iend--we shall intervene. We said we would
not in 1877--and we did. We shall now."

He became very serious. "I tell you this is not 1877. We cannot
intervene. Unless Austria intervenes, which God forbid, we have no
excuse for war. And nothing is yet ready. We are working as fast as
possible, but there is much yet to do. These people must wait!" He
was in deadly earnest, and plainly speaking the truth.

I asked quite suddenly: "And when will you be ready, Monsieur?"

"In two years from now, Mademoiselle, we shall be absolutely ready
for our great war!"

It was October 3rd, 1912. Russia began her great war on August 1,
1914. Yougourieff was only two months out. No wonder he made me
promise not to publish his remarks.

We learn now, from a report by Gruitch, Serbian Minister in London,
September 8, 1911, to the Serbian Foreign Office, that the date was
known to others as well. Speaking of the agreement about Morocco, he
says: "The agreement has one result, that war will be postponed
three or four years. . . . Both France and her allies are of opinion
that the war--even at the expense of great sacrifice, must be
postponed to a later time, that it to say, until the year 1914-15"
(see Bogitchevitch, xi). No wonder that Gavrilovitch and young
Cambon approved of my peace policy, and that Yougourieff was
emphatic.

I went to General Yanko Vukotitch's house. Rakia was flowing. He,
madame, his secretary, and others were in high feather. Yanko
explained the plan of campaign to me. He was to lead the main
division to Prizren. The two other divisions under Brigadier
Boshkovitch and General Martinovitch, were to attack Scutari, and,
having taken it, to join the triumphant Yanko at Prizren. No mention
was made of when the other Balkan States were to come in. Bulgarian
support was certain. Madame Yanko begged me to go with her husband
and photograph his entry into Prizren.

The whole campaign, it appeared, was expected only to last a few
weeks, and only 150 beds had been made ready at the hospital. The
Montenegrins honestly believed that theirs was the finest army for
its size in Europe.

General Martinovitch told me to go off to Podgoritza if I wanted to
see the first shot fired. When I arrived there on October 6th all
was ready and waiting. Another proof that the "four days'
mobilization" tale is an error.

King Nikola had made up his outstanding quarrel with his relatives,
and the Royal Voyvodas, Marko, Sharko, Bozho, an