A HISTORIC SCENE.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 January 1916, Page 6

A HISTORIC SCENE.

IN SERBIA'S PARLIAMENT. Here is a description of a moving scene which happened in the last days of the Serbian Parliament at Nisli. It is given in the Horning Post, f'orn the diary of a leading Belgrado tradesman. On October 4, lie writes, after a talk with one "ft.," who was. in the Parliament and saw the scene: — " 'You know that the war with Bulgaria is certain V he asked. 'They treacherously stab us in our J>ack. Pashiteh announced it in the House. If this be annihilation Serbia will rise again out of her ashes. That is what Pashiteh said.' He also told me that General Putnik (the ex-Generalissimo) is very ill. Ho cannot even speak, and writes down whatever he wants to say. His feet are badly swollen. The Chief of the General Staff is now Givko Pavlovitch. He was to receive the title of Voivode, ibut asked not to have it bestowed now, as General Putnik might misunderstand it. "There were such scenes in the House, G. told me, that have had no equal in the history of Serbia. The Socialists attacked the Premier and urged peaceful measures to be adopted. M. .Pashiteh left the room, and the members threatened the Socialists with their fists, calling them Shvabas (Germans), and this was followed! by a tumultuous scene, in which the Socialist members were badly handled. '"Meanwhile, Pashiteh had a conference with the Crown Prince and the British Attache, who, like Colonel Atamonoff, has gTeat influence with the Crown Prince. Later, M. Pashiteh returned and delivered a long speech, in which he stated that it was impossible to leave the road we had begun to follow, and that although the situation was desperate, England, France and Russia would not leave Serbia to hel fate. The Western Allies would send 400,000 men to Salonika and Russia 200,000 to Bulgaria, in order to punish King Ferdinand. He said the present policy was the only one to be followed; the vonspicnous bravery and patriotism of the Serbians were a guarantee of the future greatness and liberty of the ; nation.

"M. iPashitch wept as he ceased speaking, and the speech moved the members also to tears. All parties, even the Socialists, went over to him and kissed him on the cheek one bv one. "Sturm, the member for Mliovac, a Socialist, was the only one who stood ftside. He later went to the Premier Slid shouted: '"You made this coiintrv miserable and orphan.' .M. Pashitcii took him by the arm and said: 'fio home, my son, and think it over. Then eomc back and ask for pardon.'"