The Washington times., 1918-09-26
SONG PLAYS BIG
PART IN WARFARE

Songs and music have played n very
prominent and potent part in the drama
of war. For music hath charms. not
only to soothe the savage, but TO inspire
men to deeds OF daring and OF dying.
Bayard Taylor has beautifully pictured
it's power in admirable and attractive
verse. He tells OF this incident just be-
fore the storming OF Seyastapol in the
Crimean war 1850:
give US a song"-the soldiers cried
In the outer trenches guarding,
When the heated guns Of the camps
allied
Grew weary OF bombardinG.
There was pause-the guardsman
said:
We storm the forts tomorrow
Sing while We may; another day
Will bring enough OF sorrow.
They sang Of Iovc-and not Of fame
Forgot was Britain's glory
Each heart recalled a different name
But all sang Of Annie Laurie.
Not only has song been invoked be-
fore battle. but also afterwards. for
victory. In full testimony Of this. We
have the beautiful and triumphant song
Of Marian. sister OF Moses. as recorded
in the Bible. for the great victory ~
the IsrasIitcs over the Egyptians who
were pursuing them. When the Lord
opened wide the waters ofsthe Red sea
to make a pathway for the Israelites,
closing upon the Advancing Egyptians.
she sang:
IT will sing unto the Lord. for he has
triumphed gloriousIy; the horse and the
rider hath he thrown into the sea-
Another Instance.
The Holy hook gives us another in
stance Of this, when in celebrating and
appreciation Of the victory achieved
over the Mennonites. led by Sisera. De-
borsh, the prophecies Of Israel sang:
The stars in their courses fought
against Sisera'
Indeed. all along tho pathway Of his
tory, both sacred and profane, We are
told Of the influence and power Of music,
both vocal and Instrumental. on the
field Of Mars.
The Noruans. under william. tho Con-
1ueror. hattled at Hastings against tho
Saxons. led by tho valiant Harold The
issue involved and the problem TO he
solved there was whether the futu,rs
rulers Of Britain should be OF Saxon or
Of Norman blood Tho Normsns Wor
and that victory Is seen TODAY in the
present dynasty which rules Great
Britain. At the head OF the Normans. 4
minstrel. nourIshing his sword. sang the
Song Of Roland" and under ihc In
splration and influence Of this song. vii
Ham was triumphant.
Maddened savage.
Schiller, In his admirable and attractive
historical narrative Of the Thirty Years
War. graphically describes the Battle
Of I.utZen, where tho SWedeS and
Protestant Germans. under Gustavus
Adolphus. won u great victory, Before
going into this battle, his entire army
sang an inspiring hymn, accompanied
nv a military band. and upon gaining
this great victory sang the '-re Dcum. -
This Thirty Years War has been called a
religious war, when. paradoxically as Il
may appear. one sect and branch Of
the Christian church. under the banner
Of the Prince OF Peace, cruelty butch
cred the other, 10 attain and to obtain
the Sovereignty of their respective
churches ever certain peoples and in
certain lands.
Coming down the c-rr:dors Of tim-
Nc have striking reminder or all airs
n, Whai ha- ben written Of the gren,
must have felt that the day of his dies
tiny was nearly oyer and the star 81
his Eiory nearly set, seeing his loyal
legieRs waverinE. as the Prussians, nm.
der Biuoher advanced. turning to hin