THE SERBIAN COMMANDER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 49, 27 October 1915, Page 4

THE SERBIAN COMMANDER.

Serbia lias within three consecutive years fought and won three successive wars, and yet little is ever heard of , the man who has led his country to , such remarkable victories. This may be due to the quiet modesty of the man himself, who is none other than Radomir Putuik. Marshal Putnik was born (57 years ago in a small village in the heart of the country whielj die has defended so valiantly for three years. Though only the son of the schoolmaster in his native village, he had only one career at heart—that of a soldier. His indigent circumstances handicapped him, but his indomitable spirit overcame all difficulties, and he passed successfully through the military academy in which he afterward^..became a professor and where he trained many of the officers who have taken .a distinguished part in Serbia’s wars. That ins ability is recognised is shown by the use of his numerous worksjrs text books!. In the war against the Turks in 187(5, Putnjjt, was a captain, /and in the Serbo-Bulgarian campaign of 1885 ihe was chief of staff to a division. When King Peter came to ■the throne he was unuje Ciiiel of the iGenerhl Staff., and afterwards became War .Minisfer. Unpretentious in manner and almost insignificant in, appearance, one would scarcely take him for Ja, great, jccunpiamlcr. Like the . late Lord Roberts,; he does not advertise, but is content to let his work speak for itself. Putnik is a man of middle height, with a pair of pleasant greyblue eyes, and hearing a strong resemblance to the late President Grant. This is the man who has in turn defeated the armies of Turkey. Bulgaria, and Austria. And now he once again,, from his humjde little home of; Kragujevatz (his headquarters) devises the machine that is engaged, in its final fight for freedom. Onq of the secrets of his success is his perfect understanding of men and Tl,teir capacity. The importance of .tips knowledge is obvious. Moreover. Marshal Putnik knows his native l country as well as he knows his people. Every square inch of Serbia is known to iiim, and the topography of his land is ever in his mind. I hat the enemy recognised his value is shown by the fact that just before the outbreak of hostilities in June, 191-1, the Austrian police arrested Putnik, who was in Vienna. The Emperor Fran/, Josef, however, ordered his release. and the Serbs remained satisfied that with their indomitable chief at their head they would go eagerly into the fray and emerge victorious. AA hati ever the future may be for Serbia, history will ever remember Radomir Putnik.