The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-03-19
E'IE WINES. IIlB
Of IRBAs NlIS
Impressive Address Made
Here by Wife of Ser
bian DipIomatist.

Before an audience which packed
to its capacity the largo auditorium
| and galleries Of the Presbyteflan
church, Madam slavka Grou1tch, =
| native West vIzgtnian and nov vile
OF the Serbian ambassador to STl6-
er4and, told In realistic ana couTnc-
ing manner the history OF SeEbIa's
| part IN the earl ypart Of the great
world var
At the time the war broke out Ma
dam Groutieh, in company with Mrs.
! Grover Cleveland Preston, vas stop
ping at a summer resort in Swit7eE:;
land and Immediately upon learning
| of the ultimatum which had been sent
to Serbia by the Austrian government
| FASTENED to reach Serbia having en-
! countered many difficulties in reach
ing her post. After suffering many
hardships Madam G7outich succeeded
In getting together a little band OF
surgeons and nurses that accompanied
/ her TO Serbia and there under Aef
direction ministeret to the wounded
and dying Serbians. She told of the
/ inedequacy of the hospitals at that
time. Of the scarcity OF beds. bedding,
bandaees. anasthetics and OF the un-
told suffering c; the wounded men
/ who had 20 be carried miles through
J the dust before they could receive any
I medical attention.
! Madam Groutich laid great stress
on the fact that in the great rush At
/! tendant upon the entry OF the BuTo-
pean nations into the war Serbia was
practically forgotten and had to fight
/ her first battles unaided and minister
to her sick and dying without assist
ance from her allies. The American
| Red Cross. she said. saw at once the
/ great need OF Serbia and within
short time had one Of its very best
hospital units on the ground.
Despite hardships the little coun-
try was called upon to bear, especial
ly in the early part OF the war, she
never faitered but fought valianty
and courageously for honor and right
| and, according to the speaker OF last
evening, will never sue for separ-
ate peace no matter to what straits
she is brought.
The husband Of Madam Groutih
Monsieur Groutich, a distinguished
| diplomat having served his county
! in several capacities in capitals Of
| Europe including the court OF St
James. received the ultimatum of
Franz Josef and himself answered the
ultimatun1. The refusal Of Serbia TO
accept the ultimatum plunged the Eu-
ropean nations into the great war
which Is raging at this time and in
which America IS now involved.
Madam Grouitch was sent out by
! the Serbian government to seek aid
in helping to rebuild destroyed Ser
bian towns and to secure funds with
which Ito educate the children OF the
country. She first went to England
where she vas received and given
| substantial aid and later came 10
America where she had visited the
larger cities with splendid results ana
! is now making a tour OF her native
State west Virginia. Madam Grou.
itch was born at Clarksburg and fin
ished her education in Athens and It
| was there she met her distinguished
| husband and later was married to
| him.
She IS a brilliant woman and toll
her story Of the sutferipss and hem.
! ism OF the SerbiaDs in such a touch
ing manner that much sympathy vas
| evidenced by her large audience. At
the close OF the evening a collection
va staken a part OF which will be
given Madam Grouitcn for her work
! among the SeThians and portion
given to the local Red Cross chap
Ter.
While the collection vas being Ia
| ken Madam Grouitch talked To her
| audience concerning Americas en-
trance into the war and predicted
that America would be the factor
which would eventually win the war
| and stated that France and England
were depending upon the initiative
and genius OF the American soldier 10
win the war. She told OF the Joy
with which the American soldiers
! were received in France and bow
their presence had cheered the drooP
ing spirits OF the Finch soldiers, al
ready weary from the fray, and how
they had picked up and renewed
.neir efforts. She spoke OF the good
! nature and excellent spirits and NOR
; ais OF the American army and said
that their good humor and spirits had
done as unuch as their actual particE
| patton in the war would do for the
| winning OF the war. She spoke also
! conearn9ne the tact that there seem
ed to be classes among American SOL
diers that officers and privates were
all OF one rank and praised the Amer
leans for the splendid type OF citt
zsushfp as represented by the SOL
Ms. Al. Lehman, chairman OF the