Monday 21 September 2015

Poem ~ When will Peace Be? - Wednesday, 22 September 1915



Source: File: Female delegates to the 1915 Women's Peace Conference in The Hague, aboard the MS Noordam. 1915.jpg, [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woman's_Peace_Party> Accessed: 22 September 2015].

Another debate asserted
The subject - over the likely
Length of one European war.

This was the question made
By theorists based in New York,
Of Earl Kitchener’s statement -

That Germany ‘had almost shot
Their bolt’ - made in the week
Beginning 13 September 1915.

A challenge taken on by American
Independent strategists, who had
Made neutral war observations.

Their findings proved encouraging
To the allies, but counterbalanced
By future Germans decisions.

What might Germany decide,
Over next ten months? Sources
Of statistics shared with English.

Their accuracy was likely flawed;
As probable enemy forces, stayed
Same totals as they had in 1914.

American speculation centered
On Austro-German Reserves
Forces, by calculated projections.

From future 1917/1918 cavalry
Classes to be 1,200,000 reserves,
Along with 3,200,000 in the field.

Yet Germany would face 500,000
In the field and 500,000 reserves
To make them a difficult winter.

By spring of 1917, the Germans
Would likely be forced to narrow
Their fronts; East and the West.

But if Russia became defeated
By the end of winter, Germany
Might gain an equal army.

Conclusions from the experts
Of American strategy, slightly
Anticipated German 'distress.'

Using all best figures available,
The subject was open to revision;
Dependent on next few months.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Duration of the War - American Views. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 22 September. P.8. Col.5. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11879779/Daily-Telegraph-September-22-1915.html [Accessed: 22 September 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 22 September 2015). 



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