_Smite, England, to the tramp of marching men-- The rhythmic heart-heat of a world in pain-- Smite, hip and thigh, with flashing steel, and then Unfurl thy peaceful banners once again._
_Oh, Polly love, oh, Polly, the rout has now begun, And we must march along by the beating of the drum; Go dress yourself in your best and come along with me: I’ll take you to the war that’s in High Germany._
I have spoken to several prisoners who could speak English, and with no exception they all thought or were told that the British troops were no good at fighting--that it was only niggers we could face. They have got a different view by now: _Sergt. Dickson, Coldstream Guards_.
The Germans seem to have gone mad entirely, and are running about like bulls in a china-shop, playing havoc with everything that comes their way. Our business is to wait around until Mister Bull gets properly tired, and then we will lead him off by the nose in proper style: _Lance-Corporal E. Twomey_.
The Germans aren’t really cut out for this sort of work. They are proper bullies, who get on finely when everybody’s lying bleeding at their feet, but they can’t manage at all when they have to stand up to men who can give them more than they bargain for: _Corporal J. Hammersley_.
Not all Germans are cruel. On the Aisne I was lying for hours wounded. A German came along and bound up my wound under heavy fire. When he had made me ship-shape he was going to clear off, but a stray bullet caught him, and he fell dead close beside me: _A Private of the Black Watch_.
A big German surgeon came to me and said, “You don’t like to fight against us, do you?” I replied we did not care whom we fought so long as it was for the good of our country. “But you would rather not fight with us?” he said. “No fear,” I replied, and then he left me saying “Bravo”: _A Captured Corporal_.
The Germans are bad fighters. They rely on their big guns to do their work. They won’t come out to fight you with their rifles.... I have seen three big battles, and got hit in the fourth one. Hard lines, isn’t it? I have the bullet in my foot yet, but I must wait for my turn, as there are a lot waiting to be X-rayed: _Lance-Corporal G. Percy_.
We got caught in a wood, where I was wounded. When the fire stopped the Germans came to us and pinched everything we had. We drew five francs the day before, the only pay-day we had had out here, and the beggars stole the lot. They even sat down in front of us and tucked into the “bully” they had done us down for: _Pte. Blissenden, Grenadier Guards_.
