To the Jugoslav Brothers - Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.

Honorable Reader:

Long ago I intended to compile a general view of the work, efforts and sacrifices, offered by our Yugoslav immigrants in the United States, as well as all over the world, in that great struggle of liberation, unification, and final creation of our National State - Yugoslavia. I did not have in mind to write a pragmatic History of the Yugoslav Movement, but as an eye witness and colaborator to assemble the main items, covenants and documents, to give them to future historians as a base for those who will write of the events, which happened to our great allies in these times, events which are connected with the struggles and sacrifices of heroic Serbia, the martyrlike sufferings of the Yugoslav people in the former Austro-Hungarian empire. Also with special regard for the work of the leaders and national intellectuals assembled in the Yugoslav Committee at London, in the Yugoslav National Defence in South America, in the Yugoslav National Committee,in the United States, and in the Yugoslav National Council in Washington.

I wanted clearly to show not only the work of the leaders or single persons, but the visible, active cooperation of the immigrant himself; his organizations, societies and corporations, through which he did lead, assisted by our patriotic press, an uneven and hard struggle, against part of our people, which part was poisoned by foreign propaganda, that part of our people, which went wrong following 2unscrupulous leaders, became against their own will a tool in the hands of our enemies.

It was my wish to show the sacrifices of blood made by the volunteers, material sacrifices in money, help and offerings to the sufferers in the Fatherland and the wounded on the fields of battle, all of which was given on the part of a conscious and united Yugoslav Nation composed of three names (i.e. Nationalities)

I wanted to point out the personal frictions, the intellectual leadership, the diplomatic efforts and work, but what is of most importance the great number and active help of our people who are immigrants, these the leaders could appeal to and point them out as a living part of our Fatherland, as people, who did have the right and could speak and determine their fate and their national destiny. - in those times, when the majority of the people could not do so in their own Fatherland.

To envisage and to distribute, all that took much time. By this time, of course, the material did grow, a material which must be used for a background of events, for those who want impartially to judge and to comprehend that spirit which existed in the immigrants. Without that comprehension and understanding it is impossible to know the part which our immigrant played in the great war, to the admiration of all those, who did have occassion to see him and to know him better. A part by which he laid a cornerstone in the building of his Fatherland, but also his part in the upbuilding of the world's civilization. Because he became connected in his fight with greatly advanced people, sponsors of sublime ideals.

3

This work, as a contribution to history will not be complete neither will it be perfect. The younger generation has to complete that, which was left out. The main thing is that the furrow was started, the foundation was laid to show the events of great and exceptional times, which times we did not miss, we participated in them in the name of our whole nation.

My wish was to demonstrate to future generations here, how their fathers loved their country and made sacrifices for her. So they will be able to be proud of the successes and moral achievements before their American countrymen, with whom, in those great days they united their fate under an immortal leader.

It is further my wish that in the Fatherland these memories will create a new love for the poor immigrants here, who did not shirk their affections and these memories may be a talisman to the coming generation for all time.

I did not want to write with bitterness,but I could not deny the flow of historical truths. If as a human being I have erred on the objectivity of arguments or have mistakenly judged facts or persons in the light of proof of today, that must be corrected by persons more able than I.

The main thing is, that before all is forgotten, from present day sources, and from fresh memories, to form a skeleton, on which to build and perfect.

4

In as much as our immigrants for the most part resided in the United States and were here in great numbers, our own actions as well the main events took place on America's soil, where the immigrant from the start found hospitality, freedom of movement and of action, all of us whether citizen, or not, became partners in America's and our own destiny, fighters and victors. Partakers of America's moral greatness.

Because we saw in the great President Wilson not only our leader but also the Yugoslav protector and spokesman, not in word but in deed, a special section of the book is dedicated to him, therefore the book as a synthesis of that epoch will bear the title:

"The American Yugoslavs and President W.Wilson" with the following sub-sections;

The American Army and Navy Yugoslavs.

Yugoslav Volunteers all over the World.

South American Yugoslav National Defense.

