A FAMOUS VICTORY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11805, 16 September 1916, Page 4

A FAMOUS VICTORY.

It was a summer evening, Old Bethnninn's beer was done. And he, before the ae.dy shore. Was sitting in the sun, Instructing—for the hundredth time — His grandson Fritz von Hoggenheim. " 'Twas where the German Ocean rears Its crc.:.ts of snowy foam. Wo met. and beat tiie British Fleet, And' then retreated home. We bolted like the deuce,said he, ;; After that famous victory. When thing"; were looking very blue A shoreward course we .shaped; We lost about a score ot ships, But all the rest escaped, And, in unconquerable pride, Made for a port in which to bid©, " A world of human pity filled Our noble Admiral's mind', • And so he broke the action off And left the 100 bohuid. We always act like uiat," said h©, "After a famous victory." "In our'communiques we mad© No indiscreet remark, For we had cautiously resolved To keep our losses dark ; A course invariably applied By people on the winning sid'o. " And, after that, the beaten foe Blockaded all our ports, And ran u< shui'c of meat and bread, And goods of various sorts. Such tiling. as, this must always be After :x famous victory." " But why did we allow them toP" lee ai'tlcM Fritz inquired, " lUeau-re they hud so strong a fleet Tliey did' as they desired. Such cruel things must, .always be While brutal Britain rules tiio sea." " But, Grandpapa/' said little Fritz, " If we had really won, Why did not Prus ia rule the sea, As Britain once had doneP" "' Oh, shut your eilly mouth i"' said he, ''lt was a famous victory." —Horace Wyatt, in '''Daily Chronicle."