New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-07


people so overwhelmed with GRIEF, so
physically weary, so mentally de-
pressed. Always there has been GER
tain admiring, almost awe-stricken,
love for the United States in Serbian
hearts, because II is the great free ma
ton to which so many Of their coun-
trymen have gone.
Thus the entrance of the States gave
the starving Serbians in Serbia glow
of hope. When it was learned that
the American troops were to be sent
to France, not to the Balkans, there
was general encouragement, il Serbia,
intense, patriotic, wonderful, even IN
the face Of death, rape. incendiarism
and torture, ever can be said to have
shown encouragement.
Patriots Near Despair
Now the situation seems intensely
critical. Wise old Serbians, with deep
sunk eyes and voices softened by their
misery, nre beginning pitifully to in
quirs II their nation must not be In
its death-throes. For the country is
being literally stripped.
Long ago every ounce Of metal which
could be used by the Teutonic allies
was taken from the devastated land.
Now every Austrian soldier who is
given leave is permitted TO take with
him TO his home, though Serbia Is
starving, ten kilos Of meat, ten head
Of poultry, two hundred eggs, three
kilos Of cheese, twenty-five kilos Of
vegetables and one hundred kilos o.
fruit The Austrian occupying force
consists OF tens Of thousands Of men.
So the drain upon the Serbian country,
already poverty stricken, even famine
stricken, may be imagined Austria
has decided that she must devastste
the country, for no Serbian in his hear.
has surrendered to the oppressor.
Already the very worst that can be
done has been done to Serbian woman
hood Many girls and women have COM
mitted suicide rather than become the
mothers of the children of their enc
mics, many have gone mad, many have
been beaten, starved and shot to death,
in addition 10 the frightfully large
number who have been sent to Turkey
70 supply the hsrems OF the Turkish
gentry, who are especially fond OF
pretty white girls.
II would be impossible TO tell the de-
tails Of what the Serbians are suffering
in Bosnia. As soon as the war broke
out 5000 persons, men, women ana
children, we're sequestered at Arad, IN
Hungary. That this number was enor-
mously increased during later DAYS has
been conclusively proved by the num-
her Of those who have escaped.
Hungarian Whips Prisoners
The stories they have told have been
heartrending. Many Of them never can
be published save In government re-
ports designed for official circulation
The chief sinner in the crimes com
mitted in these camps seems TO have
been for a long time Hungarian
named Haguedus. His spleen against
the Serbian prisoners is fantastic.
In one great camp he permits 'nen
no water from the wells, but MAKES
-
thirst from stagnant pools, some or
them definitely cesspools. From the
very beginning OF his regime he has
swaggered about the camp armed with a
heavily loaded whip, of which any one,
no matter what the sex or age, has be-
come tho victim.
The usual allowance OF food 70 ser
bans informed in Austrian camps IS
less than four ounces daily, made up OF
bread, meat and cheese. All three usu-
ally are unfit for human consumption
Epidemics, in consequence or the IN
sufficient and bad food and the utter
lack Of sanitation and medical attend
ance. are frequent and terrible IN their
effects. The prisoners must sleep upon
the ground, often without blankets or
shelter. The last figures published IN
Austria of the deaths Of prisoners
credited one camp with having killed
l 500 up 20 June, 1916. No later stats
tics, even Austrian under-Statements,
are TO be obtained. Since then the deaths
In all the camps have amounted TO
multitude. Conditions are worse now
than they were when the last definite
news came out, although of them de-
tails are scarce
The Serbian army attempted 70
retake Bosnia and did retake one-half
Of II. Then, being without support, II
was obliged 10 retreat. As soon as It
had left the territory was at the mercy
of the enemy and the sufterings of the
people instantly became intense.
Nothing can describe their horror. 10
dreadful WAS the whole affair that
even Austria sent special volunteer
commissions from Vienna and Buda-
pest 10 make an investigation.
People Hung in Batches
At first the Serbian government and
people felt that such an investigation
was a friendly and humane act, and
they talked freely 20 the Investigators
Then il developed that their task mere
ly had been TO get the names Of those
who had shown friendliness TO the re-
treating Serbian troops. So this In
vestigaton was made the basis of new
horrors. Fake courts were established.
and thousands Of men and women were
hanged as the result of their verdicts.
Eighteen young women hanging in the
market place Of one small village has
been reported.
Such hangings have been going on
steadily. Along the Drina for a dis
lance Of 200 kilometres, from Drlna
City to the Adriatic, all the villages
are virtually wrecks. In those which
previously were occupied by the Ser