Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-08-09

S~%--C 49, N-s~@N ~ - ~~--~
During our campaign we captured
many trenches. In front OF Htn 81,
we took two trenches and 4S pr1s-
a line Of trenches one mile and bali
long"
How England Waited and Hoped.
Hall Game. the noted British author.
gives the following dramatic descr1p-
ton Of the historic scene presiding the
declaration Of war by Great Britain.
In q room in the prime minister's
house in Downing street the prime
minister himself and three principal
members of the cabinet are waiting
for a reply to the ultimatum sent
the reply expires at midnight. II -
approaching IL o'clock In spite OF
her Infamous proposals." the min
listers cannot even yet allow Them
selves to believe that Germany VIII
break her pledged word She has
not yet replied, but she viii do 90;
she must
There is more than an hour left.
Even at the last moment the tele-
phone bell may ring and the reply
of Germany handed to the British
ambassador in Berlin will reach Lon
don. 1t is a calm autumn evening. the
windows are open to St James Park,
which lies dark and silent as Tar as
Buckingham Palace in the distance
The streets of London round about the
official residence are busy enough
Quivering with excitement
After all. the reply to the uiu-
matum has not even yet arrived. and
the absence of q reply is equivalent
to a declaration OF war. SUDDENLY one
of the little company remembers some
thing that everybody has hitherto for
gotten; the difference Of an hour be-
| tween the time of London and Berlin
Midnight by mid-European time will
be IL o'clock in London. Germany
| would naturally understand this de-
mand for a reply by midnight to mean
midnight in the country of despatch,
therefore at IL O'Clock London time
the time for the reply will expire.
1t is now approaching IL o'clock. As
| the clock ticks out the remaining
minutes the tension becomes terrible
| talk slackens. there are long panses
| The whole burden of the frtghtful Is
sues involved for Great Britain, France
Belgium, Russia, Germany, for Europe
for the world, for civilization. for re-
ligion itself, seems to be gathered NJ
in these last few moments. II wal
comes now 1t will be the most frightfu
tragedy the world ever has witnessed
| Twenty millions dead. perhaps, ciYi
life crippled for a hundred years
Which Is it to be-peace or war? i
Is terrible to think Of.
As they sit there the electric wires
may be flashing the awful tiddngs
like a flying angel OF life or dealt
through the dark air all over Europe
The four men are waiting for tn
telephone to ring. 1t does not ring
and The fingers of the clock are NOV
ing. The world seems on tiptoe Listen
ing for the thunder stroke of fate. Tn
minutes at length sit silent and rigid
almost petrifed, looking axediy at tn
| floor or ceiling.
Then through the awful stiffness o
the room and the park outside come
the deep boom Of Big Ben boom
| boom-boom!
No one moves until the last OF tn
eleven strokes has gone reyerberatin
through the night. Then comes
voice heavy with emotion, yet frn
with resolve: It's war;"
| When the clock struck again q
midnight Great Britain had been a
war for an hour without knowing II
: II / have done wrong IN lifting tn
curtain on this private scene ! AS
; forgiveness for the sake Of the pur
pose I put IL to: that Of showing
was not in haste. not in anger. bu
) with an awful sense of responsibilit
to Great Britain and humanity tina
our responsible ministers drew tn
: sword Of our country.