Impression
sketch of Citadel of Verdun - by Jamie.
See original at: http://controversialdocumentaries.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/aftermath-of-men-animal-machines-in-wwi.html
A Despatch sent
to New York via Paris,
Also reached
Britain from Mr William
Philip Simms, Paris correspondent
Of the United
Press, told of French Front.
Mr Simms had
spent a week on North
Eastern Front, as
a guest of the French
Army - over the
days he spoke to many
Generals who fed
back a united belief.
With the news of a
Germanic success -
Gorlice -Tarnów
along with Russians
Retreat from
Poland - as Warsaw
Fell with ease - did not deter any officer.
A united belief
of all-higher French ranks
Was for Kaiser to
meet his Waterloo -
Should any
attempt be made to cut
Across allied
lines, to Paris or channel.
Mr Sims said how officer’s
only fear was
That the Germans
would not make
Attempt - which might be the world's
Greatest act of slaughter - in positive talk.
Talk was of
German losses at the mercy
Of the allies, who
had conserved
Troops for this
very possibility - with
Credit given
entirely to General Joffre.
Mr Simms as a
civilian was shown many
Sights any other
civilian would
Face a firing
squad for; the place
Of a eastern
citadel known as Verdun.
Over two
centuries before the small city
Had been taken into
the hands
Of Vauban - having chosen to fortify
This into a citadel,
built over many years.
After Napoleonic wars
Vauban ambition
Of fortifications,
yet to be finalised -
Finally created extensive
ringed forts,
To total number
22 and inner ring of 6.
In a semi
abandoned but impressive
State, the fort waited, a giant claw
In the earth - canals
fed by Meuse
Waters in the
fort of Verdun's rebirth.
In great French
confidence the vast
Vedun fort was laid
open for
Mr Simms
inspection's - with
Permission to
access all main forts.
Mr Simms was
taken and shown 200
Feet below earth; endless
Passages seeing
waterworks,
Shells, supplies, Gristmills and stores.
Mr Simms visited
a wireless plant
And hospitals; an
underground
City that could
house and feed
Both a military
and civil population.
In an invitation to
meet with military
Governor 100 feet
below,
In his siege
office Mr Simms was
Told there was no danger to Verdun.
The Governor's reasons
to be down
At such depth was
for staff
To be able to
work without any
Disturbance of
high calibre guns.
Such guns like those that aimed
On Dunkirk - Germans
had
Turned aim of long
distance
Guns, on the city
above ground.
Mr Simms believed
how nothing
Had been concealed
from
Him, as he toured
miles
Of defences and
rear workings.
The guided visit openly
included
Factories of
French munitions,
And outlying
forts to include
A new style bomb shown to him.
This was a bomb
drawn on a colour
Plate - allowed to
handle new
Patterned Grenade
- chedite -
To see new
mortars and devices.
Mr Simms, in one certain
interview,
Asked a general
how long did
He believed this war
would last -
The answer was
quite confident.
The Germans were
to be fought
Until finally driven back
to their
Country - this might last until 1917
Or ten years, with war's end in 1925.
Or ten years, with war's end in 1925.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915 Awaiting
Attack - French Army ready - The Wonders of Verdun. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 14 August. P.8. Col.4. Available at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11788262/Daily-Telegraph-August-14-1915.html
[Accessed: 14 August 2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 14 August 2015).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Verdun
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