Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-05-11
correspondent. seated on the bench,

the correspondent. seated on the bench,
look out owe the gulf of Eubea.
Like lake Geneva" the sovereign
says. waving his hand at the water n
the distant mountains. Here we are at
Ouchy, and over there is the Jura and
France" He sits a while in silence n
then takes up again, aloud, the theme
of his thoughts. How much she has
done for us-France! How much she
has done for all the world! Now she
Is taking our children to her deep
bosom, to keep them safe for us Until
after the war, that the race of Serbs
may not die out.
He Knows Cruel War.
For there, in Serbia. it is extermina-
and he children who are the living
future of our dreams-all we have to
mold by to rebuild our nation after the
war-soon they will all be gone. Make
no mlstake-war is a brutal business
here in the Balkans. We all Of US
learned our war making under the
Turk, and the women and children nave
little chance. l don't mean to say they
are massacred or anything like that,
though that, too, has happened. But l
refer now only to the fact that there is
little or no provision for noncombat-
ants. no organization to look after
them.
When the Austrians made their
first invasion of Serbia a year and a
half ago., they had no sanitary provis-
slons even for their own men. Most of
their own wounded died, because they
could not be properly taken care OF.
How much relief could an army like
that afford to a starving civil popula-
ton. liz he population Of Serbia to-
day?
No, it is only your compatriots who
can help US in this our Of our need.
AND they are doing it, God bless them!
But there Is need Of so much-so
much!" The old mans head sank on
his breast. His yes closed YEARLY. 1t
was as If his soul had left the bent,
worn. pain racked body and flown over
the far mountains to his WI people.
If only they had come a little soon
er, our allies!" he went IN. Il used to
tell my men: HOLD on, just a little
longer. They have said they will come
and they will comet And they be-
lieved me and held on
You know, we couldn't ever see the
Germans. 1t was all artillery-machine
made war! My men used to grind their
teeth and the tears would run down
their poor, thin faces, and they would
say: If only we could just get at them,
we would show them
And then. as I rode by their lines, 1
could see them shaking their heads and
nodd1ng at me and whispering among
themselves. Poor old king they were
saying, he still believes the allies will
come In time to ave u.s."
Suddenly the king gave a little,
hoarse, i~narticulate cry. His hand went
up to his throat. His head fell back.
His body collapsed in a limp heap. DR..
Simonovitch rushed up with a bottle in
his hand. Colonel Todorovitch lifted
the fainting monarch in his arms like
a child fallen asleep.
Slowly consciousness returned. King
Peter drew a long breath and looked
about him, dazed. With his two arms
he gently pushed away the doctor and
the soldier. Turning to the correspond
ent, shyly, as one ashamed of his weak
ness, he gasped:
It's sorry. I beg your pardon!
Sometimes-sometimes I think / am o
very strong" lie rose slowly, painfully.
Leaning IN the arm of Colonel Todoro-
witch, he made his way to the hotel. At
the top Of the steps he turned, drew up
his slight body to its full height, smote
his heels together SO that the spurs
clicked. and raised his hand smartly to
the visor Of his cap.
Say to the people Of your great
country, sir. that Peter K~arageorge-
witch salutes them"
HL L LLh ~