Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-27
SERBIA CRUSHED
BY SERIES WARS
MILLION PERSONS NOW SUFFER-
ING FROM LACK OF FOOD
AND CLOTHING.


enee OF The Associated Press.)-The
distressing feature OF the situation in
Serbia IS the difficulty OF rehabllitat-
ing the hundreds OF thousands who
were Obliged to abandon homes and
lands that became battle areas during
the Austrian Invasion. Officers OF the
Serbian government see no reason
why the people should not return. but
the difficulty lies IN providing them
with grain for replanting and feeding
them until new crops are harvested.
This task has been undertaken. but
the government Is handicapped by a
lack OF railway facilities and the al
most impossible roads. Help abroad
Is being sought by the government for
this agricultural rehabilitation.
Societies that have operated in
former years to instruct the rural
population In methods OF intensive
farming have been demoralized By
three wars in such rapid succession. !
Therefore. despite all the government
is seeking TO accomplish a visitor is
apt TO get the impression that nobody .
In Serbia IS doing anything that does .
not pertain to the support OF the army. /
Women and children have 10 be sacri- .
feed to the needs or the grown male .
population who must be- kept in fight
ing trim and IN the fighting line at
any cost.
Everywhere In Serbia The Associat-
ed Press correspondent heard the ma
tional plea that the country els fight
ing not only for the maintenance OF
her present area. with its population OF
over four million. but FOR the liberia
ton OF the Slav states Of Austria-Hun-
gary IL she succeeds. some eleven
millions viii be added 20 hor popula-
ton and every one recognizes that so
gigantic q task. even with Russia's aid,
cannot be accomplished without SUI
preme sacrifices.
The SCrbians are accustomed 20
poverty and hardship. but there are
said 20 be a million persons really sUf-
IerinE distress from lack OF food and
clothing They have never been re-
iuced 90 such destitution before. And
he Serbians are cOutented with so
!ttle. Tine army lives chiefly on bread
and soup and most OF the peasants.
3veu IA normal times, do not eat meat
except on feast DAYS. Helm from the
slavs in America. liberal though Il has
been. Is not adequate 20 meet the sit
iatiou. Everyone here is pinning his
rope for life upon Americas ph!lan-
hropic resources The government is
ues q loaf Of bread a day TO every
destitute family. but this IS far from
ufiicient in many cases.
There are some six thousand wound
"a soldiers hero now and medical sup
Ia. 4.
eserve hospital are a party OF Eng
Ism nurses. who wero brought here at
he beginning OF the war with Madame
Hawke Grouitch. the American wife OF
he Serbian under secretary Of foreign
fairs. Madame Grouitch also helped
rgauizs the Red Cross work at Nish
nd II was on her advice that the
american Red Cross Mission was
laced Gt Belgrade. All this work and
ne fact that she mas gone 10 Amer
a 10 seek additional aid 20 relieve
10 suffering OF Serbia. has made her
anne and that OF American doctors
nd nurses beloved by the whole Serb s.
N people. There ere several other q
.merican women married 20 Ssrbians II
one To member Of the ROYAL fam q
y. another to a Serbian minister In 81
aris- and this is cited as q reason
y the United States doing for Serbia &.
hat she IS doing for Belgium. ID
Although this city. until 1870 the al
ipital OF Serbia, IS at present the d
OF the army. there IS not "
uch that a foreigner can see except G.
fe IN the streets and cafes. Cabinet Oh
lettings are held in strictest secrecy IN
are all the deliberations OF the &C
liefs OF the army. There IS a great X;
agasine and arms factory here. IN gi
ct. the only one in the Balkans. and q.
lousands of men are working night Or
I'D day to keep the army fully "A;
Iuipped.
Soldiers are constantly marching in
I'd counter-marching IN the streets. w
their idle moments they sit in the ~.