The Daily News. MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1915. HEROIC SERBIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1915. HEROIC SERBIA.

The eyes of the world are again rivetted on heroic little Serbia. Thrice she has thrown back with considerable loss the legions of Austria, and now she i 3 facing with equal heroism the huge AustroGerman armies under General Mackensen. Will she emerge again triumphant? The answer will depend upon the ability of the Allies to succor her in time, and keep back the treacherous Bulgarians from falling on her flank. It is stated in to-day's cables that the Serbians have already taken tremendous toll of the enemy forces, accounting for twenty thousand killed and fifty thousand wounded. Even the Germans admit "terrible" losses. It is reported that the Bulgarians have captured an important pass north-east of Nish, the objective of the attacking armies, but the Serbians are fighting with their backs to the wall and can be depended upon to exact the fullest price tor any advance made against them. The Austrians know this to their cost. Their first invasion completely failed ) their armies at Shabatz and Jadar being heavily defeated. Vienna announced at the time that the campaign had been merely a punitive expedition that had achieved its purpose, but the casualties of the "punitive" force, numbered nearly 40,000 and fifty guns! The second expedition was also forced back with great loss. The third great Austrian offensive matured about this time last year. The punishment of Serbia was eagerly demanded by the Austrian people, indignant at two humiliating defeats. On this occasion a force of 300,000 first-line troops was organised. Against this great army Serbia could not brirfg forward equal numbers. Though she called up every available man she could muster but 250,000 men, of which 200,000 wero first-line tioops. Her supplies, especially of ammunition, were terribly depleted. But the ' Serbians were in great heart and had implicit faith in their generals, amongst whom were the Crown Prince and General iPutnik. Both had shown extraordinary military capacity in the fights against the Turks and later with the Bulgarians. The Serbians then, as they are doing now, slowly fell back and looked for help to the hills. Tlie Austrians swept forward, throwing out powerful wings, with the object of enclosing the Serbian army. It was a critical time. King Peter, old, deaf, and sick, rose to a great occasion, and addressed him men in these memorable words:— "Heroes, you have taken two oathsone to me, your King, and the other to your country. I am an old, broken man, on the edge of the grave, and I release you from your oath to me. From your other oath no one tan release you. If you feel you cannot go on, go to your homes, and I pledge my word that after the war, if we come out of it, nothing shall happen to you. But I and my sons stay here." This noble appeal had its effect. Not a man left the ranks. The weary, ragged, and ill-equipped troops went into battle with a new passion of sacrifice. They charged with fury along the whole line, broke it in several places, and the Austrians lied in retreat. The Serbians vigorously pursued and annihilated thousands, capturing over fifty thousand men, besides guns ami ammunition galore. Practically the whole of the great Austrian army was put out of action. Knowing this wonderful record, who can doubt that in the present supreme test tliey won't render a good account of themselves? ft is conceivable that the huge Austro-German armies, assisted by the Bulgarians on the flank, may by their very numbers overwhelm the plucky Serbians, but they will be forced

to pay very heavily, If the Allies in sufficient force reached the Serbians in time, the latter will, it is certain, add another success to their wonderful military achievements, and the cnoniy register their greatest failure. The Serbians have asked for help that Greece had undertaken to give her, hut, to her eternal disgrace, Greece has turned a deaf ear, as she has to the Allies, whom she has wilfully and shamefully misled, and is actually hobnobbing with the perfidious Ferdinand of Bulgaria! The -Allies should do with Greece what Russia did with Bulgaria—give her twenty-four hours in which to declare on wheh side she is. It is no time for quibbling—it is a time for prompt action.