New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-15
SERBIAN PREMIER
SURE OF VICTORY
Pashitch Looks for Early
Clearing of Teutons from
the Balkan States.
By GORDON GORDON-SMITH.

London, April IA had to-day q
long conversation with NJ. Pashitch, the
Serbian Premier, whom | had not seen
since left Scutari, in December last
He seemed in excellent health, and bis
confidence In the final triumph Of the
Allies is as firm as ever. Considering
the incredible fstigues, physical and
mental, which the recent campaign had
! imposed on him, especially the trying
retreat across the Albanian mountains,
he was looking wonderfully we'll and
fit
Much Of our conversation am not at
liberty to publish, but l may state that
NJ. Pashitch considers that all the
factors Of the situation, political and
military, are shaping fsvorably for the
Allies.
In response TO my question as to
whether the Allies are fully alive 20
the enormous Importance Of the Balkan
front in the termination of the war, h..
Pashitch replied that they we're much
more alive 70 it than they were eight
months ago.
Says Error Prolonged War.
"If the Allies" he said, chad not put
more trust than they deserved in the
declarations Of Bulgaria the Euro
pesn war now would be at an end. II
the 100000 men sent to Gallipoli had
been in the month of July last sent 20
tie Danube, the defeat of the Central
Powers would now be be complete" he
declared. with a quarter million
Franco British troops and as many
Serbian soldiers on that front Ru-
mania would not have hesitsted to
throw in her lot with the Allies. This
would have put 100000 bsyonets on
the Hungarian frontier. NJ. Venezslos
was at that moment Greek Premier.
With such a gage Of good faith on the
part of the Allies, he could have forced
the hand of King Constantine and
brought Greece in on the side of ,he
Allies.
"This would have made force Of
nearly million and a half men, and
would have created fourth front for
the Central Powers, which it would
have taken thirty army corps TO guard.
/ And such a force they did not possess,
unless they ungarnished the French,
| Russian and Italian fronts of large
/ bodies of troops. Bulgaria would not
have moved; If she had done so she
would have been crushed promptly.
There would have followed the march
across the Hungarian pusta to Buda-
pest. Once the Hungarian capital was
/ in the hands of the Allies, the position
of the Austrian troops on the Italian
front would have become untenable
and the italian invasion of Austria
would have been q fat accompli.
"All these advantages were lost by the
misplaced confidence of the Allies in
the false promises of the Bulgarians.
! know that such black treason as an
attack by Bulgaria, in alliance with the
! Turks, on Russia, the country which
had sacrificed half a million Of her
soldiers in 1877 to create King Ferdi-
hands kingdom, seemed incredible TO
European statesmen. But the other
Balkan nations had no such illusions.
Unfortunately, their views did not
prevail, and to-day, for the time being
at least, the Central Powers are mas
ters Of the Balkans
But that is the past. We must con-
slider now the future and how past mis-
takes are to be made good. The Ser
bian army is in process of reconstitu-
ton and will be able shortly to take
the field alongside the Franco-British
force at Salonica.