Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-10-08
SERBIA, FAITHFUL AND VALIANT

In Serbia there centers in this mo-
ment the interest of the world. which
watches with wonder
A Nations the process of her re-
creation and re-estab-
which its enemies too quickly concluded
had been wiped of the slate of states.
There Is something intensely spec
tacular in the part being played by
Serbia in the military operations on
the Saloniki front. whence proceeds a
movement having. with other OBJ
jectives. the recapture of Serbia's CAPT
tai. At this critical hour a brief
resume of Serbian history will be
timely.
Prior to these last two terrible years
of incessant war. the children of Serbia,
even the very young, all knew that
Serbia had been conquered by the Turk
at Kossovo in 1889. but all these chill
dren were taught that the future be-
longs to those who are brave, and that
the future will restore to them. one
day. the territory and the nation lost
at Kossovo.
NJ. Paul Liable, writing of the Serb
ians. says:
These proud mountaineers, besfeged
on all sides by the peoples of the
plains. have struggled during CEN
turtles to save Europe from invaders.
They have made of the massive chains
of mountains where they reside the
rampant of Christianity against the
Turks. They barred also the route
against the invasion of the Germans
III TO To hA fo anS
owe their grand qualities. bravery,
tenacity and fidelity to their past spirit
of sacrifice, love of liberty, disdain of
death, to the hardships endured during
centuries with great valor; also to the
geographical situation of their coun-
try"
June % is the Serb national anniver-
sary, not only celebrated in Serbia, but
in all countries where Serbs live. 1t is
the "Vidovan." day of augury. of in
Misfortune purifies and strengthens
great peoples. great souls-surprising
theory. beautiful also, for that which
the Serbs glorify since centuries is
glorified in Bosnia. in Montenegro, in
Croatia. in the Banat and in Macedonia.
the anniversary of the great defeat in
13SS-the anniversary of defeat
The defeat of Kossovo, although
cruel. did not blight hope in the
Serbian. Honor remained
Defeat of and it was for future
generations to rem r
AosSoFo. homage each year to those
who preferred death to the loss of lib
erty Women and men said to their
children that they must avenge their
fathers. Priests in monasteries, savants
and literary men SO taught until pa
triotism anu religion were blended in
one.
The Serb of all the Slavs is the most
poetical They march to combat led by
bands who sing and play their war
songs. Old men recite to children
heroic songs in praise of the brave. Ali
know the verses of the Poet 1ovano-
witch, who causes the tombs of the an
cestors to speak to the living today.
There where have stopped. thou wilt continue;
That which l could not, thou canst
Where ] could not go, thou canst
That which have commenced. thou wilt finish;
That which owe. thou wilt pay.
In these lines are found the ideals of
Serbian inspirations; never do the Serbs
speak of duty, because the word is en-
graved in the Serbian soul.
The Serbs worked in silence until
1905 Austria-Hungary annexed Bos-
nia-HerZegovina. There We're mani
festations in the streets of Belgrade,
and from kragouievats to the capital
there arose a spirit of revolt-a reso-
luton to conquer or die The treaty
of Berlin was violated by Austria, and
Serbia appealed to Europe. There was
fear of general war, and Russia
yielded to her love of peace.
To the establishment of the diplomats
of nearly all the countries of Europe,
the coalition of Serbs, Bulgars, Monte
negrins and Greeks against the Turks
succeeded In the Balkanic war Serbia
was expected to furnish 100000 men.
She furnished 100000. 1t was due to
the modern field pieces of Serbia that
Adrianople fell into the power of the
Bulgars. This same cannon Ferdinand
hesitated to give back a few months
later.
1t Is conceded that Austria hated
Serbia for all the evil she proposed to
do her and for the fear that Serbia
might prove an obstacle to her am
bition to reach the sea. Ferdinand. the
the Balkanic bloc-treason to Russia,
treason which Petrograd did not or
would not believe.
Bulgaria was vanquished by Serbia
in the second Balkanic war. Gen. Put
mix and the Serbian gov
Bulgaria's eminent had crushed Bull
ne. garia completely had they
ooAeat. wished, but they yielded to
a generous movement. hoping for fu-
ture Cancellation.
The effect of the Slav victory at Ku-
manovo was considerable. Kumanovo
was, in manner, revenge for Kossovo,
and it was proposed to organize a great
pilgrimage to the battlefield of Kossovo
where all friends of Serbia would be con-
voked.
King Peter of Serbia, it is recalled,
was decorated by the government of the
French republic with the Legion d'Hon-
neur for bravery on the battlefields of the
said to a distinguished writer: You will
day when Germany makes war CA US.
can place Serbans at the service. of
France"
Il was Austria, in 1914 who made war
on Serbia. Albania was the bone of con-
tention. Austria found preteXt in the
assassination at Sarajevo. Count. Berch-
told rendered the Serb government re-
sponsble and announced publicly that on
that question he would admit no discus
sion. There was insolent and premeditat-
ed rupture. Serbia had her victories, but
Belgrade was bombarded during four
months before the Austrans forced the
gates of the Serbian capital.
The ministry OF NJ. Pachtch went to
the limit of all possible concessions TO
conciliate Austria. Finally Serbia took