Poem ~ The Acona Event - Monday 15 November 1915

Source: File: SS Ancona.jpeg, [online] An original image can be seen at: <http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?134717> [Accessed: 11 November 2015].

With one more unrepentent blow

At sea, another effect started to grow

Amid the opinions of American people -

This came on top of murder of Cavell,

By German execution and Lusitania

Sinking from six months before.

The SS Ancona was built in Ireland,

Operated in Genoa, by Italian Steamers

Navigation Society as a passenger liner.

Stopping at Messina, on the toe of Italy,

The liner took on more passengers -

To leave Sunday evening, 5 p.m.

With 163 crew, out a total of 446

Aboard, the Ancona began her voyage.

By Monday 8 November to sail south East

Of Sardinia by Cape Carbonara - under

The lead of Captain Massardo - varied

nationalities included Americans.

Among the cargo, entrusted to a civil

Servant, was a shipment of silver and

12 trunks of gold - believed to be intended

To purchase arms for Italy - as morning

Moved on an explosion hit the sea -

Some twenty yards from the ship.

At the same time a submarine shape

Was spotted, several kilometers distant -

The Ancona was steaming as the German

Boat gave chase - although it was flying

Austrian flag - shells were being fired

To destroy the onboard wireless.

The passengers were thrown

into panic - the time was closing

Towards 1p.m. as boats were lowered -

With the Ancona moving, the first

boat capsized and they fell into

Water - all to be drowned.

The second boat touched water,

Only to be hit by a torpedo - the third

Lowered, during which several people fell

Overboard; still the firing continued until

finally the Ancona halted at rest - then

Came the submarine at 200 yards.

From prow to stern, shells had then

Peppered the boat - Captain Massardo

Rushed through the Ancona, still to find

Some 30 aboard - he ordered the last

Boat down with rest of the crew, final

Passengers and the 2nd officer.

Captain Massardo stood on deck,

As the submarine with Austrian flag,

Fired a torpedo, he awaited the shock which

Struck; to leaving a gaping hole - Ancona

Began inevitable movements down -

Another enemy flag was hoisted.

The steamer lurched and prompted

Captain and his first officer begin a climb

Down, by use of a cable, towards the sea -

But as the ship rose they were forced

To jump - they made it to a lifeboat,

To aid others as the Ancona sank.

American reactions to Captain's

Account, caused a perception, from

Fact that the Ancona came under attack,

Without any warning - silence cracked

By protests, with the New York Times

To exclaim downright murder.

Outrage was fueled by fact 

That some Americans had been

On board the SS Ancona - President

Maintained neutrality - this was

Strained by people and press,

Echoed by a dinner speaker.

Joseph Hodges Choate, who had

Once been an ambassador in Britain,

Made it known, despite the Government

Stance, he totally supported the allies -

Fighting against 'barbaric atrocities' -

The US had given one warning.

In the event of the Lusitania case,

Washington had spelt out a promise -

That such persistent German deeds would

Be considered intended acts of hostility -

If Austrian or a German disguise - that

Warning stood as quoted by a paper -

USA patience was not limitless.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915 American Patience - 'Not Inexhaustable'. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 15 November. P.10. Col.6. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11994274/Daily-Telegraph-November-15-1915.html [Accessed: 15 November 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 15 November 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11994274/Daily-Telegraph-November-15-1915.html

http://worldwaroneblogger.blogspot.co.uk/

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Poem ~ Schmitt, Voss and Cavell - Wednesday, 3 November 1915

    

Denials and recriminations had spread

From a centre, revolving around murder

Of Edith Cavell; a British nurse in Belgium,

Shot in assisting wounded men to escape.

A German parallel had been drawn

Between two executions in France,

On grounds of espionage - a Parisian

Reporter gained authority to comment.

The reply spelt to German despatches

Would verify there was no parallel

With Edith Cavell - as French sought

To avidly avoid any likely controversy.

The two females spies had both been

Caught separately in 1915; Ottillie Voss

And Margarette Schmidt - the proof

Evident in their German employment.

The date of February 27 had seen an

Arrest of Jeanne Bouvir - the false

Papers hid her identity of Ottillie Voss -

Aged 33, single from Rhine provinces.

For 7 years she had lived in region

Of Bordeaux, in Agen, as a teacher

Of German - to where she returned

With war’s start, to be unemployed.

Accepting the position of a spy, Voss

Travelled about France to Marseilles,

Montpellier, Nice and Lynos - her brief

To report back details regarding troops.

Details to be found out were to include:

Military rail transport timings, numbers

Of wounded and conditions of the army -

Visiting ports to observe disembarkations.

