ORIGINAL VERSE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1916, Page 6

ORIGINAL VERSE.

THE NORTH SEA FIGHT, What sav the tidings from the wild North Sees Of what befell? Hark! the tale ye men who live at ease and mark it well. They tell of warships speeding to the fight, Seeking the foe; The gallant crews filled with a wild delight, Their heads aglow. Singing their joyous way across the sea, Like sportive schoolboys in their eager j glee. Burning to meet the foe they long have sought, Deeming the battle won ere yet 'tis fought. The hardy sons of a tough, sailor race, They dread no foe, nor count the odds they face. . .

At rest beneath the mist the ocean lay In silent gloom; A fateful monster waiting on its prey, A sombre tomb. lue air is still and heavy with import, i The hour is nigh, We'll /oil the din of war with loud report From sea to sky. Now watch afar the heavy Smoke clouds rise. Curling an upward flight toward the skies; And o'er the waters speed like thing 3 of life, The steel-clad champions of the coming strife. Ronsing the slumbering sea to sudden wrath, The mighty cruisers cleave a foaming path.

Then, hark! With thunderous crash the storm breaks, Giants wage war. The ocean 'neath the dreadful impact quakes, And near and far The mighty guns belch forth with deafning fire, Wreckage and death mark everywhere around Their presence dire, ill fared it then with Britain's hardy sons That, for a time, the heavier German guns Kept them at bay, and threatened with defeat The gallant lads whose lips ne'er hint retreat. Bred in the sea-girt isles to fight—not flyThey act a manly part, or, like men, die.

Now speeds across rne sea a vision grand Of war-like power, Sweeping the waves aside she takes command; Her great guns lour Upon the hostile fleet, and in a breath Wafts victory's tide, Tn this gigantic battle to the death. To Britain's side. On every hand she hurtles death and woe, Spreading disaster 'midst the stricken foe Bravely the Germans fight, but vain the hope With the victorious Warspite's blows to cope. Beaten, they turn their bows—nor stay ! their flight—- ' Till friendly minefields shelter their sad i plight.

Now o'er the waters gaze with thoughtful eye. For this is war, . Mark the poor swimmers, ere long sink and die; While near and far, , Like sleuthhounds on a hard-pressed vieI tim's trail, f The warships speed. No calls to succor friend or foe avail, Though great the need. 'Mid rain and wreck a few saved from the strife, /Unscathed, but sorely spent, still cling | to life. jTlieir anxious eyes search vainly thro' I the haze, I No welcome sail yet greets their wistful gaze; ] And long ere rising sun lights up the i sea, ; Their weak'ning ranks must much dim- » inished be.

"A victory won"! Great God, at what a cost Of priceless men, The young, the brave—ah! what has Britain lost! ()r when again Amid the battle's din can those be found To act,their parts, Who in that fight found their last anch'ring ground. Stout" fearless hearts! Yes. we have thousands' still as brave as these To rally round the flag that guards the seas. On land and tide ■with dauntless hearts they fight, Content to know their country's cause is right, Content to die, if need, but not to live If tvrauts' will the right of living give. . Manaia, July 18- .