DER TAG

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 146, 15 March 1919, Page 8

DER TAG

« I e NELSON AND BEATTY. * (From the London "Times.") q No doubt 'twas a bnilv Christian sight . YY'lien the German ships came out of the b Bight, But it can't be said it was much of a fight f That grey November morning; . The wonderful day, the great Dor Tag, - Which Prussians had vow'd with unmannerly brag 5 Should see Old England lower her fla& 1 Some grey November morning. 8 . The spirit of Nelson, that haunts the 1 Fleet, > Had cqme whereabouts the ships must t nieet, r But he fear'd there was s.ome decoy or cheat ! That grey November morning. YY'lien the enemy led by a British scout Stole 'twixt our lines . . . and never a shout Or a signal; and never a gun spoko out That grey November morning. So he shaped his course to the Admiral's ship, YY'here Beatty stood with hand on hip ■ - Impassive, nor ever moved his lip ' That grey November morning; 1 And touching his shoulder lie said: "My ! mate. : Am I come too soon or am I too late? : Is it friendly manoeuvres or pageant of State i This grey November morning?" 1 Then Beatty said: "As Admiral hero | In the name of tho King I bid you good cheer: ; It's not my fault that it looks so queer This grey November morning; But there come the enemy all in queues; They can light well enough if only they choose; Small blame to me if the fools refuse, This grey November morning. "That's Admiral Router, surrendering nine Great Dreadnoughts all firstrafes of the line; Beyond, in the haze that veils the brine This grey November morning Loom five heavy cruisers, and light ones four, YVith a (ail of destroyers, fifty or more, Each squadron Hinder its Commodore, That grey November morning. "The least of all those captive queens Could have kuock'd your whole navy to • smiththeens, And nothing said of (lie other machines, On a grey November morning, The aeroplanes and the submarines, Bombs, torpedoes, and Zeppelins, Their floating mines aud' their smoky screens, Of a grey November morning. "They'll rage like bulls sans reason or rhyme, And next day, as if 'twere a pantomime, They walk in like cows at milking-time, On a grey November morning. We're four years sick of tho pestilent mob; —You've heard of our biblical 'Battle in Gob'fAt times it was hardly a gentleman's job Of a grey November morning." Then Nelson said: "God bless my soul! How things are changed in this age of coal! For the spittle it isn't with you I'd condole This grey November morning. By George you'vo netted a. monstrous catch; You'll be able to lion the best dispatch That, ever an admiral wrote under hatch On a grey November morning."I like your looks and I like your name: My heart goes out to the old fleet's fame, And I'm pleased to find you so spry at tl'ie game Thi.j grey November morning. Your ships, tho' I don't, half understand Their build, are stouter nnd better mann'd Than anything I ever had in command Of a grey November morning. Then Beatty spoke: "Sir! none of my crew, i All bravest of brave and truest of true, Is thinking of me so much as of you This grey November morning." And Nelson replied: ''Well, thanks f'your chat. _ , Forgive my intrusion! I take oil' my hat And make you my bow . . . we'll leave it at that, This grev November morning.'' UNION JACK.