With the Serbs in Macedonia

98 WITH THE SERBS IN MACEDONIA
blind. The Allied
mentary
newspapers and Parlia-
debates of 1914 will afford much
entertainment to the historians of the future.
Keeping her temper with admirable fortitude
when, after the murder at Sarajevo, Austria
launched her impertinent ultimatum, Serbia
was ready to sacrifice everything but that
passionate love of Right and Independence
which are more to her than life itself, to secure
the peace of the world. But her efforts were
in vain. The mask came off. Armageddon
dawned.
On paper she was exhausted— an enemy
utterly **
contemptible.'' Since the autumn of
191 2 this tiny nation had waged two wars and
quelled a formidable rising. She had only been
at peace for nine months. What could these
three millions of exhausted peasants do against
the might of Austria-Hungary ?
By the 21st August, 1914, the Austrian-
Hungarians knew, and in September the dose
was repeated. David had downed his Goliath
twice. Everywhere else the sky was black for
the Allies,
and bright.
but in Serbia the sun shone clear
The Allies, beset and bemuddled, said
''
Bravo !
" and forgot ; and after six weeks'
came on
nursing, humiliated Austria-Hungary
again. This time they pushed the Serbians back