Gilpin observer., 1913-07-10

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
mary 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 1875, when Servia 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 Montenegrin way.
Fight for your brothers against any Odds" that
is the Montenegrin creed, and Prince Nicholas
acted upon it. The blood of Tchernagora
hotly of old. But there more than hot
blood and desperate courage to throw into the
balance for the principaty this time. There was
the result of all the scientific preparations Mich
oas 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 put in the field. Instead Of waiting for
the Turks to attack, he pressed the war into the
enemys country.
By means of series of combats that he after
ward loved to style "Homeric' In his moments of
"Reminiscences, the prince compelled Niksc to capit-
uate. an achievement which. in his peoples opin
ion, overshadowed all the others OF the war. for
Niksic had stood for centuries a 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 on to the coast and for the
first time In the centuries of Montenegro's
istence. the Montenegrin eagles bathed In the
brine Of the Adriatic. Antvari and Ducigno
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 than thirty years-eyentful
they would have been called in any other part of
Europe. but somewhat dreary for Montenegro.
So long ago as 1868 of his own freewill and
without any pressure-indeed. in the face Of the
opposition OF many OF his advisers-he voluntar.
lily granted the country a constitution and abro-
gated his despotc powers, In form at least-for az
a matter or fact so long Nicholas lives the
government OF Montenegro will be 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 in.
dividuality and talent for self-government OF his
subjects.
II Is as fierce, ruthlessly fanatical crusaders
that like best to think of Nicholas and his peo-
pie; such crusaders followed Richard tho
Lon-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 Moslem tidal
wave mad Europe backed them up.