WON ON POINTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1294, 8 September 1914, Page 4

WON ON POINTS.

(By Adam McCay.) “The Germans have reached Brussels.”—News from Belgium. Now Belgium’s blood has been spilt again where often it flowed before ; Her people suffer the loss and pain of a land laid waste by war ; Yet her courage and faith are worth a song to tell of the deeds sublime In a battle that raged a fortnight long when the Belgians fought ior time.

It wasn’t for them to smash to scraps the Kaiser and all his host; (That job is for others to do—perhaps it’s too soon yet to boast). But in weeks when corps upon corps was flung in a sudden and swift assault, The Belgian rifles and guns gave tongue, and bade the Germans halt.

In a fight intended for fifteen rounds, the fellow who hears the gong As the sweetest of all most welcome sounds, and still keeps going strong, May win the bout though his ears are puffed, and the whites of his eyes are hid, If he goes the journey, though mauled and roughed—and that’s what Belgium did.

A fortnight more for the French to rear a wall for the German flood, For the British Army a fortnight clear was gained by Belgian blood ; By the little army that stood and dared the strongest, mightiest foe, Perhaps the rest of the world is spared from the fall of a mortal blow.

Her fields are ravaged, her towns on fire, as the Prussians swagger through; But Belgium won to her great desire—she did what she tried to do! There are boles in the German mail to day, there are gaps in the armour-joints; And I fancy the referee will say that the Belgians won on points. —Sydney Sun.