Evening journal., 1915-04-21
Stories From the European Firing Line
As Related by Some Eye Witnesses

far the liberation and unity Of our
brethren the Serbians, CrOatians and
Slavonians who still are under Aus
trian domination.
I'VE hope that when peace comes
We will have established the right Of
the Serbians. Croatians, and Slavon-
ians for an Independent State IN Bos-
MIA, Herzegovina Croatia. Dalmatia
Slavonia. lstria and the old Serbian
empire beyond the Danube all Of
which Austria now holds There are
12,000,000 southern Slavs in this ter
ritory. They constitute by lar the ma
jority OF the population. They are
our brothers by common origin Ian
guage, tradition custom and history.
For years Austria has sought to force
them 10 forget their origin. their LAM
guage and their nationality. Thous-
ands. rather than consent. have emil
grated, mostly 10 the United States.
Certainly if these people must leave
home l am glad that they can go to
your country. but I am convinced that
with their own country and govern
ment assured, they would be glad to
remain and build up a great nation.
With national welfare assured natur-
ally these people would prefer to re-
main on the soil from which their
race sprung"
Recalling that when Prince Alexan-
der assumed the regency last June.
only a month before the present war
began. il was feared that his Rus
sian military education might mean
/ another militarist added 10 the Eu-
ropean thrones. ! asked him whether
realization of the national Serbian
dreams would necessitate the mainte-
nance of an increased military sys-
TEN.
Il hope not" was the reply. "but
that all depends on the outcome OF
the present war | am militarist
only to the point where Il is neces-
sary TO maintain an army TO protect
the rights of the people. As a nation
Serbia has purchased the right to an
Independent existence at sacrifices
too great to permit lightly risking
them again. We hope that when we
are given peace every question affect
ing the Balkans will be so settled as
10 render another war impossible. We
| desire only long period OF tranquil
( ity TO permit the intellectual, COM
mercial and industrial development
which alone can insure our perma-
nent existence. No person who has
once witnessed all that war means
can ever wish to see another.
1T Is the wish of all Serbians that
we can eventually open extensive f.
nancial and commercial relations
with the United States. The mater
ials We have bought there since the
war began have been most excellent.
And America has aided us greatly
in the saving OF lives of our people.
I'm our greatest hour OF need
America has been most generous and
kind. II would seem almost dngrac-
ious TO single out amongst so many
noble persons. each OF whom 7 am
convinced did all that they could. but
] cannot refrain from mentioning the
noble work of DR.. Ryan. who has
had charge of your Red Cross work.
His work has been done under my
personal observation. His care of our
wounded, and his action in protect
ing the rights of our people. and es-
pecially of our wounded during the
Austrian occupation of Belgrade has
won him official recognition not only
of the French and Serbian govern
ments. but also the gratitude Of the
entire Serbian nation.
Prince Alexander is q years Of age.
and is of a striking, manly type,
Like all of the Serbian officers. how
ever. he is most serious, although this
seems to add to his charm of manner.
He received me dressed in the service
uniform of a colonel of the Serbian
army and wearing only three mill
tary decorations. those given him by
England. France and Germany.
The audience took place on the first
floor OF the little cottage set aside
for his use in a corner room in which
he has established an Office, the win
dows Of which look out on the main
village street. He has a small desk