ALPHABET ARTILLERY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4155, 4 February 1916, Page 3

ALPHABET ARTILLERY.

The newspaper heading, “Bombardment of Belgrade,’ recalls that alliterative curiosity which at one time or another lias appealed to us all, “The Siege of Belgrade” as it appeared in the “Literary Gazette” of 23 rd December, 1820 : THE SIEGE OF BELGRADE. Addressed to the Admirers of Alliteration, and the Advocates of Noisy Numbers. Ardentum Aspicio Atque Arrectus Auribus Astro. —Virgil. An Austrian army, awfully arrayed, Boldly by battery besieged Belgrade : Cossack commanders cannonading come, Dealing destruction’s devastating doom. Every endeavor engineers essay, For fame, for fortune fighting—furious fray! Generals ’gainst generals grapple — gracious God, ITow honors Heaven heroic hardihood ! infuriate—indiscriminate in ill — Kinsmen kill kindred, kindred kinsmen kill: Labor low levels loftiest, longest lines, Men march ’mid mounds, ’mid moles, ’ mid murderous mines ! Now noisy noxious numbers notice nought . Of outward obstacles, opposing ought. Poor patriots ! —partly purchased, partly pressed— Quite quaking, quickly “Quarter! quarter!” ’quest. Reason returns, religious right redounds, Suwarrow stops such sanguinary sounds. Truce to thee, Turkey!—Triumph to , thy train, Unwise, unjust, unmerciful Ukraine I Vanish, vain victory! Vanish, victory vainl Why wish we warfare? —Wherefore welcome were „ . Xerxes, Ximines, Xanthus,' Xaviere r Yield, yield, yo youths! Ye yocmen, yield your yell; Zeno’s, Zampater’s, Zoroaster s zeal. Attracting all, arms against acts appeal !