SERBIA'S NEW ARMY.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2902, 14 October 1916, Page 6

SERBIA'S NEW ARMY.

HOW m PREPARED FOR THE '•PUSH" IN THE BALKANS o A WONDERFUL EFFORT (Empire Press Union.) The following telegraphic dispatch has been received from Mr. H. Warner Allen, Special Representative of the British Press with tbo French Armies . The renewal of the activity on the Balkan front has recalled public attention to. the heroic Serbian Army, which, refitted'by the French, is now prepared to take the field. On January 18 last the first remnants of the shattered Serbian Army were disembarked at' Corfu. On April 4 the first elements of the reconstituted army were able to start for Salonika, and the whole of their embarkation was completed by May 21. During these five French Army and .Navy spared no pains to give, fresh life to the gallant troops, which when thoy reached the Albanian coast hud been utterly exhausted After four years' warfare,, aggravated by starvation and terrible epidemics. Despite enemy mines and submarines the Serbian soldiers and refugees were , conveyed over to Corfu with the ■ greatest dispatch. An official letter addressed on April 11 to (general do. Mondesir by the Serbian" Minister of War pays the following tribute to tiie generosity and .self-sacrifice of the French troops: "The French Chasseurs carried on land the Serbian soldiers, who were exhausted and dp'ing,- without a thought that many .of them were suffering from very sorious' contagious diseases; the Chasseurs received the Serbian soldier not merely as an ally, but as a brother." ' Quarters were built, for the Serbians . immediately. Plentiful" supplies, and medical comforts were provided. Within a few weeks the daily number of,deaths fell from one hundred to seven. The Serbian High Command lost no time in re-forming its units and beginning their .■instructions'. Detachments of Serbian artillerymen were sent to serve with a French mountain battery in order to learn how to manoenvre_niountain guns. Several officers of tiie Serbian Staff were sc'nt to France tn visit the front and collect the latest information concerning modoni warfare. In Corfu itself. special courses wore organ-; ised for the instruct ion of'officers'and non-connnissioned officers.

Transporting,the Army, . Tho transport of the Serbians :t<V Salonika began on April 12, in acc'ordnncc with plan's made in. Paris. Its cxecUr tion was irondcred particularly- difficult hv the efficiency of the Jntelligence Service maintained by .the enemy- in Greece. None the less, it was carried out without the smallest accident' or loss" and with the greatest dispatch and' rognlaritv. It was originally expected tliat the transport operations would not be concluded before the. end of June. Events proved that it Was possible to gain a month on this date. Opinion is unanimous as to" the splendid condition of the Serbian Aran-to-day. It has been rested.' trained, and armed, and its only desire is to firdit under the command of Prince Alexander in the closest union with the Allied armies. On May 12 the "Serbskc Novino," tho official organ of the Serbian Government, addressed the. following honiagoto France and General de Mondesir, the Chief of the French Military Mission: — "The, Serbian nation owes the deepest to the French nation; it had already supported us witlv Russia and TCngknd in our war for freedom against the Turks in the vear 1912. At

the; moment ;when|pur;,worn-out troops were leaving Serbian territory pursued Ly enemy forbes of far greater strength the French Republic sent General de Mondesir to revictual, "welcome, and aid our troops, and remove them beyond the reach, of-our enemies. The General has cccomplished his glorious work, and we owe him deep and eternal gratitude for all the benefits conferred upon us."