Evening star., 1914-08-23


Montenegrins had Joined
Late Reports the Servians and occu-
r.,a-.a pied Bosnia Herzegovina;
that the Servians had de-
feated the Austrians west Of Belgrade:
that Belgrade was still held by the Ser
vians. and. briefly. that there were reports
Of grave revolt Of Czech and Polish SOL
diers in the Austrian army. Should the
latter dispatch be confirmed, 1t lends in
creased importance to the Gar of Rus
sia's offer Of freedom and autonomy to
the Poles as well that the joint action
Of Montenegro and Servia In Bosnia Her
zegovina conceals the purpose of melting
a general revolt of the Slav.
In the present war Montenegro and Ser
via are destined. perhaps. to play an I'M
portant part, as important as during the
fnsurrection of Herzegovina in 1875 which
kindled the spark of the war that devas-
tated the Balkan peninsula; a war which
was precipitated by the tyranny of the
Moslem power. and the bloody reprisals
in Bulgaria and Bosnia, which aroused to
intensity the rage OF the Slavs.
In the campaigns of 1S76-77 Montenegro
and the Slavs displayed herosm in the
battles of Russia against Turkey which
won for them the esteem and admiration
of Europe. The treaty Of San Stefano Of
March, 1877, closed the tragedy. The
author Of the History Of Montenegro
and Bosnia" published in 1895, writes:
TT can be seen that Montenegro is in
position to play an important role. more
important than in 1S76-7S in the Slavo-
Turkish affair, and that her sword will
weigh heavily in the balance the day of
the struggle"
The prediction was amply justified in
the wars Of the Balkans against Turkey,
IN, " NJ rrncnS-
pected power composed of Montenegro,
Servia. Bulgaria and Greece which
wrested Its entire independence from Tur-
key and had driven the latter hopelessly
back into Asia but for the Intervention of
the unexpected at Tchataldja-
Each one Of these new Balkan states is
based upon marvellous military power
and possibilities. Mon
MontenegTlnS tenegro first in war" is
c.- bugle call; her nu-
fact less than the lesson Of her morale
and heroism. In 1912 her peace footing
and war footing were the same for all of
these brave mountaineers are soldiers
from sixteen to sixty. The entire popu-
Increase by reason Of her conquests.
The Servian army in 1912 on a peace
footing numbered 10000: nevertheless un-
der the patriotic pressure of those days
it swelled to 10000, when mobilized, thus
representing the enormous proportion OF
IA to every 100 of the population.
The Servian army labored under the
grave suspicion. down to the war Of the
Balkans, that there was something radi-
cally wrong in q military machine which
had plotted the murder of King Alexan-
der and his Queen Draga- But 1t appears
that in 1912 all trace of the stain upon
the army had been removed by a society
formed by group OF officers known as
the Tsyrna Rouka the black hand). The
means employed consisted in appeals to
the morale, acts of conciliation, lessons
in abnegation and devotion to country.
The army was brought up to a high
standard Of both officers and men.
The secret Of Servia was kept inviolably
and the declaration Of war Of 1912 was
treated by Turkey and by Austria-Hun-
gary as bluff.
Servia's entry into the campaign, to say
nothing Of the other powers, was truly
remarkable considering the fact that the
funds in the treasury of all the Balkan
condition. in fact. Mobilization was eff
fected In four days. concentration in
eleven days, and on the third day the
Servians were in the Sandjak.
The Serb Is intensely patriotic and de-
voted: his honesty and mild disposition
are characteristic. He Is attached to the
soil, flowers attract him and he likes
music and song. He has never been
spoiled by contact with the anti-militar-
list. the anti-patriot or the anti-Christian,
but he Is imbued with all the sentiments
OF love OF country that distinguished him
tn the middle ages He is intelligent and
well informed.
r
In 1907 a parliamentary commission
was sent to make serious inquest on
the general prepara-
ServlanS Know ton and intelligence
rh.;, u;,4., Of the people and of
A J' the reorganized army,
which had been subjected to some criti-
cism. At Nish the commission visited
the recruits to learn what they knew of
things generally. One hundred recruits
were taken from regions accepted as hav-
ing a backward population. and ten ques-