^^ 40^ .^ V-^' ^^^9- 9v * ^^^ -N ^^ . ,v „ « „ ^^ ' ' ' ^ '-'X. ContcntJf 7^e ff'fl'r o/ //?e Nations Defence of Verdun - - ... Kemmel Hill America's Ansuer Ode on the Signing of the Armistice Copyright 1920 by E. A. DoyU .0)CI.A605216 6 9 n 13 ? ? •• €^^^^^^oplf ^ ^ Wlnoho^ter, Ohio: The School journal 1920 ^ ^ k Xf ^^>V^^-^iNiW|ywi%*i»^ t» ^l * «^ *%-»j ■y o^ ,\ ^^-^> ■A o c;^ £m/|/wm«%n^«v^ i">^»^Vw*^^V^»» v i»«w<»^.^^w<»^>*v^<"^^rN^*^S From the French a hurrricane fire, and the most of ^ them fell, J And the corpses were picked from the ground and all r piled in a heap, | To strengthen the breastwork that grew more massive ^ and deep, * And would hold out against all attack unless some one | should dare ^ t To storm the defenses and drive them back again to % // their lair. ^ ^ Volunteers !— they came by the dozen until there were P i fully a score, I Y With others to follow after, heaven knows how many ^ I more ; 1 And they stealthily crept over the ground, like rats S that move in the dark, *^ Working with piek and axe that the work might be L . over by dawn, \ To pierce through the thick palisades: and three- j f fourths of them went to their death, for before }^ They camfe to the line of defense, they were seen and \ hit like a mark ; - ^ And the rest took shelter in pits, or hid in holes in the ^ ground. C^ But they blew up tha barrier of rubbish and corpse? S and forth like a flood \ 1 he French rushed in and with fury charged on the J^ mass, K Singing the glad Marseillaise, and yelling like demons S > "They shall not pass !" 5 \ And they did not pass, but faltered, with the cause for S 1 which they fell, S i And they that came back alive from the mouth of that f 1 pi.ile^s hell. Jf I t j Made bold the hearts of the rest to fight till the land was free From a fate that was worse than chains or the death ^ the soldier dies, ^ Against the monster of Force aad Greed, and his ^ doctrine of forged lies ; r Until the giant wrong of the ages should pass and cease f to be. 1 And as the dying notes of that thunder-clap echoed f away, S It told of a time when the Terror that would make the ^ earth its prey Should pass and be forgotten with the myriad wroncs of old. * And the heart of France was saved, as the tiger loosed C his hold, ^ When the German bugles blew retreat on the stormv ^ e field of Verdun. \ KEHIMEL HILL. See on the heights where our banners are streaming, ^ Torn by the shell as they wave in the wind ! Still on the Teutons come, their helmets are gleaming Over the wounded they leave far behind. Cannon are crashing, I Bayonets flashmg, J Strong hearts are failing, ? Bronzed cheeks are palmg ; ^ Hold the heights, comrades, and never give way. % i k i ^ A ^ i Mearer and nearer the black flag advances ; Fiercely they rush o'er the wounded and slain : Still V e will dare to stand though fearful the chances. Boldly we'll answer their challenge again ! " '"^ Freedom all glorious Shall yet be victorious. Leave not the world in chains While yet one hope remains ; Hold to the rampart, in heaven's name hold ! Low on the red field our colors are lying ; Liberty, justice are trembling to-day : Fling back the foe again, though hundreds are dying ; There's but a single chance — but never give way. Vain now the idle boast Echoes th« cry of "lost !" This was their last r«ply "Stand here we will or die.'' Like heroes they stood as the army swept on. Let the earth ring in praise of their glory, Who battled so bravely in liberty's name. The soft breeze of the valley shall echo their story, History's pages be filled with their fame. Boldly they stood and well : Nobly they fought and fell ; Death was their victory, This their last battle-cry : "We'll hoid to the last man and never give up!" 10 i ^m m t M ^ffij^^^^ \.9ii0tt^^f0^^^^f^^ 4U^^^* '^Kr'H ^ k You flung an open challenge to the world— That old medieval race of fear and hate ; j On Belgium's fields your frightful engines hurled To batter every bulwark of the state. And