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_CHRISTMAS, 1916_

"_The holy war is at the door_"

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_NEW YEAR'S FEAST OF KULTUR_

The British Liner _Persia_ was sunk by a German submarine on December 30, 1915, southeast of Crete, while on her way to the Orient. American Consul McNeeley, on his way to his post at Arden, was among the 335 persons who lost their lives, of which two or more were Americans.

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_THE POILU_

We are not going to grow weary. France has confidence because you are there. How often have I heard your officers say: "Never, in any age, have we had a finer army. Never have men been better trained, braver, more heroic than ours!" Everywhere that I have seen you I have felt myself tremble with admiration and hope. You will conquer. The year now opening will bring you, my friends, the pride of finishing the defeat of the enemy, the joy of returning to your homes, and the sweetness of celebrating the victory there amid those you love.

_The President of France to French Troops, January, 1916._

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_THE TRIALS OF A COURT PAINTER_

"_I commenced this as the entry into Paris, but I must finish it as the entry into Nish_"

Hail Emperor, Caesar and King! Thou art victor and glorious. In ancient Nish all the peoples of the East salute thee, the redeemer, bringing to the oppressed prosperity and salvation.

KING FERDINAND OF BULGARIA TO THE GERMAN EMPEROR _On the occasion of the triumphal entry of the two Monarchs into Nish. January, 1916._

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_VON DER GOLTZ GOES TO THE PROMISED LAND_

In January, 1916, Field Marshal Baron von der Goltz was appointed commander in chief of the Turkish Armies in the Caucasus. The serious nature of the Turkish situation in the Caucasus seems to have been realised in Berlin but the veteran German general was unable to stem the advance of the victorious Russians who were shortly afterwards to capture the great fortress of Erzerum with its entire garrison, guns and supplies.

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_THE BURIAL OF PRIVATE WALKER_

On September 9, 1914, Joseph Walker enlisted for the duration of the war; on January 11, 1916, the sea bore his dead body to the d.y.k.e at West Capelle. This afternoon, at 1 P.M., while the northwest wind whistled over Walcheren, the English soldier was buried in the churchyard of West Capelle.

First the vice-consul in the name of England spread the British flag over him who for England had sacrificed his young life. Four men of West Capelle carried the coffin outside and placed it at the foot of the tower, that old gray giant, which has witnessed so much world's woe, here opposite the sea. It was a simple, but touching ceremony.

"Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live.... He cometh forth like a flower and is cut down." Thus spoke the voice of the minister and the wind carried his words, and the wind played with the flag of England, the flag that flies over all seas, in Flanders, in France, in the Balkans, in Egypt, as the symbol of threatened freedom--the flag whose folds here covered a fallen warrior.

And in the roaring storm we went our way. There was he carried, the soldier come to rest, and the flag fluttered in the wind and wrapped itself round that son of England. Then the coffin sank into the ground and the hearts of us, the departing witnesses, were sore. Earth fell on it, and the preacher said: "Earth to earth, dust to dust."

_From the Amsterdam Telegraaf, January, 1916._

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_"COME AND BE HAPPY AT POTSDAM"_

The little Kingdom of Montenegro was conquered by the Austrians in January, 1916. Although the Austrians were present in overwhelming force, a substantial part of the Montenegrin Army were able to escape and join the Serbs who were in Albania.

Upon the fall of Montenegro, the Kaiser invited the King to accept German hospitality in Berlin. The King refused and escaped to France, taking up his residence at Lyon.

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