Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-02-25
Serbian Ambitions
AssOclatsd Press Correspondence.

NTIsH. Serbia. normally a town OF some 2o.OOo. has
IN been transformed by the into city Of
more than 10000 souls The stranger within the
city gates wonders where all the people the
streets sleep at night. The small public park. we'll
as the two principal shopping streets crowded
during the daylight hours as Broadway and Fifth
avenue on late afternoon. The problem OF caring
for the thousands who fled here from Belgrade and
the northern communities OF the country when
was declared has been difficult
Every house with vacant rooms was comman-
deered by the government even this action failed
TO provide shelter for hundreds fugves from the
battle districts In the dilemma in which the Serbian
people found themselves the American Red Cross mis-
sion came a vertabie Godsend. Everywhere the
Associated Press correspondent has Travelled he has
encountered evidences OF good work done by American
citizens and has everywhere found gratfu appreca-
ton the part OF the Serbian people This appreca
ton was officially expressed by NJ. Milosh Petronle
witch, one OF the administrators OF the diplomatic
press bureau. who speaks English perfectly.
Our constitution" said NJ Petronievitch, 'and all
OF institutions are really modelled from those Of
the United States OF America. and some day hope
20 be really American state here at the end OF
Europe and the beginning OF Asia. That well
the sympathy and aid for our wounded sent US by
the American Red Cross during all three Of
cent wars. accounts for the very welcome
shall always give 20 any American who to
out and study US at closer
I'VE not so hosptable to all foreigners. Serbia
Is more accustomed TO having enemies than friends
From the time the Serbian empire under the
Turks fourteenth century until its liberation
the early part OF the nineteenth century Serbia
cut off state from all the Of the world Her
Turkish tyrants had but idea to destroy the soul
OF the race, the memory OF its glorious and marital
past of its arstocratic traditions and OF its racial
unity with the other slav peoples Its ohivairy
shed in the great battle of Kossova in 1889 Kossova
Is a vast plain about 100 miles southwest of Nlsh
where the battle OF Turkish conquest between the
forces Of sultan Murad I and the Serbian emperor
Lszsr fought In the fourteenth century This
great battle ended with the complete overthrow OF
he mi of
the whole OF southwest Europe by the Turks This
domination included oil the peoples now comprising
the Balkan states OF the of the noble Serbian
families carried off Co Constantinople to form
famous guard of the Janssaries They reared
in complete ignorance OF their parentage and with
but IDEAL the sultan. certain number of the
great Serbian families escaped into Russia, Austria
and Montenegro. From these and subsequent emigrs-
tions have sprung the members OF the race who are
today outside the kingdom of Serbia Bosnia, Herze-
govina and Damstia ntegraly a part of the
kingdom, though detached from II by European poll
tics at the congress OF Berlin
Mr. Petronievitch pointed TO a large which
hung in his office. showing the ancient confines Of
the Serbian empire, we'll the marginal line of
frontiers OF that Greater Serbia the creation of
which is in some quarters regarded the cause OF
the BE this as IL may. 1t will certainly be one
OF the most important changes in the of Europe
II Serbia its powerful allies successful against
the Germans and the Anstrians
you can see" continued Mr.. Petronevitch, how
difficult has been the position Serbia, with the
Turks. on the hand, longing to conquer what
they had lost; the Austrians the other hand.
urged by the Germans whose expansion could
only take place by pushing the Ausrians into posses
sion of all the Slav kingdoms OF the Balkans, thus
leaving free the German provinces OF Austria for
Germany. There is no doubt in our mind that Ger
many has had the idea OF absorbing the dual mon
arohy of Austria Hungary. thus dreaming of king
dom extending from the shores of the North sea to
AEGEAN salonika, the Rosphorus and the Sea of
Afafnofa at Constantnope. and reaching out TO a
alnre Mediterranean and the
Black No who has not lived on the shores
OF the Danube has real conception OF the fanatic
ism with which Austria has worked to achieve this
end. OF the designing care with which Germany
has ever promoted its designs. part of the plan
always has been TO keep the states of the Balkans
from any federation or cohesion among themselves
This might have been more difficult had not several
of the states had German princes for rulers Serbia
and Montenegro, you know. with the exception Of
Italy the only states of Europe that have rulers
OF their own blood and faith.
Bulgaria. closely allied to Serbia in feudal times
and whose liberation from Turkey effected by
Russia has ever been the working ground of that
Austro-G German diplomacy which has been so active
at Constantnople. The Bulgarian war Of last year,
as well as Turkeys participation in the present war,
was the outcome of this diplomacy and intrigue.
serva has been wiser than Bulgaria or Turkey. We
have not been any too fond OF strangers Too many
OF those who in the guise OF friends have
turned TO be Austrian spies. There never was a
country beset by spies and mischief makers Of all
kinds as Serbia been during the last fifteen
or since the German emperor made up his mind that
a European war would be the only OF acquiring
new territory for Germany.
Serbia Is trying 20 demonstrate 10 the whole
world that its civilization Is high plane as
that of England and America. even though Its re
sources and facilities not greater than those Of
Of the American states 100 ago 1t was the
history of the American Revolutionary war read by
Kara George. grandfather OF our present king which
inspired him with desire TO lead his people in the
uprising against the Turks in 1904"