Voss investigated the population's state

Of mind - to carry this out she confessed

To having 400f in paying all her expenses -

Voss had travelled from 3 to 11 February.

160 marks were then awarded to her for

A mark of good work - then a few days

Later she went on another mission - this

Time carrying 500f for all her expenses.

Arrested at Bourges, Voss confessed -

Within two days, to be condemned on

Espionage charge by war council - by

Articles 197, 206, 209 of military code.

An appeal in April for Voss was rejected,

Along with another in May for clemency.

On 16 May Ottillie Voss was executed -

Then there had been the Schmitt case.

With her origins as a French national -

Born Thiaucourt  - Marguerite Schmitt

Had travelled well, with same intentions

As Voss for information of British troops.

Amy presence about Nancy, BarLe Duc

And St Menehould, were of keen interest.

Via a friend Schmitt met with Germans -

At first she had refused their money.

Then accepting 200f, she was taken

To the border of Switzerland at Anoux -

Her intent was not to spy on French,

But return to state she had been held.

Yet her presence in Nancy worked

Against this - while in her possession

Was a book of probing questions,

Put together by a German officer.

Her arrest in February, led to trial

Before council of war - where all

Schmitt repeated was apologies -

Articles 64 and 206 were raised.

By these military codes of justice

Schmitt was sentenced to death

On 20 March - two days later Schmitt

Was executed; thus was fate of spies.

The Parisian reporter further quoted

A statement of French officials -

Refusing the German controversy over

Cavell case - never officially discussed.

Schmitt, Voss or Cavell had no links -

Germany had posted notice across

Brussels and Belgium, to dash peoples

Morale if attempting Cavell’s ways.

The public reactions everywhere,

Emphasised German miscarriage -

In realisation of this terrible error,

Germany had sought distractions.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. Women Spies in France - Why They Were Shot. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 3 November. P.10. Col.2. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11963638/Daily-Telegraph-November-3-1915.html [Accessed: 3 November 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 3 November 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11963638/Daily-Telegraph-November-3-1915.html

http://worldwaroneblogger.blogspot.co.uk/

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Poem ~ Cavell: Shock in America - Saturday, 23 October 1915

Source: File: Execution of Edith Cavell cartoon.jpeg  [online] see an original image at: <http://www.trenchartofww1.co.uk/edith_cavell_44.html> [23 October 2015].

By way of American media, a new level

Had shifted from indignation at Edith Cavell's

Execution; 'horror and disgust' of brutality

Of German military, in opposition of American

Plea and premeditated murder of a woman.

In a complete report, The New York Herald

Predicted waves of horror about the world;

In a killing of a nurse, in a matter of military

Routine - New York Tribune told of a German

Woman in Britain given a lenient sentence.

Could then German policies or conscience

See mercy towards woman as a weakness?

The British Telegraph sported American unity

Against the island's enemy - who would pay

Dearly for loathing raised in both countries.

For some there was no surprise in atrocities

Carried out in Belgium; 'Zabern military

Despotism’ seemed to have no limitations -

Edith Cavell's unapologetic murder might only

Increase recruiting, as any Zeppelin raid.

Back to an American view came Wall Street

Journal, in asking if it would be too much

To request Germany to promise to halt such

Actions on women and to stop such murders?

Or maybe this was merely for amusement?

German-American viewpoint also expressed

An indignity, via editor of Staats Zietung,

Herman Ridder spoke; Cavell being executed

As an unnecessary shock - while Secretary 
Of State, Mr Lansing, was asked for opinion.

Would there be protests or action taken?

But the deed was made and anything done

After would have no viable effect - an equal

Opinion from Washington President Wilson

Said nothing might improve this situation.

Maybe America was at war,
In everything but taking arms?

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. America Roused - 'Horror and Disgust.' The Daily Telegraph, [online] 23 October. P.10. Col.1. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11936838/Daily-Telegraph-October-23-1915.html [Accessed: 23 October 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 23 October 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11936838/Daily-Telegraph-October-23-1915.html

http://worldwaroneblogger.blogspot.co.uk/

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Poem ~ 'Patriotism is not Enough' - Tuesday, 12 October 1915

Impression sketch of Edith Cavell - by Jamie. Taken from original image at:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/11861398/Revealed-New-evidence-that-executed-wartime-nurse-Edith-Cavells-network-was-spying.html

 

A daughter of a Swardeston vicar,

Frederick Cavell and her mother

Louise  - Edith was born December

1864, followed by three younger

Siblings; family status being poor.

