"GOD PUNISH ENGLAND."

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 169, 22 March 1915, Page 2

"GOD PUNISH ENGLAND."

The amazing outburst of hatred against England in Germany is responsible for a new form of greeting which has displaced the conventional formulas of salutation and farewell: "God punish England!" (Gott strafe England") is the form of address, to which the reply is: "May God punish her!" (Gott mog 'ese strafen! ") Th« extraordinary formula, which is now being used all over Germany, is celebrated in a set of verses by Herr Hochstetter in a recent number of the well--kjaown German weekly, "Lustige Blatter.." In its way this poem is as remarkable as Herr Ernst Lissauer's famous Hymn of Hate. This is the German greeting, When men their fellows meet. The merchants in the market place, The beggars in the street: A pledge of bitter enmity, Thus runs the winged word "God punish England, brother — Yea, punish her, Ok Lord!" With raucous voice, brass-throated, Our German shells shall bear This curse that is our greeting To the "cousin" in his lair! This be our German battle-cry, The motto on our sword: "God punish England, brother: Yea, punish her, 0 Lord!" By shell from sea, by bomb from air. Our greeting shall be sped, Making each English homestead A mansion of the dead. And even Grey will tremble As falls each iron word—- " God punish England, brother: Yea, punish her, 0 Lord!" This is the German greeting, When men their fellows meet, The merchants in the market place, The beggars in the street — A pledge of bitter enmity, Thus runs the winged word: "God punish England, brother; Yea, punish her, 0 -Lord!" —Translated bv Valentine Williams.