The gates of Janus

15–24 August 1914

Battle of Cer

AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 21

Down the blue Danube, comes another horde !
Belgrade is ravaged, from both flood and land.
The Furies war ! But still brave men withstand !

At Battle of the Jadar they repel
The Austrian host ! Six thousand of them fell
Before brave Gen 'ral Putnik 's Serb command !
They're driven out from Serbia's loyal land!

The Serb, now Austria, bravely does invade.
He captures Semlin, across from Belgrade !
Though Belgrade at last falls,— to Gen'ral

5–12 September 1914

First Battle of the Marne

AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 39

Six days they backward fell! Six days they

stood !
And ere they reached the Marne's protecting

flood,

AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 45

true!

The world will ne 'er forget these deeds ye do !
"The Victory of the Marne," on Hist'ry's page,
Will glory give ye, throughout ev'ry age !

Though General French did much, — the soldiers

AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 159

0 Muse ! That did 'st inspire old Homer blind,
With Milton, Vergil, — Xenophen's great mind!
Help me to tell of one great battle long!
Greatest in hist 'ry ! Worthiest of song !

'Tis Second Battle of the Marne I'd tell,
Where Prussians, once again, have brought their

hell

BATTLE.

(D.) CONTINUATION OF THE MAIN
BATTLE.

This Second Battle of the Marne 's still on ;
For two weeks it's to last, — the greatest one
In all the War, thus far; — nor will it end
'Til from the Marne to Vesle the foe they send.

172 THE GATES OF JANUS

1 July – 18 November 1916

Battle of the Somme

AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 121

The Battle-planes have been developed far ;
They 're used at Somme, the enemy to jar
From strong positions by the bombs they drop ;
They're gun's "eyes" too, — to find foe's weakest
spot.

But now, another arm is used to fright
The Hun from his morale, in Second Fight
At Somme! — which starts on second of Septem
ber's days, —
He sees its dread approach, and, fearing, prays !

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AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 125

Thus, were these two great battles of the

Somme
Fought by the French, and men from British

home.
Advance was small, yet they gained golden

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This some have called the second fight of

Somme.
But, Huns fight not! They're routed! Quickly

roam,
Behind new lines; — while French take Noyon,

BOOK IX.

He is, in Picardy, too, where,— convulsed
With futile passion, and with Furies' rage, —
He fights, in vain, before Sir Douglas Haig.

The third great battle of the Somme's begun,
Just as victorious French drive out the Hun
From Soissons. The day before, upon the Lys,
Sir Douglas drove him back, with threatening
ease.

Now mark the plan that I to you unfold,
As Haig had set it forth, so wise and bold :—
The North holds Rawlinson, Byng, Home, to

16 April – 9 May 1917

Second Battle of the Aisne

AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 43

Petain^and English, — Paris forces fresh, —
Push, drive and slay, or Hunnish force enmesh !

Von Kluck turns tail ! He races to the Aisne !
His foes press on him hard, with might and

main!

AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 45

5. THE BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

Look at the Prussians, now, upon the Aisne !
They know full well their power is on the wane.
They've burrowed there, like rabbits, filled with

fear!
They start trench warfare when defeat seems

OP FLANDERS.

The fight for Antwerp, starts last day of

Aisne.

The Belgians stand, for ten days, under strain
Of siege horrific ; — helped by the Marines,
From British ships, that strive to act as screens.

OP FLANDERS.

coast, —
And join their forces with the Allied host.

Now from the North Sea to the river Aisne,
And from the Aisne to Verdun, and Swiss chain
Of frontiers neutral, do the trenches run.
A four years ' battle is but just begun !
4

50 THE GATES OF JANUS

27 May – 6 June 1918

Third Battle of the Aisne

AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 43

Petain^and English, — Paris forces fresh, —
Push, drive and slay, or Hunnish force enmesh !

Von Kluck turns tail ! He races to the Aisne !
His foes press on him hard, with might and

main!

AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 45

5. THE BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

Look at the Prussians, now, upon the Aisne !
They know full well their power is on the wane.
They've burrowed there, like rabbits, filled with

fear!
They start trench warfare when defeat seems

OP FLANDERS.

The fight for Antwerp, starts last day of

Aisne.

The Belgians stand, for ten days, under strain
Of siege horrific ; — helped by the Marines,
From British ships, that strive to act as screens.

OP FLANDERS.

coast, —
And join their forces with the Allied host.

Now from the North Sea to the river Aisne,
And from the Aisne to Verdun, and Swiss chain
Of frontiers neutral, do the trenches run.
A four years ' battle is but just begun !
4

50 THE GATES OF JANUS

28–31 May 1918

Battle of Cantigny

AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 43

Petain^and English, — Paris forces fresh, —
Push, drive and slay, or Hunnish force enmesh !

Von Kluck turns tail ! He races to the Aisne !
His foes press on him hard, with might and

main!

AN EPIC STORY OF THE WORLD WAR 45

5. THE BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

Look at the Prussians, now, upon the Aisne !
They know full well their power is on the wane.
They've burrowed there, like rabbits, filled with

fear!
They start trench warfare when defeat seems

OP FLANDERS.

The fight for Antwerp, starts last day of

Aisne.

The Belgians stand, for ten days, under strain
Of siege horrific ; — helped by the Marines,
From British ships, that strive to act as screens.

OP FLANDERS.

coast, —
And join their forces with the Allied host.

Now from the North Sea to the river Aisne,
And from the Aisne to Verdun, and Swiss chain
Of frontiers neutral, do the trenches run.
A four years ' battle is but just begun !
4

50 THE GATES OF JANUS