Serbia suffered shipwreck, and her broken pieces are now dispersed all
over the islands in the Mediterranean. A little island of the Serbian
refugees is formed in Greece, and also in Italy, in France, in England
and in America. And what happened with the ship of the Serbian nation?
She plunged to the bottom of a hell of darkness and suffering. The
people from the neutral countries coming now from Serbia describe Serbia
as a silent grave, her towns with deserted streets, with plundered or
shut-up shops, her villages under a nightmare of starvation. There are
only children and women at home, and very soon there will be no more
either children or women. The Russian and Italian prisoners are brought
to Serbia to make roads, railways and fortifications for Serbia's
enemies, and all the males from Serbia have been taken away--who can
divine where? The Serbian bishops and priests, and all the leaders of
the nation have been carried away too. There are neither leaders nor
nation in the Serbian country. I don't exaggerate when I say that all
the sufferings of poor and sorely stricken Belgium is still only a
shadow of what Serbia sutlers in that dark corner of the world which is
called the Balkans, far off from all friendly eyes, friendly ears and
hearts. Yet I will not compare the sufferings of all these nations
crucified and martyred by the Germans. I will say only that martyred
Serbia, with Montenegro, has been recently ranked among the other
martyred nations: Poland, Belgium and Armenia. Her cross is very heavy,
her wounds very deep, her bleeding deadly. I know, gentlemen, how your
generous hearts are now quite open for Serbia. But, unfortunately,
Serbia is now closed to your generosity. Between your generosity and
Serbia's suffering, between your medicaments and her wounds, between
your bread and her hunger, there stands a hedge of Germano-Bulgar
bayonets. All that you can do is to save Serbia on the islands, and, if
possible, to hurry to liberate Serbia's country from the darkest slavery
in which she was ever plunged. Serbia on the islands--it seems so--will
be the only population of the future Serbia. Those who escaped from the
Germano-Bulgar annihilation will be the people who will enter into the
Promised Land, into free Serbia. I am sure you will save in time these
remnants of the Serbian nation, which is now as always the faithful
English ally and admirer. I am sure you will give protection to them
who have given you, in the time of light and in the time of darkness,
their friendship and devotion. By this protection of Serbia, as well as
of all the little and oppressed nations in Europe and Asia, you will do
more for the glory of your country than by any extension of its frontier
or accumulation of riches. Serbia suffers and still hopes. Serbia's
hopes go to God, crossing this island of yours, crossing your hearts and
souls, as the bridge between her and God. Serbia hopes to be free with
all her brothers, who are suffering under the manifold yokes of
merciless strangers. _Serbia militans_ did every possible thing you
expected her to do. She has been for you, not only politically and
militantly, correct, but childish, sincere and devout. Now she is
sitting on your threshold and looking towards you with shining tears in
her eyes. And the God of Heaven knows Serbia and knows England. He waits
to see what you are going to do for Serbia. Who dares to doubt that you,
descendants of Shakespeare and Pitt, of Carlyle and Gladstone, will show
yourself less chivalrous towards the little Serbia than Serbia has shown
herself chivalrous towards you?
_I_ dare not doubt it.
_PART II_