Bisbee daily review., 1918-03-06
EDITORIAL COMMENT
THE SERBIAN SOLDIER.
By R. 4. REisS, Professor in the Uni Versity Of Lausanne, Switzerland.


 versity Of Lausanne, Switzerland. The qualities of the Serbian sol diers do not go unappreciated by his allies. Often there comes 10 hand
 amid a yelter of sad news pleasant ! tTeferences-all the more so because quite natural and casual-tO the af- 1 fec. c.ionate regard in which the Serbian Tommy" is held by his comrades | from aiar. pr. Reiss, professor ot | the university of Geneva, writes of him in the ''Narod." published in Salo-
 nica. as follows:
 I ~I GO nc- speak about the bravery ard military prOweSs of the Serbian soldier; the whole world knows that | he is an intrepid and formidable op- ponent in the field, and perhaps it | becomes a little tedious to be always hearing about heroism- l am think | ing more Os the soul of the Serbian peasant-the typical representative of | his nation. When l think of the Ser | bi3n soldier as a man l think of his generosity. his nobility. his love to ' his neighbor. There is nothing small about his mentality; he has a mind open to great thoughts, and that with n exceptional kindliness and naivete. have seen men who were in deeds great and strong with all the fresh simplicity of a child On the field of battle he may be fearless and indeed unspaIing. but as soon as the enemy cas laid down his arms The sees in
 Nim nothing other than some poor fel- low with a wife and children like him self somewhere far away; his anger yaniskes. and he shares his last bit of bread with his enemy. One day dur ing the great fightiDgs of last autumn was returning into camp on the
 'eishts of Chuka with the staff, and he foreign officers who were with us were greatly surprised 10 see in what
 friendly way the Serb chatted with
 the German prisoners and shared with hom bread and cigarettes. One O. the Serbian officers. a little stirred up by the remark of an allied officer in regard to this, repToached his men
 for i.: Don't you see" gently replied
 to him veritable. giant of fellow,
 who would have made short work O. an OK. they are mere children. and -ey are not to blame for this war,
 md tt0y have mothers who are crying
 t1uc over tteT" Tn. easy am calm reply just reflects the real sou se Serbiaa peass lt He does not
 an~w himself to he blinded by angcr and desire for revenge. He has grasp cd the fact that it is futile to blame eTery single man of the enemy for all the wrongs. He instinctively dis, eliminates between the governors and
 their tools. This fairness of judgment,
 this sensitiveness of heart, this real
 magnanimity of mind place the Ser
 bian soldier in the front rank of the armies of the world. and for Serbia
 aTe the best guarantee of the future. He has not been embittered by
 cataclysm of misfortunes, but re-
 mains lover of justice and freedom ands real democracy And how can I think of the Serbian peasant in the trenches without paying humble tri
 bute to his glorious gift of hope This
 sublime strength of hope which en-
 abled your people to hold out through
 long centuries of bitter cruelty and oppression, which inspired them 10 en-
 dure that terrible retreat through Al tania, this, Q Serbia, be thy greatest
 gloryi Guard this. thy might of hope.
 guard this generosity to the foe. this simple kindliness to the neighbour.
 remain the simple sons Of your coun- i'ry. tor ured and harassed and yet
 particularly blessed of God. and you
 shall be one of the strongest and best
 beloved of the nations O. the earth. Serbian Herald.