mad for conquest, insatiate, blind, Loosed terror, want and misery on mankind. World -conquerors you called yourselves in savage glee. World-devils is the title that you gain. Shall none but Germans dare be free ? i Were Runnymede and Yorktown wan in vain? Did you think we were a people so base Our children could ever wear the fetters of your race? You would rule us who can not rule your own. Shall America submit like Slavic hordes ? We are not dazzled by a throne, We never shall be ruled by Prussian lords. How dare you plead the justice of your cause, Who laugh at human rights, who spurn all humar laws! We know that all your promises are chaff. We know your fairest words are forged lies; We have not proved our strength by half ; We are not duped by shallow sophistries. We do not fear this terror of the Hun, But will win if it takes every man and every gun. Think you your idle boasting would avail To turn back the clock of ticrn a thousand years ? We're not children frightened by some nurse's tale, We are not all cowards, shook by sudden fears. We did not tremble at the cannon s roar ; ^ We struck you on ths sea, ws drove you on the shore. II You thought by your hidden monsters of the deep To frighten men, and make a god of might ; But the ghosts of your murdered victims will not sleep They may teach you yet a higher law of right — But if you still are proof against all remorse, There are other means to rid the world of the dar k curse. Is this the vaunted culture you have taught, Who invoke heaven's aid to make of earth a hell ? Shall France and Belgium's injuries be forgot, Or the noble cause for which their soldiers fell ? Should we ask peace ? — you gave us war instead : Shall we prove cowards? — our fathers fought and bled. You would have peace — this message we'll send back, "Let Belgium's mothers answer to her foes. " We still are proof against every low attack. And we will bear our burden to the close. Nor ask of hussars or kaisers a moment's time To dally and palter with a public crime. You would have peace — our answer we'll make plain : What Jehu sent to Joram at Jezreel. Whan threats and promises alike are vain. When hearts of stone can not be made to feel. Perhaps if we should repay in coin as base. We may find a sovereign cure more suited to your case. You would have peace — but let the cannon speak. What peace had Franc< in all your bloody wars ? 'Tis for politic ends you now are meek, When every race and age your name abhors, Peace but with victory, nor shall our flag be furled Till we rescue from death and shame the injured honor of the world. 1 f^i( • ■i»^Ki'i^%^»MN » M *m^t^^\f*J % f*9^ -^:i i 0DE F0R THfi CELEpWIOil OF PEACE And in Commemoration of the Victories of the Allies, on Tdi Sigvinj of the Armistice in thj; World War, November 11, 1918. I Victory and Peace — let the bells be rung, Let the nations rejoiee, and the flags be flun^, Tell it, ye peoples of every tongue : Victory, Peace and Honor. Honor the brave and give thanks to the giver. Liberty, Justice, one and forever ; Honor the soldiers who fought the world's battles ; Eternal Victory and Honor. II- From Alpine paaks unto the northern sea, From Arabia's arid sands to Afric's coast. From France whose brave sons died to set her free, From Balgium torn and ravaged, yet not lost ; From nations new loosed from the Turkish yoke. From Russia groaning under German hordes. From Poland wounded, but with spirit still unbroke, Where Prussian strength had built a sheath of swords- Let a jubilant people rejoice. And with one living voice. Proclaim the dawn of Peace and Liberty. 