Sunday, 22 January 2017

Poem ~ Eastern Front Antics - Monday, 22 January 1917


Source: File: Russian Infantry.WWI – Part Six: Tsarist Russia and the War. See an original image at: <http://www.marxist.com/wwi-part-six-tsarist-russia-and-the-war.htm> [Accessed 22 January 2017]

News via neutral communications
Of 4 and 5 January, seeped through
Into news print, to tell of central
Powers frontline antics.

The Bulgarian city of Sofia informed
Amsterdam that in Dobrudja regions,
Of Romanian front, made extremes

Of exchanges with Russia.

Bulgarians Fourth Preslav Division
Clashed with Russian forces,
With hand to hand bayonet
Exchanges at Lake Jijila.

There, on the edge of the Danube,
Russian resistance had become
Divided, making entry to Macin
Town taking prisoners.

Parallel to this the central powers
Edged into Dobrudja at Braila
And Galatz - the allies made
Some small progress.

German and Austro Hungarian
Numbers pushed through south
Of Latinul on river Buzeu, with
Many prisoners taken.

Further unfamiliar place names
To include Romniceni, where
German troops overran
Roumanian villages.

Harja, Soveja east of Negulesci
And NW in heights of Odebesci,
Allies made reports of success,
Fighting back the invaders.

January 3 1917, Russian positions
In Kotumba region had repelled
Eastern front enemy, about
River valley of Tatroch.

On a level above Chebonicha river,
Over five occasions the central
Powers pushed at Russian
Held ground, only to fail.

In the Roumanian coutryside
Of other river plates, Kasino
And Oitoz north and south,
Held back three attacks.

Near other water flows of Putna
Zabala, east of Toposchik,
Displaced the Russian
Detachments.

At Norucha 8 miles south east,
Roumanians were to be also
Pushed back by enemy
Advance attempts.

Though Romanian army, nearly
10 miles away from Focsani,
Pushed back enemy attacks
In the Koproria region.

With ebb and flow of the Eastern
Frontline, the Roumanian troops
Were being heavily affected;
200,00 wounded and dead.

Another 150 soldiers were taken
Prisoners, as areas of their
Country succumbed
To the invaders.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1917. Enemy Reports. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 6 January 1917. P.7. Col.1-2. Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12214075/Daily-Telegraph-January-6-1917.html> [Accessed: 22 January 2017].

Source: File: Bulgaria During World War I. Wikipedia. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgaria_during_World_War_I> [Accessed 22 January 2017]

Source: File: Romani During World War I. Wikipedia. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania_during_World_War_I#1917_campaign_and_armistice> [Accessed 22 January 2017]

Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 22 January 2017). 



#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1EasternFront

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