THE UNQUENCHABLE, SPIRIT OF YUGOSLAVIA

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 296, 21 April 1941, Page 8

THE UNQUENCHABLE, SPIRIT OF YUGOSLAVIA

Yugoslavia's spontaneous defiance of the Nazis maybe astounded Hitler but astonished no one who remembers the tradition and history of her people. The outstanding national quality of the Serbs is their faith in their own destiny. They have upheld that faith intact through years of adversity. Five centuries of oppression under Moslem rule did not damp it, and

again when, in 1916 their army, their King, their Government and remnants of their people were driven from the mainland to the little island of Corfu, their determination never wavered. Within a year they had reorganised themselves into a new lighting unit and into the nucleus of an independent kingdoni of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. At the time the spirit which burned within them was an inspiration to all their Allies. The same spirit inspired us to-day. An analysis of their national make-up shows that they have survived adversity > thanks to their ability to take the long view. To a Serb, immediate comforts and bodily safety matter less than a clear conscience and a free "spirit. Here is the instinct that made King Peter overthrow the time servers who had gone to Vienna and take to the harder but nobler road to victory with the Allies. •

As in medieval days, the Church in Yugoslavia has magnificently played its rightful part as spiritual leader of the nation in the moral issue which confronted this brave and decent people: "During the last few weeks our country had been asked what attitucle she intends to take. The answer is to be found in this morning's event. The spirit of our fallen heroes and heroines will protect us. This morning's happenings came like loright sunshine and our nation emerged from it purged from dust. Let us put our confidence in the Holy Spirit and face humanity. If God is Avith us what harm can humans do to us? If we are meant to live let us live in .unity and freedom, and if Ave are to die let us die for honour and freedom as so many millions of our predecessors 'died." (Speech by His Beatitude Gavrilo, Serb Orthodox Patriarch, Miarch 27, 194.1).