Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-12
Getting the Serbs to saIoniki.


 The Reuter- correspondent at Salon iki, writes of the successful transport of the Serbian army from Corfu to SaIOnilIi:
 The Allies have another wonderful feat to their credit. Over a hundred thousand men have been brought through seas infested with submarines with never a. single mishap or the loss of one man. It is an astounding per fOrnance especially if we take into consideration the means the enemy un- dOUbtcdIy possessed of knowing all about every departure and the zeal with which the Austrian U-hOats par tiCuiarly must have sought the prize of a transport. But in spite of their vigilance and their daring and their ruthlessness they have not been able to interfere wit hthe steady flow of troops which has poured into SaIOniki regularly, me5hodically and unceasing ly for the past four weeks.
 'The vessels have been entirely French transports and great praise is due to shippers and crews for the man her in which they have accomplished their duties, but both French and Serbians gladly and gratefully recOg- nize that their achievement would not have been possible without the British navy; that only the constant vigil and unCeasing patrOlling of our warships has made these Mediterranean seaways clear and safe.
 "Over a hundred thousand Serbians are now encanped on the plains and in the valleys somewhere near SalCniki. \ fine lot Of men they are. Perhaps it has been a case of the survival of the ItteSC, but these tall thick-Set fellows show no traces of the hardships and sufferings Of the retreat and exposure in Albania. Four months recuperatiCn in Corfu has sioughed away all marks of sickness, toll and privatiOn. These Serbian soldiers look fit to go any where and do anything. And the men are as eager as they are fit. It is a new born army, and entirely re- equipped with new French and British uniforms, the men look exceedingly smart and sOldier-lilIe. Very proud are they of their new clothes, especially of the general service buttons on the British uniforms. It speaks well for the moral stanlnia of a people that can come through such trials without los ing courage or becoming enbitteCed. These soldiers are as cheerful and con fdent as though the tragic past were not, or had ever been. Artless, good natured and genuine, their faith in their great allies is implicit. They are sad when they think of their homes in Serbia and of the women and children they have left behind. Few have heard anything from their families for over six months. But there is a grim de- termination about them and an en- thusiasm at the thought of an advance on their enemies.
 Visitors are made very welcome at a Serbian camp. The whole talent of the regiment is nobiIized in order to entertain the guests. The Serbians are a musical people and some of the soldier chOruses were very stirring, even though the martial words were not understood. At one camp, where I messed the other day, several of the men had really first class voices and one soldier who accompanies himself on the violin had a tenor voice that would secure him an engagement on any stage. What everybody most en- joys, however, is the dance, the fam Ous hOra of the Balkans. It is very to see the fOOd-fellOWship between of fcers and men as they join hands in the huge semi circle which slowly to rythnl and measure revOlVes on the green. Then there were reCitaIiOnS and instrumental solos; we heard the gaika, a national instrument very like the Scottish pipes, but cruder and without the drone of the pibrOch. It was difficult seeing these men in hOl- iday mood to realize that each and every one of them had been more than once wounded and that the command ing officer had actually been wounded nine times; that they had been fight ing almost continuously for four years: that they had been through scenes and ! experiences that might eXcusably have shattered the nerves and broken the bodies of the strongest Yet here they were enjoying themselves as simply and whole heartedly as children"