New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-24
BRITAIN IGNORED
SERB WARNINGS
Crouch Declares London
Was Told to Prepare
for Great War.
SAYS ALLIES MUST
FIGHT OWN BATTLES
Foreign Secretary Tells The
Tribune Why Teutons Launched
Their Campaign in Balkans.

Especial correspondence 20 The rrihun.
Nish, Serbia. Nov 2l.-Just before
the Serbian government left here for
Kralevo, in tine northwest, Slayko
Crouch, Secretary General OF Foreign
Affairs, gave the following interview
to the correspondent Of The Tribune;
"Sorbia's importance in economic. po-
litical and military matters has been
greatly underestimate by the powers
and the world in general until now.
Europe especially has been slow 70
realize that Serbia holds the path TO
the markets Of the East by the easiest
way-that Of the Morava and Vardar
valleys. Years ago Serbian diplomats
told English politicians that Serbian
matters were Of the first Importance
in England's future and urged some
sort Of preparation, saying that when
the inevitable war came with Austria
England would also be in il.
The War of the Pigs in which Aus
tria has done untold injury TO Serbian
production through artificial duties and
unjust discrimination, especially dur
ing the last ten years. has been laughed
at and scorned when it should have
been studied. Even as late as July,
1914, when Austria sent the fatal ulti-
matum 70 Serbia England and her po-
litical leaders practically said. How
is that our concern@ Now the near
presence of Allied troops coming TO
our aid through Salonica shows that
they have seen their mistake. The un-
Just application Of unjust duties
against Serbian products going through
Budapest is primarily back OF that
movement Of troops.
Serbia Bumper State.
SERBIA is the bumper state OF Cen
trail Europe and the Southeast. IL 10
the natural pathway still. as II was
in the days OF the Crusades. IL is still
the gateway into Europe. as IL was
when the Turk surged westward. The
Ottoman was not stopped until he had
reached Budapest. but he was halted
there because the Serb resisted so
fercely that his strength was drained
and the Austrians were able 20 defeat
him. Serbia is now the natural outlet
for the two states, essentially German,
which, If continued, would cut Europe
in two separating England and Russia,
an end which England can never view
with complacence.
these two states, Germany and Aus
tris, have always opposed Serbia by
means Of Bulgaria. The Balkan wars
were encouraged by Austria for this
reason, but the enlargement of Serbia
at that time was great dlsappoint-
ment TO her, and therefore 10 Ger
many. I'm way, this war is a direct
consequence Of that disappointment
Serbia is the place in Europe where
there must be final settlement.
Serbias Successes in War.
"Nilitarily, Serbia's work in the
present war is more important than
the amount Of bloodshed tells. Alone
and practically unaided she has held
the German line AT the Danube
throughout the fifteen months of con
fict She has twice expelled the Aus
TRANS when they had managed TO cross
and start down the Morava Valley. The
whole Southeast has depended entirely
upon her.
"Now. in addition TO the Austrisns.
there are masses Of German troops a,
Semlin and Bulgarian troops on the
east. The Danube line is the Allies
line and the Bulgarian front is ours
As a nation we can do no other than
defend our own rights and people. The
Allies must help care for their own
quarrel We have been through four
campaigns IN as many consecutive
years, and we are still in readiness for
battle. We have done wonders with
our little army and extremely long
front, but we cannot perform miracles
The Allies must come They realize IT,
but they have delayed so long with
the Balkan question that much harm
has already been done and il can only
be rectifed slowly"