12 III. They came, the gray barbarian of the ncth. Up from out the nether sea Came the captains and the lords, Rung the knell of liberty Saxon mail and Prmsiaa swords, Down like a wolf upon the fold. And the devils of the deep Struck and maimed and held them fast. While the Belgian jailers keep Watch and ward as on they passed. Warriors bold for vast emprise. And for human sacrifice. i f They came arrayed in strength and power. Cities fell beneath their stroke ; Peaceful homes their swords devour. As the myriad-voiced cannon broke Over hamlet, city and field. Leaving monuments of bones. Making slaves who would not yield. Storming out from Belgium's walls. Broke the deluge over France ; Many a strong old fortress falls. Ruin marked their swift advance , ^ As a wond leaps into arms To disperse the hideous foe Working wrath and death below, • § Until every hill and glen Echoes the sound of armsd men. And Paris shook beneath war's wild alarms. Then at the Marne the armies halt- Halt like a leaderless host dazzled and blind ; Some ene had blundered, but whose the fault, I i 1 '* i «? 'J I } 1 When, as the tirst vague rumour flies, f * The sleeping sons of France arise < I To repel the foe of human-kind, -< ^ And with slaughter drive them back *:'' I On their long ensanguined march and devious devils track T k Far o'er the ringing plains their armies flew, J Y rhey close and hurl them back with resistless might And many a valiant deed shall leap to light Of patriots brave and true . True lovers of their homes and of the right Were they, though their numbers few. For lo! a leader bold with skill to plan And overmatch in fight The boldest leaders of the fiendish clan, The noble Joffre arose and cleft them through. And proved whit a good Frc'nchmin's s^vorj cm do Honor the hero and honor the man Who stood with the bravest in that fateful hour, \ And his companions no less bold than he. Who broke the matchless strength of Teuton power. And drove back the vulture brood, the clamorou* foes of liberty. IV Lo, Britain's sons awake! Britain great by land and sea, Holdmg still the light of Uberty; 1^ Arose with power to shake ^ The triple-headed beast of tyranny. | Englard whom we all revere. Throned within her islana sphere, Parent of our common laws, ^^ Enlisted in one common cause ; /^ England, our motner, still more dear \ For the cause that made us one ; ^ 4 k i t k i»i^'li ><^^li <%i Wi^ * l»Jw»j^^ * .-^, a^ArMT^jf ^"^ ^ " 'tf ' " #*f **■■'** ' ««'^ f * ^ *« ^ »*i'> ^ «/^* OjT I Nobly she stood by ship and gun; Not in vain may her children claim To be heirs of her great fame. For the myriad-throated Hydra drew Round Verdun, like a sentinel. Strongly guarded to repel Fiercest onslaught of the foe ; Gathered for one fatal blow f t Lrainered tor one fatal blow I (^ That should pierce it through and through, t I Like another Waterloo. ^ But in vain their engines broke Scatheless round those hearts of oak. Fire and poison, flame and gas ; Armies melt away like rain. Mouldering corpses strewed the giass, As they stormed but stormtd in vain. Petain the valiant, Petain the bold % Firmly held by his old strong-hold, He stood and held the toe at bay rill the English could rally and save the day; And while the brave defenders stood "^ Menacing in field and wood, ^ They gave back the answer, "They shall not pass.' Swift as across th^ S21 thi mjssage fl;w, Columbia heard the call to arms / Whose armies were never overcome in fight, _ i Whose banner never rose but in defense of right, I \ Not easily affrighted by war's first alarms ; S \ Her soldiers rally at her command; S( i They arise and nobly stand \ i Dominant on sea and land, i ^ Ready are they in heart and hand \ t - \ ^ i^^ • ■ <^ | ft»* > ^^V^i» Turned and routed in headlong flight, ^ Till fortress atter fortress fell j^ Like paper before their shot and shell. ^ ^ i ^ «»yy*^*vfy»^'^*»M»«#||Vi»>^y> g"% <» Mi i With lire and thunder and saber-stroke, |: They reeled and fell through the batteries' smoke £ As the black eagles fled in wild am aze, f Forgetting their first August's halcyon days, I They could scarce keep pace while the devils ran, f Till they came to the fortress of old Sedan, ^ And there they paused for a breathing space Worn and exhausted, but they won the race ; And France was saved and a world was won In the greatest battles since time begun. 