The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1914-11-07
SERBIAN WOMEN AND CHILDREN


| commonly understood. They have
| wanted access to the worlds markets.
and the denial of this privilege has
added to the racial antagonism. The
Servian peasants who compose the
army have really been fighting for
commercial freedom as much as for
political independence.
Have Big Army.
The Englishman with whom I jour-
neyed pointed out the qualities in the
Servian cOuntrymen which made for
good soldiers. AS an observer, he
then knew the general scheme OF the
Servian military group to create an
effective army out Of this material.
1t was from this agricultural popula-
ton that the compact, disciplined ar
my of 100000 was formed, and was
ready for active service when the Bal
kan states made war on Turkey. The
part the Servian troops played In that
war, and In the subsequent wars
among the allies does not need to be
recalled. That the Servian army Will
prove effective in the present general
war may safely be assumed, for the
material of which 1t Is composed has
not changed.
As result of the successful war
against Turkey, the old Servia ceased
| to exist, and the new Servia was
formed with a territorial area in
creases by more than one-third, and
with an addition OF 100000 Slav In
habitants.
The Servia that was created by the
Berlin treaty of 1877 had an area of
fraction under nineteen thousand
square miles, and a population. when
the Turkish war was begun Of nearly
three million. AS the spoils Of the
war Servia got an addition OF nearly
fifteen thousand square miles and an
added population Of 100000. So the
new Servia, which Ia a factor in the
present war, is a country Of more
than thirty-three thousand square
miles, with a population Of nearly four
million five hundred thousand. Wheth'
er when the war Is over there will
still be an Independent Servia is. Of
course. one Of the questions which
cannot be answered now.
While Servia, as the outcome Of the
Turkish and Bulgarian wars. got this
addition to territory and to popula-
ton, the national aspirants were not
satisfied. Servia wanted the seaport
of Saloniki on the Aegean sea. which
Austria also wants. The Servian ter
ritory now comes to within 40 miles
of Saloniki. Servia did obtain extern
sive port privileges at Saloniki. includ'
ing cession Of zone for warehouses
for merchandise In transit, port ex-
emptions. and . reduced tariff on tho
railway. This would mean much for
the development OF the country. but
the 40 miles of Greek territory be,
tween the Servian frontier and the
sea always will appeal to the Servians
as something that thew ought to have.
The advantage servia had, and still
has, az an agricultural country. pro-
ducing not only sufficient for the sus-
tenance Of its own population. but a
surplus for export, IL not to be over
looked in the existing war. II the Aus
TRAN troops were not under the neces-
sity Of fighting Russia, they could stay
in Servia and live OF the country very
easily. But with Russia engaging
them, Servia is likely to have the ben
eft Of her agricultural surplus to feed
her own army. and to some extent the
Russian army. When the food supply
is SO essential an element in the war,
the crops Of Servia become a military
resource o. great value.