian General Staff,
King Albert joins to say how this
Suggestion reflects his thoughts.
Yet the French President’s
Statement is most noteworthy,
In exchanging those definitely
Incapable of fighting abilities.
Via Copenhagen was confirmation,
Set out in message from Berlin -
Of how all the warring nations
Are acceptable of the proposals
Of the Pope’s call for exchanges,
To free disabled soldier prisoners.
These number 150,000 to be
At liberty within two months.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915. Exchange of Disabled Prisoners – The
Pope’s Proposal – King George’s Reply. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 9
Jan. p.9. Col.2. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11327844/Daily-Telegraph-January-7-1915.html
[Accessed: 7 January 2015].
(Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by
Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 07 January 2015).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar
#ww1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered
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