Evening star., 1939-07-16
Impressions of Europe
YugosIov Youth Unites to Fight
Threat to Nations Freedom

| OF all Otner universities. the young
| lawyers clubs, the young doctors
clubs. peasant societies, the Y. M.
C. A. and the Boy Scouts. On May
10 a mass meeting, which was held
in Belgrade and attended by 10000
young people, adopted a platform
declaring that the enemies of Yugo-
slavia are Fascism and Nazi-iSm,
and the prime desire of each young
Yugoslav is to defend his country
from both the external and internal
acts Of these enemies. To insure
adequate defense attendants at the
meeting voted to provide young men
with pre- military training, to spread
anti-authoritarian propaganda and
to advocate immediate and demo-
cratic solution of all internal dis
putes, notably the complex Serb
Croat quarrel.
Government Stand Confused.
The government attitude toward
the movement Is confused. Officially
the first regent, Prince Paul, and
his ministers are attempting to steer
neutral course between the axis
powers and the Western democra-
cies. They argue that they must
suppress any movements which
might be considered hostile and
provocative by Germany and Italy.
Accordingly, when delegation of
students went to the foreign office
for assistance it was refused. Also,
of fret manu- et,,d oy, re uyaro oS-r> st II
for wearing the little Yugoslav flags.
Various politicians of the govern
ment faith charge that the move
ment is Communist inspired. At the
meetings on May 10 the public ad-
dress system was put out of order
by the police.
On the other hand. several high
army officials representing the gen.
eral staff attended the meeting. The
army supplied officers and equip
ment for military training and sew
eral large voluntary brigades were
formed at the universities. When
the young men finished their
months training the minister of
war publicly congratulated them,
| characterizing them as braver and
better prepared than their fathers
who had gallantly defended their
country in the Great War.
More Than Half Million.
Many officials with whom we have
talked have pooh-poohed the move
rment as a typically scatterbrained
student affair. The facts are other
wise. The leaders of the United
Youth Committee for the Defense
OF the Country represent more than
81 youth organizations among peas
ants, laborers and professional work.
ers, as we'll as students. It is gen.
orally conceded that the committee
represents more than a half million
young people.
encouraged by the army, the move
ment is not begging down during
tne present lull in immediate crises.
More than so meetings have been
organized and held in towns and
villages throughout the country. This
summer the army again will aid in
pre-mllltary training for newly
formed voluntary brigades of bows
not old enough to perform their re-
qulred military service. Girls NAV
JOIN similar brigades to be taught
the rudlments of nursing and air
RAID precautions. Meanwhile, everv
oay there Is published-at the risk
OF long prison terms for the editors
"a secret bulletin containing a
summary of foreign news, informa-
ton regarding the activities of Nazi
agents In Yugoslavia, and other
propaganda.
United Democrats.
This Is the movement in which
Slobodan Princip, as a peasant and
a member of the Bosnian Students
organization, is active.
z we 90 not agree with what my
Uncle Gavrillo did," Slobodan tells
us. I'VE admire his fighting uuali-
ties-We. too, are determined to
nght. But such terrorist acts as the
assassination of the Archduke do no
good. My uncle by numbering the
Archduke showed that he himself
lacked faith in the strength of his
movement. He gave to Austria and
Germany the pretext to precipitate
Europe into the bloodiest t war the
world had known.
we shall fight, if we have to-
that will be the only way. But our
strength is democracy and unitv~
unity OF all democrats. We know
that even II they kill thousands Of
us we shall win because we are
united democrats-free men,