Poem ~ A Threat to Neutrality - Wednesday, 7 July 1915

Source: File: Wreck of german Minelaying Cruiser SMS Albatross beached on shore of Gotland, Sweden, July 1915.jpg, The Original can be seen at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Albatross_beached.jpg [Accessed:  7July 2015].

A naval encounter, involving pursuit

Of a German warship by Russian ships,

Were to cause a serious incident;

To pose a threat to Swedish neutrality.

The ship encounter drew close

To Sweden at the inlet of Oestergarn -

When a stray shell hit the water -

Some two hundred yards from shore.

The event of a naval battle took

Place on 2 July, close to the island

Of Gothland - as communicated

By the Petrograd Swedish Minister.

Speaking for Swedish government,

The minister made the highlight

To the Russian Imperial government;

The act of neutral violation.

Additionally Sweden informed Russia,

The running ashore on Gothland

Of Germany's warship, SMS Albatross

Which had been disarmed.

The German crew being interned

On Sweden's land - an official

Response came from the imperial

Government over event.

Russia gave their regret for a shell

Falling into territorial waters.

A given reason from the Baltic Fleet's

Admiral was the dense fog.

The Swedish Minister was told, how

The conditions prevented

Accurate firing - assured of their intent

In observed neutrality.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Baltic Battle - the Swedish Protest - Russian Apology. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 7 July. P.10. Col.3. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11721609/Daily-Telegraph-July-7-1915.html [Accessed: 7 July 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 7 July 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11721609/Daily-Telegraph-July-7-1915.html

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