The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-03-10
Washington Calling
BY MARQUIS CHILDs

came the German conquest, then occupation
by the Nazis, and finally the Allied bombings
preceding the liberation of the city.
The people have suffered terribly and you
see evidences of it everywhere. Less hardy
people than the Serbs and Croats, who have
endured so much war, could scarcely have
survived.
The Germans tried to wipe out every vestige
of national culture. On the day before they
were forced to evacuate the city, they burned
the university and the national library. there
by destroying not merely a priceless colec-
ton of Slavic literature but manuscript on
which scholars had been working for years
On the edge Of the city, I visited what had
been, at the outbreak Of the war, one Of the
most modern hospitals and clinics in Europe.
In the battered structure, looted OF much OF
its equipment by the Germans, the staff is
trying to carry on. Through the bitter winter,
there has been no heat, even in wards where
children have pneumonia and tuberculosis.
The number of civilian victims of the war
during the past four years is put at more
than 20, 900. Several thousands were killed in
the first American bombing, which occurred
on the Serbian Easter and is bitterly tragic
memory. Those who speak of it add, however,
that it disorganized life 50 completely that
the Germans got no further benefit from local
industry.
Belgrade is still military city, with revolu-
tonary overtones. Young partisans with TOM
my guns patrol the principal streets and stand
guard at government buildings.
Only one restaurant with music is open,
and it is packed every night. On recent
evening, a group of American officers from
the small military mission here sat at table
adjoining that of some Russian officers. The
latter with enormous good will proposed
toast to the United States. Then the American
officers proposed toast to the Red Army.
The Russians came back with toast to
Roosevelt, and the Americans with one to
Stain
With the sturdy Russians, who insisted that
each toast must be drunk bottoms up this
could have become strenuous business. But
the restaurant stopped serving at 9 and the
patrons left soon afterward, as the 10 O. clock
curfew is strictly observed
II you are on the streets after that time
and do not know the password of the Gay,
you are likely to be shot That fate befen
several late carousers in the early days fol-
lowing the liberation
Throughout the partisan army, among both
enlisted men and officers, "comrade' is the
customary term of address, Sometimes it is
used with the rank of an officer, sometimes
without. 1t is in itself almost a password. Like
wise, the intimate form of the personal pro-
noun is used freely, as the old formal barriers
fall away.
The Yugoslav economy is only just begin
ming to recover from the effects of the Ger
man occupation, which was one Of the most
corrupt In all of Europe. German officials
fostered the black market because it meant
brlbes for them on a vast scale.
The official currency has suffered severe
depreciation. Many in the middle class are
now selling the last of their heirlooms in
order to live This is especially true of those
VINO refused to have anything to do with the
Germans and therefore found life extremely
difficult under the occupation.
Inc newspapers continue to announce exc
cutlons OF collaborationists. Among them are
writers and artists who yielded to German
olandlshments and helped German propagan-
ia along. BUSINESS men who worked for thel
occupying forces under German pressure ap-
pear to have been more fortunate.
The scars of the past four years 90 much
deeper thar the surface. The Germans work.
ed hard to foment hatred between the Serbs
ana CroaIs, building ancient religious and
racial differences The effects of that prop
uganda cannot be min:mized Tribal feuds
Whlch have meant centuries of blood-letting
nave certainly been accentuated by the hor-
rors and brutalities of the in the Balkins.
Meanwhile, the partisans are still fighting
hercely for the liberation of the best of the
country, with the nearest front only SO miles
from Belgrade. The shape of things to come
is still in doubt in this storm center OF the
old world.
Copyright 1915, by United Feature Syndicate,
Inc.)
V
Battle experience has proved that instead of
one blood TRANSMISSION for every five wound
ed, one is requested for every two wounded