Evening star., 1915-11-20
Letter Received by Capt. A. P.
Lucas Says Germans SheIIed
Fleeing PopuIace.
DISTRICTS OF DANUBE
AND SAVE DEVASTATED
Belgrade Absolutely in Ruins"
Writes Nine. Marincovitch to
Friend in This Country.

How the Germans crossed the Save
and the Danube. laying Belgrade in
ruins and shelling the fleeing populace
with artillery as they took possession
OF serbia Is told in a personal letter
which has reached a Washingtonian.
Capt. Anthony P. Lucas, from a Serbian
woman. Nine. Marincovitch. The latter
wrote, under date of October 13, to her
friend, Miss Losanitch, who was the
companion of Nine. Grouitch when the
latter, West Virginian, formerly Miss
Mabel Dunlop, made campaign in this
country recently for assistance for her
husbands starving countrymen and
countrywomen. Miss Losanitch sent
the letter to Fullerton F. Waldo of
Philadelphia, who forwarded it to
Washington to Capt. Lucas
There are so many things to tell"
Nine: Marincovitch says, that I can
hardly begin. You have no idea what
we have lived through in these last
days. One instant good news and the
unbearable.
Belgrade in Ruins.
belgrade absolutely in ruins-the
Save and Danube districts devastated.
everyone was so occupied in getting
away alive that they had no time for
observation. The civil population never
expected that the German artillery
would shell them while they rushed to
save themselves along the roads, where
there was no strategical reason for
shelling at all. 1t was done, of course,
on purpose, to kill the n-combatant
fugitives. So many fires have broken
out and no one knows If they will be
extinguished. Many were killed in the
ruins. We have no idea who has been
killed, and will only know when those
of us who are left meet again in Bel
grade after the Germans have been
driven out.
Aunt Miliva and Anna, after four
days wandering. have arrived in Nish
safe, both exhausted and looking
days. Think of Aunt Miliva walking
from Belgrade to Talja, all across
country. behind the cover of the hills
to evade the shells. She took her tiny
bag of toilet articles and two chemises
and her fur coat over her arm. Many
little stories are circulated in Nish Of
how the people fled. and what they
took with them, and all laugh. Nearly
the whole Of Semendria is in German
hands. and. just think, one telephone
no order to withdraw.
Bora was killed at Semendria He is
gone, and so many more we don't know
of here. All these wars have taken so
many. The typhus seemed the climax
but these attacks surpass everything.
Serbians Fight Like Lions.
our soldiers fight like lions. and in
the bayonet fighting in the streets of
DALI
every street, and the streets are filled
with bodies. The first time the Ger
mans tried to cross the Save and the
Danube we repulsed them. but with
reinforcements they crossed near the
fortress and by the Island of Adatzi-
gailja, and now they have the whole
city.
They also tried crossing Daubfo-
vita and Ram. The Germans were OBJ
very best commander. against us At
least they don't underestimate US. He
has such a cruel face.
words cannot tell about DR.. Ryans
work in Belgrade, and some of the
English doctors. During the most ter
rible bombardments they drove about
the city picking up the wounded, dress
ing their wounds and sending them to
safety.
I'VE are now in Nish, and are not 60
ing to leave till the Germans arrive
Where we shall go. God knows But
don't be worried, we shall always man
age to get away safely at the last min
ute. We have to stand till the allies
send help, If they come in time. The
worst thing is to maintain two fronts.
We would not fear the Germans alone,
still less the Bulgars, but with both at
tacking the position is the most critical
we have had. If only the allies will
send help we will hold out while human
power can, and longer. At least we will
make the Germans remember the day
when they made up their minds to come
nd crush Serbia. They will get far
into the country, and 1t Will seem to
Europe that our last hour has come,
and the whole continent will have long,
sad faces for us, and then we will at
tack them and drive them out at last.
To Dress Up for Wedding.
TT is extraordinary how in these con-
ditions ordinary affairs go on. Tomor-
row shall put on my best dress and go
to a wedding.
I'VE all gather together and talk, and
all are nervous and irritable. Aunt
Nathalie bursts in, all excitement, with
fresh news. We discuss affairs and 1
laugh because we disagree and all