As the Eldest, Edith gave sacrifices;

In being shown to give to those

Less fortunate than herself - to play

An influence in her future career

Beginning in Brussels as governess.

From 1890 Edith, in her twenties,

Decided to train in nursing - to learn

In London Hospital under rigourous

Selection processes of Eva Luckes -

Then to work in variety of hospitals.

After three years as Assistant Matron

At Shoreditch infirmary, Edith Cavell

Moved this time to Belgium - recruited

By Dr Antoine Depage nursing school

L'École Belge d’Infirmières Diplômées.

With nurse training established by 1910

In Brussels Cavell started to assistant

The launch L'infirmière - a professional

Nursing journal - within the year 1911

She helped many schools and hospitals.

This was to include 13 kindergartens -

All seemed well for career of Edith

Cavell but this was to change in 1914 -

Visiting her mother in August came

Declaration of conflict with Germany.

The fact did not prevent Edith Cavell's

Return to Brussels - only to find a very

Different situation, with the school

Taken over by the Red Cross, as the city

Then came under German occupation.

Remaining true to her decided vocation

Cavell involved herself in the situation -

Without prejudice the nurse matron

Assisted wounded allied and Germans;

Deciding to take one step beyond safety.

Within 3 months of war Cavell began

To assist French and British wounded

Escape into the neutral Netherlands -

Along with military aged Belgium’s

And French civilians - a risky game.

Close to Mons at Chateau Bellignies,

Prince Reginald de Croy's assistance

Was to source false papers - shelters

Were provided in Brussels with money

And guides, given by Philippe Baucq.

Following such actions put Miss Cavell

In jeopardy, against German Military

Law - her outspokenness had already

Put her in eyes of suspicious authority,

When Gaston Quien hit the final nail.

A Collaborator, Quien gave the nurse

Away, in helping enemy leave country.

3 August 1915 saw Cavell arrested,

Held for next 10 weeks in the prison

Of St-Gilles, with 2 weeks confinement.

During that time Edith Cavell made

Three sworn testimonies in admittance

Of harbouring peoples in her home -

100 Belgian and French of military age;

15 French along with 60 British soldiers.

The day prior to her trial, Cavell signed

A statement of admission, how she helped

Men to cross borders, to make their way

To Britain - who wrote to thank her, when

Safely arriving at their final destination.

Edith Cavell made no attempt to hide

Facts of helping them escape, to a country

Germany was at war with - the penalty,

Within paragraph 58 of their military law,

Was sentence to death by the Penal code.

Her arrest and sentence was 'treason' -

Questioned in French, Cavell’s words

Recorded in German, so misinterpretation

By interrogator would have been allowed.

Additionally the nurse sought no defence.

While the British government admitted

To being powerless to help Edith Cavell,

The USA, in neutrality, tried diplomatic

Pressure - a warning that any reputation

Of Germany would only be lowered.

Any execution would rank as murder -

On a level with Lusitania and Louvain.

A reply was made, of their regret not

Having four English women to shoot;

Although one opinion asked a pardon.

Baron von der Lancken, gave reasons

Being for her honesty and that Cavell

Had helped save many lives - General

Von Sauberzweig, military governor

Called for an immediate death penalty.

This would stop any other authority

Giving leniency - in the trial of twenty

Seven; Countess Jeanne de Belleville,

Louise Thuliez, Séverin, Baucq, Cavell

Were those sentenced to be executed.

In reality only two were finally murdered;

Cavell on the night of 11 October received

Communion, to state,  'Patriotism is not

Enough' - to add that she intended to hold

No bitterness or hatred towards anyone.

A Midnight deputation attempted a Spanish

And American appeal of mercy, or to halt

The execution - the hours ticked to 7 a.m.

Without any effect - dawn began to rise over

Schaerbeek Range; a line of 16 men waited.

The chosen hour of dawn when the mind

Wakes from rest, perhaps then the time

Chosen when the body is most calm -

Edith Cavell was led to the place; perhaps

To learn how twenty-five had a reprieve.

Cavell spoke finally to Paul Le Seur,

The prison Chaplain, to tell to those

She loved her soul was safe - to be glad

To die for her country - alongside stood

Baucq, the architect who had helped her.

Within seconds, the figure of a woman

Became not just a story of propaganda,

But a woman of substance - whose name

Would go on beyond into the history

Of her chosen profession, as a heroine.

by Jamie Mann.

Source: File: Edith Cavell From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Cavell> [Accessed: 2 October 2015]

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 12 October 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11914698/Daily-Telegraph-October-11-1915.html

http://worldwaroneblogger.blogspot.co.uk/

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