THE RETORT POETICAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12869, 3 January 1906, Page 3

THE RETORT POETICAL.

GERMANY'S "LITTLE WAR." German taunts regarding England's military ineptitude during the Boer War are not forgotten, and now that the Teuton in Africa is succeeding no better, when matched against v native tribes, the British satirists are " getting back " on their former critics. "Truth" has an apologue of a bull-dog grievously vexed and bitten by a legion of rats concerning whom a collie derisively boasted: "Why, bless my life, were mine the strife Against such pygmy foe, I'd crush 'em slick, in half a tick, And not a scratch to show." But the collie in turn is pestered by filch his food, they bite his toes," and elude all his attacks. And the obvious moral is addressed "to the Bombastes Puriosos of the German Army " : "When Boers to rout and knock 'em out Did' all our efforts tax, You of our fights 'gainst untrained Whites Did then derisive wax;. And boastful said that ''on your head' You'd do a job far bigger— What price, I say, your own display Against the untrained nigger?" And Mr Punch, in very similar strain, thus apostrophises the -Kaiser:- 1 - " The news from -nigger regions In your Hinterlands afar, Seems to prove your German legions Barely conscious where they are. And, because you set the fashion When we fought the neighbouring Boer, We would show a like compassion,' \ We would offer Tvords o£ healing, - Since we fear you must be. feeling Somewhat sore. You whose face grew pale as plaster When we suffered each disaster, Lord of war."