From the archives | 18 September 2014

From ‘A review of the war’, The Spectator, 19 September 1914: It is the duty of all English publicists to make people here understand the splendid heroism with which the Servians have fought. They have contributed very greatly to the overthrow of Austria, and their brave Army and nation deserve all the help and encouragement that the Allies can give. We and the French very properly guaranteed a loan to Belgium. We, France, and the Russians ought to do the same by Servia, for the little nation’s finances must by this time be very nearly exhausted. If twenty or thirty millions were put at the disposal of Servia, she would not only feel greatly heartened thereby, but she would, we believe, be able to call to her arms vast numbers of the floating fighting population of Slava in the Near East. Bosnia and Herzegovina, not to mention Dalmatia and Croatia, are full of men who, as the Austrians retreat, will be delighted to flock to the Serb banners and reinforce their armies.