Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 5.djvu/42

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NOTES AND QUERIES.

[12 8. V. FEB., 191&

FIRST AMERICAN SOLDIERS TO FALL IN THE GREAT WAR. They were killed during a German raid on the trenches at the village of Bathelemont, twelve miles from Nancy, one being shot and two stabbed with poignards. A monument designed by M. Louis Majorelle commemorates the incident. A few months ago the U.S. Ambassador dedicated the monument, the ceremony, however, taking place at Nancy, as Bathel6- mont was too hot. A full description of the ceremony, based on the Ambassador's report to Washington, appeared in The New York Herald of Dec. 22, 1918. On one side of the monument is the legend " Lorraine to
 * ,he United States." The other side reads :

Here in Lorraine territory

repose

the three first

American soldiers

killed by the enemy

on November 3, 1917.

Corporal James B. Gresham

(of Evansville), Private Thomas F. Enright

(of Pittsburg), Private Merle D. Hay

(of Clidden).

As worthy sons of their great

and noble nation they have

fought for Justice, Liberty

and Civilization against

German Imperialism, the scourge of the human race.

They died on the battlefield. It would be interesting to know the names of the first British soldiers to fall.

J. M. BULLOCH.

TANKS IN THE GREAT W T AR. In view of possible controversy in future years as to the origin of Tanks, it may be well to preserve in ' N. & Q.' the following cutting from The Morning Post of Dec. 18, 1918 :

FACTS ABOUT TANKS. The origin and evolution of Tanks have so long puzzled the non-military mind, which in the mist of many disputants for the honour of the work could not equitably adjust the claims, that the information given on a sou- venir card at a dinner of the Designs Branch of the Mechanical Warfare (Tanks) Department will be welcome. The facts were set out thus : QUESTION. ANSWER.

Who " invented " the No one. first Tank ?

Who designed the Major Wilson and first Tank ? Sir William Tritton.

Who originated the Major Wilson, in all-round track ? August, 1915.

Who built the first Sir W. Tritton, at Tank ? Foster's, Lincoln.

Who authorized the Mr. Winston

expenditure of public Churchill, money for the first Tanks?

QUESTION.

Who suggested the design of the " Gun Carrier " ?

Who originally or- ganized the M.W.D. ?

What firms produced Tanks in quantities ?

When did they first go into action ?

Who led them, get- ting 23 out of 28 " over the top " ?

Can there be any finality in design of these land ships ?

ANSWER. Major Greg.

Sir A. Stern, K.B.E,

Messrs. Foster, Lin- coln, and Metropolitan Co., Birmingham.

September 6, 1916.

Lieut.-Col. Summew,. D.S.O.

No more than there can be finality in de- sign of sea ships.

J. R. H.

TENNYSON AND OPIUM.- Looking into a volume of * N. & Q.' of 1895, I have come across (8 S. vii. 348) this query :

" Thirty-five years ago, or more, it was commonly reported that Tennyson was an opium- eater. Has this ever been confirmed or contra- dicted ? "

There was one reply (ibid., p. 495) of little or no value.

The following extracts show what Tenny- son thought of opium-eating, and go far to prove that the report was fake. They are taken from an autograph letter which I have. It is not dated, but a passage in it about trouble with his eyesight places the date, almost certainly, in 1831. The post- mark (date illegible) is Spilsby. The water- mark date is 1830. The letter was written to one of his Cambridge friends, whose name, though he died many years ago, I suppress.

" Hollo !...., . . . . ! for shame ! what are you about musing, & brooding & dreaming & opium- eating yourself out of this life into the next ? Awake, arise or be for ever fallen. Shake your- self you Owl o' the turret you ! come forth you cat-a-mountain you shall chew no more cud. I swear by Spedding's speech & Hallam's essay,, by the right hand of Tennant & the eyes of Thompson, by the impetuous pomp of the taller & the voluptuous quiverings of the eyeglass of the smaller Scotchman, I swear by the mildness of Heath & the memory of Trench that thou shalt chew no more cud. What ! is St. Anne dead ? Is there not cakes & ales ? is there not toddies ? is- there not bacchies ? is there not pipes ? smoke negrofoot an thou wilt but in the name of all that is near & dear unto thee I prythee take no opium it were better that a millstone were hung about thy neck & that thou wert thrown into the Cam

" I think you mentioned a renewal of your acquaintance with the fishermen, which may possibly occur if you will leave off the aforesaid drug, if you do not I can foresee nothing for you but stupefaction, aneurism, confusion, horror & death.

Thine, dear ....

to the end of time

A. T."