The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1916-01-07
SERB GUERILLA
GAINS FAME BY
DARING ATTACKS


,Associatcd Press Correspondence
Gevgheli. serbia. Nov. 22.-pne ot
the nost picturesque figures of the
European war Is the serbian "Homit-
adji' or guerilla Ivan s~toikoyitch.
.Snown 10 fame as 'Bahounsky The
name Is drawn from the famous Bah
Gun Pass. where recent, the serbs
~ long held the invading bulgarian
ut bay ivan s~toigu,itch comes from
that part of Serbia and is therefore
known to his followers aud "a the
serbian population ~ large b, "a nick
name indicating the fact.
\ slight q tail with honest gray
blue eyes aud the pale features az "a
student. he impros-cs the stranger
with anything bat the terror Whirh
his name Inspires. Nor de- his looks
bell. ms real profession. For tho rc-
doubtable "BnbounskS was a school
teacher until fred hy an ardent pa
triotism a." gave up hiss ylas.eH 10 gath
er aoout him - 9nld of Intrepid Spirits
In the nrht for the release OF th"
Turkish pant OF serbia from IN" Otto
nan yoHc.
Ever since Tho first Balkan war he
and his followers have been under
arms. r-nrocognized b., the laws 81
war they hny" taocn their Own risks
of capture aui instant execution.
Their refuge IS iu the serbian noun
talns. and thcS have he,l willing to
trust their security To- their own nS-
tu,eness and the i-mpregnahiiity of
their numerous hiding places.
During the brief period separating
the FIRST Balkan wal from thc second
and the second balkan ron the pres-
ent European struggle. the internal ad-
ministration of Serbia was IN suen .
state OF disorder that It seemed 10
'B%abounsky better To retain MS 1and
under arms ald Ca assist ,n th, admin
istration of a rough and ready Justice
than To send his followers To their
" nfcsidcs. In this capacity even
IN the snort Intervals OF peace he Kept
his name as a AlLd ~ modern ROBIN
Hood-the friend ~ the weak aud tho
terror of the evil ducr.
Especially since the complete break
down of the SERBIAN administration
following the night of the government
10 Scutari. has "Habouns hccomc
a %pcrsoHage Of prime importance ia
serbia Before the advancing German
AID bulgarian armies. town after
town was evacuated. Sometimes The
Inhabitants were able To- take u few of
their belongings with them. more Of
t,u the, were forced 10 leave with The
clothes the, wore as their only posses
ions But especially ~ thc southern
pari of serbia. where the greater part
of the lnhAbitalis are really ot 'Tuik-
ish or Bulgarian extraction. only the
Serbs ned and the Turks and the Bul-
utY.tF N F.rHnnNnnt AAEfNa Ns4IfIfar Hsr
the arrival ot the armies OF their com
patriots. they were uot AYERS" tu geo
ing through the deserted SERBIAN lvrl.
llga ANA acquiring a lcw useful ar
tcles.
~Babounsky' did not approve OF
this. NATURALLY the deserted dwellings
o ~ ~ them would Dll into IA.
hands of the ronuucrors. That was an
Tisht-thc chance Of var. liut that
former u~eiFhbors should do the loot
INK Mas not boz "Babounsly's' code.
Ana those who tried II were dealt With
IN a most summary manner
! Whoever among the Hulgarinns wa.
suspected of giving Information 10 the
advancing Bulgar armies Also received
short ~huiu A story i- told eff he
first Balkan war when "a certain
lH' v - ~ hHhNNHNN N. k'hANNN W.
sut pccted of treason 10 the serbian
cause. "~Bnbouuskv's band appeared
upon IA" scene one night and "Kcch-
ku" ana four others were arrested.
tried H. secret by the band at midnight
aud sentenced a. ne "scut to S,lohilI''
that IL, taken 20 the banks Of the
Nardar river. stabbed and thrawu r,
their bodies 10 drlft down with the
current 10 SalonikL Al i've were lined
mp On She lauN. 'B~abounsky' guV"
'Ihe iglal for the fatal blows 80 lac
,strurk. nut unfortunately "kechko's
cxrcutioncr "a lawyer from Bclgradr,
had never killed a man before and ms
hand slipped. tn" five bodies wer"
thrust into the Vardnr. but "Kochko"
! was still alive
' a week later h serbian consul a.