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With the Serbs in Macedonia

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INCH BY INCH 125<br />

nation that came through Albania <strong>in</strong> w<strong>in</strong>ter<br />

ra<strong>the</strong>r than bow <strong>the</strong> knee before <strong>the</strong> might of<br />

<strong>the</strong> Hun.<br />

Only those who have actually seen Kaymachalan<br />

gauntly tower<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> snows can<br />

properly appreciate <strong>the</strong> Serbian achievement.<br />

Only those who have laboured up its sides and<br />

looked at <strong>the</strong> thousands of dead and <strong>the</strong> litter<br />

and wreck of <strong>the</strong> spent fight can really grasp<br />

<strong>the</strong> heroism of that glorious adventure.<br />

Half-way up <strong>the</strong>re is a beech forest, but after<br />

that it is only rocks and more rocks, a bare,<br />

steep wilderness that ends <strong>in</strong> snow that only<br />

melts for a few weeks <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> middle of summer.<br />

In late September it is bitterly cold up <strong>the</strong>re,<br />

and a fierce bit<strong>in</strong>g w<strong>in</strong>d rages almost without<br />

cessation.<br />

General Vassitch was <strong>in</strong> command, a stout,<br />

cheery soldier, all grimness and iron underneath.<br />

The artillery preparation was not on a Western<br />

''<br />

scale— <strong>the</strong>re was never any real weight '*<br />

on<br />

ei<strong>the</strong>r side <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Balkans, for <strong>the</strong> country made<br />

big guns impossible.<br />

In full view of <strong>the</strong> enemy, <strong>in</strong> little rushes,<br />

now fifty, now a hundred yards, <strong>the</strong> Serbians<br />

and mortars<br />

advanced, dragg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir field guns<br />

with <strong>the</strong>m. The price was terrible, but noth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

could stop <strong>the</strong>m. Bomb, rifle, shell or stone<br />

one down,<br />

spl<strong>in</strong>ter, it was all <strong>the</strong> same— ''

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