Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-01
, sERslANs FIGHTING FOR
REHABILITATION AND
SlAvS OF HUNGARY

Observation-Disclosures
Correspondence Of Associated Press.)
Kragujeyatz Serbia, Feb. 10-The
distressing feature OF the situation in
Serbia is the difficulty of rehabilitating
the hundreds Of thousands who were
obliged to abandon homes and lands
that became battle areas during the
Austrian invasion. Officers Of the Ser
b1an government see no reason why the
people should not return, but the diff
ficulty lies in providing them with
grain for replanting and feeding them
| until new crops are harvested. This
| task has been undertaken but the gov
eminent is handicapped by lack Of
| railway facilities and the almost i'm
passable roads. Help abroad is being
sought by the government for this ag-
ricultural rehabilitation.
Societies that have operated in for
| mer years to instruct the rural popula-
ton in methods of intensive farming
have been demoralized by three wars
in such rapid succession. Therefore,
despite all the government is seeking
/ to accomplish visitor is apt to get the
impression that nobody in Serbia is
doing anything that does not pertain
and children have to pe sacrificed to
the needs of the grown male population
who must be kept in lighting trim and
in the fighting line at any cost.
Everywhere in Serbia the Associated
Press correspondent heard the national
plea that the country lis fighting not
only for the maintenance of her pres
ent area, with it's population of over
four millions, but for the liberation of
the Slav states of Austria Hungary"
If she succeeds, some eleven millions
will be added to her population and ev-
cry one recognizes that so gigantic a
task, even with Russias aid, cannot be
accomplished without supreme sacri-
fees.
The Serbians are accustomed to pow
erty and hardshps, but there are said
to be a million persons really suffering
distress for lack of food and clothing.
They have never been reduced to such
restitution Before. And the Serbians
are contented with so little. The army
lives chiefly on bread and soup and
most Of the peasants, even in normal
times, do not eat meat except on fast
days. Help from the Slavs in Ameri-
ca, liberal tho it has BEEN is not ade-
quate to meet the situation. Everyone
here is pinning his hope for life upon
Americas phlanthropic resources. The
government issues a loaf of bread
day to every destitute family, but this
is far from sufficient in many case.
There are some six thousand wound
ed soldiers here now and medical sup
plies are still inadequate. At the first
reserve hospital are party of Eng
lish nurses, who were brought here at
the beginning of the war with Madame
Slavko Grouitch, the American wife of
the Serbian under secretary of foreign
affairs. Madame Grouitch also helped
organize the Red Cross work at Nish
and it was on her advice that the
American Red Cross Mission was
placed at Belgrade All this work and
the fact that she has gone to America
10 seek additional aid to relieve the
suffering of Serbia has made her name
and that of American doctors and nurs-
es beloved by the whole Serbian peo
pie. There are several other American
women inarried'-to Serbians-one to a
member of the royal family, another TO
a serbian minister in Paris--and this
is cited as a NNeon for the. United
States doing for Serbia what she is do
ing for Belgium. 40
Attic this city, until 1870 the capital
of Serbia, is at present the headquar
tiers Of the army. there is not much
that a foreigner can see except life in
the streets and cafes. Cabinet meet
ings are held in strictest secrecy as
are all the deliberations of the chiefs
OF, the army. There is a great maya
zine and arms factory here, in fact, the
only one in the Balkans, and thousands
of men are working night and day to
keep the army fully equipped.
Soldiers are constantly marching and
counter marching in the streets. In
their idle moments they sit in the
cafes, drinking Turkish coffee or the
mild beer of the country and discuss
the future plans of the army or the
scenes Of the last battle.
General Mishitch, commander of the
first army, who has been raised to the
rank Of field marshal, is the hero of
the day He is fine, soldierly figure.
Described as man of few words, but
with wonderful military knowledge
General Mishitch Is veteran of all the
wars that Serbia has fought for the
last fifty years. He was second in
command of the staff during the two
Balkan wars He knows every inch of
fight and he has been often under fire
on his trips from point to point in his
automobile or on horseback.
Field Marshal Putnik, commander
n-chief, who it will he remembered,
was arrested in Austria while on his
way home from that country at the
outset of the war, is in poor health, due
to rude treatment he received from the
Austrians at the time Of his detention
some say, but it seems more probable
that his advanced age and the fatigues
Of the last two campaigns have told
upon him.
The Associated Press correspondent
dined at the invitation of Colonel at
the officers mess at the military club,
formerly the Turkish palace. He found
them keen for news Of what was TAX
ing place in the other European fronts,
of which they knew little.
Fresh from their own successful
strategy and determined offensive in
driving the Austrians back, they could
not understand the comparative slow
ness of the movements on the west
European front Russia, they know.
has many Of their own difficulties of
;; insufficient transportation tzatti.o:::: tc- iias-
forces but they cannot understand why
England and France with every mode
nf transnort at their convenience with