REBUILDING SERBIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16267, 6 November 1920, Page 18

REBUILDING SERBIA.

PUTTING THE HOMELAND IN ORDER, GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS, A hundred years ago the Serbs wore all slaves of tho Turkish overlord (writes the Belgrade correspondent of tho ‘‘Christian Science Monitor”). Only eight years ago the country was a mere spot on the map. Three* years, ago its enemies denied its very existence. It, like Austria and Hungary, had to make a new start; and while the future is in the molting pot, Serbia stands as an oasis of stability in a desert of chaos. NEIGHBORBS OUTDISTANCED. Thus,’ whether wo approve of it all or not, it is interesting and instructive to observe how it has been done, to examine why Serbia, and with her .Jugo-blavui, has so completely outdistanced her neighbours, it must bo admitted, of course, that this land possesses enormous nctural but, on the other hand, no country uuffered so much at tho hands of its enemies either in devastation, or loss of man-power (thorn are now twelve women to every man in Serbia). Credit must be given in the first place to the unparalleled patriotism of the Serbs. _ Many peoples, once diivcn into exile after a, devastating campaign, would have counted their 1 work at an end and sat back to await developments, just as hundreds of thousands of Russians arc doing in Serbia to-day. No so the Serbs.” In an incredibly short space of time after tho ravaged remnant of tho army touched the safety of tho Adriatic shores—driven across tho snow-dad Alps of Albania by Teuton and Bulgar hordes—they wero hack in Macedonia fighting their wuy home. They were in the van of tho allied attack; they, indeed, broke the first lino in tho chain of German resistance. Thov did this for Serbia. NO DISARMAMENT. And it is for Serbia rather than for self that _ they bavo settled’ down to tho building of their homeland—they aro more like birds rebuilding a nest than a nation engaged in what we understand as the work of national reconstniciion. They have no time for Bolshevism or Socialism or any of tho other ‘‘isms 1 ’ which preoccupy other countries at tho moment. Having got back their land, their first determination is to hold it against all comers, and as tho army won the freedom, so it must hold the conquest. There is no disarmament, or pretense of disarmament here. Tho first work has been to reorganise tho army, from new cadres, recruit the young aud now material, school a new geneijaltiou of officers and make the nation ready to put the maximum forces available ‘into neld should occasion demand. These people have borrowed the old motto ‘‘ What I have 1 hold.” Thev commenced putting- their house in order by placing a sentinel at tho door thereof. All this may not, as already hinted, meet with universal approval but it gives one the impression that this country will be on its feet More other countries in this quarter of the world have decided what form of c*oyernmont they deslro. ”

WORKING—NOT WHINING. It is significant of the Serbs that, finding themselves in drastic need of money, they decided to work rather than to whino fur it. The Jesuit is that they are being rewarded this year by a record harvest, with millions of tons of grain available for export—this despite depleted manhood, improvised agricultural implements and a chronic absence of communications. The rich lands of the old kingdom have continued with tho newly acquired provinces to bring forth the wealth of the earth, and the result is that tho Serbian currency is already better than the Italian and will soon equal tho French franc in value. A few months ago, the English pound was worth anything up to 250 dinars, to-dav it can ho bought for of)! Tho Serbs“are acting in accordance with a belief that if you keep your army strong aud get the best out of the laud, all other things, such ns good roads, cheap manufactured luxuries aud clean trains that run on time, shall be added unto you. The Jugo-Slavs in general and Serbs in particular have come to the conclusion that they must depend upon their own right arm for their national regeneration. NO ENCOURAGEMENT FOR FOREIGN CAPITAL. Little encouragement is being offered at the moment to foreign capital. Laws have been passed—aud in this matte) the small States cannot ho blamed—which render it impossible for any foreigner to obtain a concession. The individual or company who wishes to exploit the wealth of Serbia must henceforth work in with a Serbian or Jugo-Slav company. In the long run this well possibly he the more advantageous arrangement for both sides. In the meantime, however, it has a tendency to delay development and even to scare olf capital. It has had-that result in the case of certain British capitalists. Nevertheless, the potential riches of the land are so groat that some syndicates, notably French and American, are standing by ready to take a hand. Tho little wave of chauvinism, if it can bo so designated, will soon pass. It is foreign to tho Serbian nature, and, where that happens the possibilities of profitable’ commercial development will bo unlimited, for .higo-Slavia is one of the most naturally wealthy countries in Europe.