Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-07
The Jugo-Slavs
BY Frederic ]. Haskin

the Southern, or Jugo-Slava, this state
mcnt promises their long hoped for unity
in a free state, Jugo -Slavia
II is now over year since members Of
the Southern Sav nationalities-Serbs,
Croats and Slovenes met in London TO
map out n constitution and lay the founda-
tion of an Independent State for their
peoples The new State will include
Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro and the Slav-
ina. Croatia, DalmatiR, Istria Carinthia,
Carniola, styria, Gorica and several
smaller districts Twelve millions of
Southern Slavs, if so many are left after
the war. will inhabit the promised land,
country of some 90, 900 square miles.
1t is almost impossible to estimate the
present population of these provinces and
countries. About one-third of Serbia
people are dead or in enemy hands, and
the other Slavs have Jared little better
The living, starved, Ill and pennlless,
but kept up by faith in the Allies, and
hopes Of peace and freedom, are the ma
terial of which the new State will be made
II rests with these people, bereft Of all but
IN ideal TO decide the details OF their
government after the war.
One member Of the Iugo-Slav council
says: "Our aim If TO get free from Austria.
1t is for the people 10 decide the exact
form Of government. A constitutional
monarchy is best for our people, because
during our nations existence 10 has al-
ways been monarchy, and also Serbia
and Montenegro have always preferred IT..
Eightv-six per cent Of our people are
peasants. and monarchy is best for an
industrial State" For these. and other
reasons, it is believed by most Slavs IN
this country, that a republican form OF
government will not he attempted.
The Russian Republic, with its dlfii-
cuIties and tragedies IL cited by them as an
unfortunate choice Of the highest form Of
government by people not yet ready Tor
SO great responsibility. And so they say
Freedom, YES, but not evolved IN more
upheaval than IL necessary freedom 70
work out our own development under the
leadership Of a wise patriot.
The history Of the Southern Slavs has
been a succession Of brave, but manly
futile attempts tn escape from the Aus
tran and Turkish yokes, and desperate
defense against further encroachment
upon their home lands They have been
the prey Of each successive ruler with a
trained army and nothing to fight a
Slav poet in historic ballad stated truly:
ne EEftFS Fptt ono AflbtiAfI VI 1Aif NAAi-
pire Of the tears.
And they ycarn to slay each other with
their gilded scimitars "
Even vet Serbian territory IL looked
upon covetously BY more than one ruler
discomfort with the extent Of hIs king
dom Many facts Of history and dipiom-
acy are produced by the Slavs 10 show
that Austria, relying on Germany as an
ally. seized upon the Archduke Francis
Ferdinand's death rs an excuse for war,
so that the long desired Serbian lands
might be seizcd.
FORCED INTO AUSTRIAN ARMY.
II the first dnys Of war, thousands Of
Slavs were forced by Austria into her
army 10 fight against their Slav brothers
with the Serbian forces. Over 10000
Of these Iugo-Slavs deserted at the first
opportunity and went over Ia JOIN the
serbs One hundred and fifty thousand
Slavs sent 10 the Russian front followed
their example in spite of knowledge of un-
speakable treatment should they be taken
back by Austria as prisoners. Nearly a
million Jugo-Slav soldiers are counted IS
dead. wounded or prisoners.
IL is not for sentimental reasons that
the ~iaVs are so eager for liberty from
Austrian rule The Teuton and Magyar
elements, although IN the minority az re-
CARDS population, have always held con-
troll Of Austro-Hungarian political and
national matters, much 70 the dlsadvant-
age of he Slays Under a thin veneer OF
so-called liberty allowed 10 the Southern
Hungarian provinces they exert the force
of an absolute monarchy, suppressing all
signs OF >iaylc patriotism and lndepeBd-
ence. on the $50 900 Jugo-Slavs in Amer
ica. IL Is estimated that about so per cent
came here because Of Austrian oppres-
sion.
CHILDREN AND OLD MEN CoNsCRIPTED.
I'm time OF War this oppression Is At its
worst Children and old men are con
scripted. Subjects OF all ages are lmprIson-
ed and interned for trivial offences or for
no offence at al Austrian papers an
nounce calmly that the people are DYING
of starvation III the streets and villages Of
Hungary For these people under Aus
TRAN rule, the Allies can do nothing, rs
there Is small chance of gifts being allow
ed 10 reach them The Jugo-Slav council
reports that the Americans and other
Allies are doing a great deal TO help the
Slavs in the Serbian Army and on Serbian
ground
The Southern Slavs have never been
able 10 cope with Teutonic diplomacy
and blackmail They are an unsuspicious,
frank and sympathetic people, brave 10
reckIessness in fair fight. but at hope
less disadvantage when suave Austrian
politicians are juggling away their rights
and liberty One injustice against which
they have long struggled Is the prohibition
of the use of their national language, be
loved of all the Southern Slavs Of Hun
gary The foundation of universities, even
secondary schools In Siav provinces. is dis
couraged, IN many eases forbidden, SO
that for higher education the SIavs are
forced To go to Brague and other cities
where the language of their people Is sell
dom heard In many of the provinces.
German is the language prescribed BY the
government 20 be used even in grade
schools, SO that the Jugo-Slavs may not
grow too powerful through education or be
stirred TO instruction through native
teachers
On July Fourth, the Jugo-Slays uu-
furled and dedicated their newly designed
flag at Washington. The white cross OF the
Serbs checkered shield of the Sloyenes,
and eagle of the Croats, were combined in
the center of a blue field in token of the