The Elbert County tribune., 1913-07-11

sadly crippled-and instituted systematic plan
OF military organization, on the model OF the
greater European nations.
The result that Turkey feared to wiring
from Montenegro all the privileges the sultan
had really gained under the last treaty
During the next fourteen years there were
many covert outbreaks along the frontier. In
fact such affairs have always been regular top
les Of gossip in Montenegro up to the present
time
1t came in 1876, when Serva declared all
by herself against Turkey and Montenegro threw
in the whole force and weight of her 100000 in
habitants with Servia's 100000. There had
been some rumor of Russian declaration of war
against the sultan. But Montenegro did not wait
for this That not the Montenegrn way.
Fight for your brothers against any Odds" that
is the Montenegrin creed, and Prince Nicholas
acted upon It, The blood of Tchernagora as
hotly Of old. But there than hot
blood and desperate courage TO throw into the
balance for the principality this time There
the result OF all the scientific preparations Mich
olas had been making for fourteen years.
His increased standard of efficiency told right
at the start, when he able to rally 10000 men
to his standard-the largest army Montenegro
had ever put in the field. Instead of waiting for
the Turks to attack, he pressed the into the
enemy's country.
By of a series of combats that he after
ward loved to style "Homeric" in his moments of
reminiscence the prince compelled Niksic to capt-
ulate an achievement which, in his peoples opin-
ion, overshadowed all the others of the war; for
Niksic had stood for centuries threatening out
post of the Moslem power at their very gates
Then, unwearied by the months of steady fight
ing, the prince countermarched his army to the
south. pressed to the coast and for the
first time in the centuries of Montenegros ex-
istence the Montenegro eagles bathed in the
brine of the Adriatic Antivari and Dulcigno
both fell and Skutari-the bloody Skutari" of
the Montenegrin ballads-was besieged when
news of peace came
Well might Nicholas sit back content. In
succession OF campaigns that had met with un-
broken victory he had pushed forward his from
tiers in every direction. He had reduced every
Turkish fortress within striking distance OF his
frontiers. save Skutari
So passed more than thirty years-eventful
they would have been called in any other part OF
Europe, but somewhat dreary for Montenegro.
So long ago 1868 OF his own free-will and
without any pressure-indeed. in the face of the
opposition OF many of his adyisers-he voluntar-
lily granted the country constitution and abro-
gated his despotic powers in form at least-for as
a matter OF fact long Nicholas lives the
government OF Montenegro will be a benevolent
despotism by and with the glad consent OF the
people.
Since then he has granted other reforms and
has done everything possible to promote the ina
dividuality and talent for selfgovernment OF his
subjects
It is fierce. ruthlessly fanatical crusaders
that like best to think OF Nicholas and his peo-
pie; such crusaders followed Richard the
Lion-Heart to within sight of the walls OF Jeru
salem; OF the same caliber as the Franks of the
Fourth Crusade, who. under Dandolo Count Bald
win and Montserrat stormed Constantinople and
set up on the shores of the Bosphorus Latin
empire that might have checked the MosIem tidal
wave had Europe backed them up