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    The Day of Wrath: A Story of 1914 (WWI Centenary Series)
    The Day of Wrath: A Story of 1914 (WWI Centenary Series)
    The Day of Wrath: A Story of 1914 (WWI Centenary Series)
    Ebook267 pages3 hours

    The Day of Wrath: A Story of 1914 (WWI Centenary Series)

    By Louis Tracy

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    This early work by Louis Tracy was originally published in 1916 and we are now republishing it as part of our WWI Centenary Series. 'The Day of Wrath: A Story of 1914' is a novel about the horrors of the first year of the Great War. The New York Times Book Review published this critique of the work: "The Human mind is so constituted that it becomes deadened by the weight of numbers, needing the personal, the individual, to awaken its liveliest sympathies.  We read with pity and horror of the sufferings of a nation; but that they may be brought really home to us, become really vivid and forceful, they must be embodied in some person or small group of persons.  And it is something of this embodiment which Mr. Tracy has achieved in his latest book, The Day of Wrath.  We have all read of burned villages, murdered noncombatants, tortured women-all the horror and agony undergone by heroic Belgium in the cruel days of August and September, 1914.  Mr. Tracy takes a little company of six people, two of them English, the others Belgium, and shows us what happens to them during that awful time." This book is part of the World War One Centenary series; creating, collating and reprinting new and old works of poetry, fiction, autobiography and analysis. The series forms a commemorative tribute to mark the passing of one of the world's bloodiest wars, offering new perspectives on this tragic yet fascinating period of human history. Each publication also includes brand new introductory essays and a timeline to help the reader place the work in its historical context.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLast Post Press
    Release dateMar 10, 2016
    ISBN9781473367401
    The Day of Wrath: A Story of 1914 (WWI Centenary Series)
    Author

    Louis Tracy

    Louis Tracy was a British journalist and prolific writer of fiction. He used the pseudonyms Gordon Holmes and Robert Fraser, which were at times shared with M. P. Shiel, a collaborator of Tracy’s throughout the twentieth century.  

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      Book preview

      The Day of Wrath - Louis Tracy

      THE DAY OF WRATH

      A STORY OF 1914

      BY

      LOUIS TRACY

      Copyright © 2016 Read Books Ltd.

      This book is copyright and may not be

      reproduced or copied in any way without

      the express permission of the publisher in writing

      British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

      Contents

      Introduction to the World War One Centenary Series

      A Timeline of the Major Events of World War One in Europe

      In Flanders Fields

      PREFACE

      CHAPTER I

      THE LAVA-STREAM

      CHAPTER II

      IN THE VORTEX

      CHAPTER III

      FIRST BLOOD

      CHAPTER IV

      THE TRAGEDY OF VISÉ

      CHAPTER V

      BILLETS

      CHAPTER VI

      THE FIGHT IN THE MILL

      CHAPTER VII

      THE WOODMAN’S HUT

      CHAPTER VIII

      A RESPITE

      CHAPTER IX

      AN EXPOSITION OF GERMAN METHODS

      CHAPTER X

      ANDENNE

      CHAPTER XI

      A TRAMP ACROSS BELGIUM

      CHAPTER XII

      AT THE GATES OF DEATH

      CHAPTER XIII

      THE WOODEN HORSE OF TROY

      CHAPTER XIV

      THE MARNE—AND AFTER

      CHAPTER XV

      CARRY ON!

      Introduction to the World War One Centenary Series

      The First World War was a global war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. More than nine million combatants were killed, a casualty rate exacerbated by the belligerents’ technological and industrial sophistication – and tactical stalemate. It was one of the deadliest conflicts in history, paving the way for major political changes, including revolutions in many of the nations involved. The war drew in all the world’s great economic powers, which were assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies (based on the Triple Entente of the United Kingdom, France and the Russian Empire) and the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. These alliances were both reorganised and expanded as more nations entered the war: Italy, Japan and the United States joined the Allies, and the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria joined the Central Powers. Ultimately, more than 70 million military personnel were mobilised.

      The war was triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, by a Yugoslav nationalist, Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo, June 28th 1914. This set off a diplomatic crisis when Austria-Hungary delivered an ultimatum to Serbia, and international alliances were invoked. Within weeks, the major powers were at war and the conflict soon spread around the world. By the end of the war, four major imperial powers; the German, Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires—ceased to exist. The map of Europe was redrawn, with several independent nations restored or created. On peace, the League of Nations formed with the aim of preventing any repetition of such an appalling conflict, encouraging cooperation and communication between the newly autonomous nation states. This laudatory pursuit failed spectacularly with the advent of the Second World War however, with new European nationalism and the rise of fascism paving the way for the next global crisis.

      This book is part of the World War One Centenary series; creating, collating and reprinting new and old works of poetry, fiction, autobiography and analysis. The series forms a commemorative tribute to mark the passing of one of the world’s bloodiest wars, offering new perspectives on this tragic yet fascinating period of human history.

      Amelia Carruthers

      A Timeline of the Major Events of World War One in Europe

      In Flanders Fields

      In Flanders fields the poppies blow

      Between the crosses, row on row,

      That mark our place; and in the sky

      The larks, still bravely singing, fly

      Scarce heard amid the guns below.

      We are the Dead. Short days ago

      We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

      Loved and were loved, and now we lie

      In Flanders fields.

