The reconstruction of South-Eastern Europe

SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE

was the first serious defeat of the Teutonic armies, and marked the turning point in checking the tide of German militarism. This victory was won by General Stepanovié, who is known in the Serbian Army as “‘ one who never lost a battle.”

The advantages of this victory were twofold. The Serbians were able to hold on their frontiers large forces which could have been employed more advantageously elsewhere, and the moral effect of this victory was enormous. This little Serbia, of whom Austro-Hungarians spoke with contempt, won the first general battle on a European front; and her success, thrilling through the hearts of the soldiers of the Allies, contributed to the Russian advance in Galicia, and set a fine example and was a good augury for the brave men who won the battle of the Marne.

But the district of Machva, which was invaded by the resentful Austro-Hungarian troops, fell a victim to fearful and indescribable atrocities. The Serbians had just fought with Turks, Bulgars and Albanians. They could expect at least as much humanity from Austrians as they had experienced from their Balkan enemies. They firmly and naively believed that German “ Kultur” had really some meaning, and that an army of a would-be civilised State, whose Press daily upbraided the Balkan peoples for their barbarity and savagery, would not wage war upon defenceless children, women and old broken men. Neither age nor sex were spared, and their wanton destruction of

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