4^ VI And Italy like a lion in her might. Remembering the glory of the past. When Rome drove back the Goth in headlong flight. And all their armies east Beyond the Tiber's fretted wails— Un ner to-day a highti splender falls. Well may her sons again behold Anothar triumph greater thin the old. As far beyond the dark Piave's roar They drive the frighted Austrian from the shore. ^ f And Greece arose ; there are true patriots yet In the great land of story and of song, Cp Who can not all her nobler dreams forget. Or the ancient triumphs that to her belong. I Slaves could not breathe and wear the Tu'-kish yoke, J 1 Or Bulgar fetters, and the spirit woke ^ Of Greece, long struggling to be free, i Boasting the laurel wreath and civic crown ; 'i She heard the call of liberty, z ^ And arose unto a man and beat the bold intruder down. <^ ^18 I 1 i Q^ •M if yk I U » % ^N|^ »-»A^>i*»^^^< ^ * » *'^<'^^^ * »^< '^K^^ t I k And Allenby, our English Allenby Subdued the Turk and saved the Holy Latid With his good English army greatly manned, In his victorious advance Matching well the hosts of France, Marched to Jerusalem and overthrew The Moslem hordes who dared to hold What many an old crusader bold Had sought to win, our Saviour's sacred home. And won fresh laurels tor his name ; With honor greater than when their bugles blew To hail the victorious chiet from Waterloo, Shall be cur welcome when they come; When they come bearing their banners from afar, Th« glorious heroes in this Holy War ; Greater than Austerlitz or Trafalgar Shall be in the coming age the glory of their fame. Did ever yet on'earth dawn such a day ? Were ever yet more gorgeous flags unfurled ? A day to be noted for a thousand years ; A day made sacred by our blood and tears ; A day anew to consecrate The wreck of many a fallen state. And mould in some diviner shape that shall closer bind The vast republics of mankind In the great league of states and federation of the world- VII Rejoice, the victory is won .' And peace draws near with each returning sun. Rejoice ! It is God's day, a day ot days ; And let no mortal dare to raise His voice but in thankfulness and praise 19 f £ To Him who armed our hosts to overthrow C And lay the proud invader low, ^ And mingla rejoicing with humility % Before that Heaven that doth judge the right, '■■^, That justice shall ever be approved in its sight, ^■ And that He in whose guiding hand our hopes repose, ;* May still direct and guard our task until its close. M^ A new day dawns— bind up the nation's wounds, I And states remould in new and happier forms. X The great world-conflict now is o'er, ^ Soldier rest and fight no more. { Rejoice, it is a solemn day, A day of solemn-brooding pain ; A day of losses matchea with gain. As we welcome our soldiers home again. And as the gorgeous pageant slowly moves away. Let us glory in the deeds they wrought. For freedom's battles nobly fought. And all their works of vast design ; The toll, the march, the labored rampart line, Seeming something less human than divine. Still other fields are to be fought and other victories won In peace, and men live nobler, freer under the sun. And as toward the unchanging sea Moves a sad world with all things here below. With wailings of the universal woe Let us mingle psalm and prayer, As befits the solemn hour. That how'er hearts may fail or clouds may lower. The world moves ever on towards the light When scepters shall pass from earth or thrones be just. And temperate Justice shall resume its sway. In farther ages chat we can not see. Since man has learned a high and holier trust. Freedom shall broaden till all men are free, And the millennial ea'-th rejoice in an eternal day. Nov. 22, 1918. 20 % m mmt^rJ^yt^* n i251 78 R2 ,*^ "o. * <• % *■ i -4. c* <\ 'bv'^ 'bV^ -^c ^°r^. ''!^W^^ .^^ o V .^^ "^0^ .,^r^^^ "bv" f''^^.:^?^': '^^^^^ c" * 0' h* o A 0' -"^ --r,-' ^' -o^ ." .v^^. \w^: .5^-^^^ W/'WW: a>U 4- v> 'if • 4 o^ if-. -o?^ -^ !!^^ N. MANCHEStER. 1^- '"^ INDIANA