      Take up our quarrel with the foe:

      To you from failing hands we throw

      The torch; be yours to hold it high.

      If ye break faith with us who die

      We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

      In Flanders fields.

      John McCrae, May 1915

      "The stern hand of fate has scourged us to an elevation where we can see the great everlasting things which matter for a nation—the great peaks we had forgotten, of Honour, Duty, Patriotism, and, clad in glittering white, the great pinnacle of Sacrifice pointing like a rugged finger to Heaven."

      David Lloyd George (1863–1945), British Liberal politician, Prime Minister. Speech, Sept. 19, 1914, Queen’s Hall, London. Quoted in Times (London, Sept. 20, 1914).

      Image 1. Belgian machine gun post

      Image 2. Squadron of Belgian cavalry

      PREFACE

      This book demands no explanatory word. But I do wish to assure the reader that every incident in its pages casting discredit on the invaders of Belgium is founded on actual fact. I refer those who may doubt the truth of this sweeping statement to the official records published by the Governments of Great Britain, France, and Belgium.

      L. T.

      CHAPTER I

      THE LAVA-STREAM

      For God’s sake, if you are an Englishman, help me!

      That cry of despair, so subdued yet piercing in its intensity, reached Arthur Dalroy as he pressed close on the heels of an all-powerful escort in Lieutenant Karl von Halwig, of the Prussian Imperial Guard, at the ticket-barrier of the Friedrich Strasse Station on the night of Monday, 3rd August 1914.

      An officer’s uniform is a passe-partout in Germany; the showy uniform of the Imperial Guard adds awe to authority. It may well be doubted if any other insignia of rank could have passed a companion in civilian attire so easily through the official cordon which barred the chief railway station at Berlin that night to all unauthorised persons.

      Von Halwig was in front, impartially cursing and shoving aside the crowd of police and railway men. A gigantic ticket-inspector, catching sight of the Guardsman, bellowed an order to clear the way; but a general officer created a momentary diversion by choosing that forbidden exit. Von Halwig’s heels clicked, and his right hand was raised in a salute, so Dalroy was given a few seconds wherein to scrutinise the face of the terrified woman who had addressed him. He saw that she was young, an Englishwoman, and undoubtedly a lady by her speech and garb.

      What can I do for you? he asked.

      Get me into a train for the Belgian frontier. I have plenty of money, but these idiots will not even allow me to enter the station.

      He had to decide in an instant. He had every reason to believe that a woman friendless and alone, especially a young and good-looking one, was far safer in Berlin—where some thousands of Britons and Americans had been caught in the lava-wave of red war now flowing unrestrained from the Danube to the North Sea—than in the train which would start for Belgium within half-an-hour. But the tearful indignation in the girl’s voice—even her folly in describing as idiots the hectoring jacks-in-office, any one of whom might have understood her—led impulse to triumph over saner judgment.

      Come along! quick! he muttered. You’re my cousin, Evelyn Fane!

      With a self-control that was highly creditable, the young lady thrust a hand through his arm. In the other hand she carried a reticule. The action surprised Dalroy, though feminine intuition had only displayed common-sense.

      Have you any luggage? he said.

      Nothing beyond this tiny bag. It was hopeless to think of——

      Von Halwig turned at the barrier to insure his English friend’s safe passage.

      Hallo! he cried. Evidently he was taken aback by the unexpected addition to the party.

      A fellow-countrywoman in distress, smiled Dalroy, speaking in German. Then he added, in English, It’s all right. As it happens, two places are reserved.

      Von Halwig laughed in a way which the Englishman would have resented at any other moment.

      Excellent! he guffawed. Beautifully contrived, my friend.—Hi, there, sheep’s-head!—this to the ticket-inspector—let that porter with the portmanteau pass!

      Thus did Captain Arthur Dalroy find himself inside the Friedrich Strasse Station on the night when Germany was already at war with Russia and France. With him was the stout leather bag into which he had thrown hurriedly such few articles as were indispensable—an ironic distinction when viewed in the light of subsequent events; with him, too, was a charming and trustful and utterly unknown travelling companion.

      Von Halwig was not only vastly amused but intensely curious; his endeavours to scrutinise the face of a girl whom the Englishman had apparently conjured up out of the maelström of Berlin were almost rude. They failed, however, at the outset. Every woman knows exactly how to attract or repel a man’s admiration; this young lady was evidently determined that only the vaguest hint of her features should be vouchsafed to the Guardsman. A fairly large hat and a veil, assisted by the angle at which she held her head, defeated his intent. She still clung to Dalroy’s arm, and relinquished it only when a perspiring platform-inspector, armed with a list, brought the party to a first-class carriage. There were no sleeping-cars on the train. Every wagon-lit in Berlin had been commandeered by the staff.

      I have had a not-to-be-described-in-words difficulty in retaining these corner places, he said, whereupon Dalroy gave him a five-mark piece, and the girl was installed in the seat facing the engine.

      The platform-inspector had not exaggerated his services. The train was literally besieged. Scores of important officials were storming at railway employés because accommodation could not be found. Dalroy, wishful at first that Von Halwig would take himself off instead of standing near the open door and peering at the girl, soon changed his mind. There could not be the slightest doubt that were it not for the presence of an officer of the Imperial Guard he

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