1914-1918

Sources, Documents, Appendices, Comments, Compiled by Dr.A. Biankini. National Printing and Publishing Co. Chicago 1931

Due to the amount of material and the way the book was planned from the start, said book will be voluminous, it will have about 1,300 pages heavily bound, therefore the publishing expenses will be great. The price of the book will be higher than book prices are in general.

5

Because such books are kept as sources of information and consultation as well as mementos, the number of their readers is limited. The price will be $10.00, two volumes; 1,200,000 words, For that reason it is necessary to know in advance how many books will be printed, so all those, who are willing to subscribe are requested to send their orders, with their correct address and with the above named amount of $10.00 to the undersigned.

The book is ready for the press. As soon as a sufficient number of subscribers as secured, the book will be printed and distributed to subscribers only. Copyrights reserved for the United States of America, Canada, South America, and Eurose.

In the hope, that I will have the book printed without any other help than that of my subscribers, in advance I express my thanks to all those Yugoslavs who will work to get the greatest number of subscribers in time.

Chicago on Christmas Eve 1930.

Dr. Ant Biankini

[gap] Woodlawn Avenue

former President of the National Yogoslav Committee in United States and of Yugoslav National Council in Washington. Member of the Yugoslav Committee in London.

6

First Part; Introduction

Chapter I. The general political and psychological disposition of the Serbs and Croats in the W.S.A. at the beginning of the World's War.

Chapter II. The Attentat at Sarajevo VI. 25-1914.

Chapter IV. The World War.

Chapter V. The Austrian Defect in Serbia. December 1914. King Peter Karageorgevich encouraged the soldiers by his example. The Yolachich Regiment surrenders together with three Czech Regiments. The Serbian Government announces that the fight is on for the union of the Serbs, Croats and Slovens (G. H. S).

Chapter VI. The First Yugoslav National Assembly at Chicago, March 19, and 11, 1915.

Chapter VII. The Yugoslav Committee in London May 5 - 1915.

Chapter VIII. The singing of the Lusitania May 10 - 1915. New direction in Wilson's Policy.

Chapter IX. The Dawn of Yugoslavia. The statement of the Serbian Regent Prince Alexander Karageorgevich to the representative of the American Press Association April 21, 1915. A new Slav State will come out of the war; A Great and Strong State - The Yugoslav State. Statement of Sir Edward Grey. Paul Miljukow, the leader of the Russian Duma, predicts the downfall of Austria.

Chapter X Malefactors and enemies of the Yugoslavs. Italy, the London Pact, Ransoms.

Chapter XI. The Austrians.

Chapter XII. Pangermans. The secret war of Germany in America. The official report of the Government of the U.S.A.

Chapter XIII. Yugoslav Socialists called Kaiser's Socialists.

7

Chapter XIV The Priestly Declarants (The Great Croats).

Chapter XV. The Great Serbs.

Chapter XVI. The National Yugoslav Committee at work in the U.S. of America.

Chapter XVII. The Bulgarian attack; asking annihilation of Serbia October 11th-1915. A. Menshekov, Princess Radziwill; Minister Radoslawow, London Daily Telegraph. The treachery of the Coburg (sic)

Chapter XVIII.Overridden Serbia - Robert Machray, October 6- November 30 - 1915.

Chapter XIX. On the way of death in Albania. Henry Barby: The Serbian Exodus - Fortier Jones: November - December 1915.

Chapter XX. The Serbian Official Declaration concerning Yogoslavija. Crown Prince Alexander and N. Pastich. Cablegram of Trumbich, Cablegram of Pastich. The Statement of Regent Alexander. Paris, London April 10-11-1916.

Chapter XXI. The Memorial Celebration of Zrini and Frangipani and the Blackbird's Field Day. 1916. The Croatian Union: The Serbian National Defense. The Slovenian League.

Chapter XXIII. The South American Yugoslav National Defense. Antofogasta, Chile, January 20-25-1916. The President; Mr. P. Paburica. Vicepresident: Mr. Petar Bradauovich. Secretary; Mr. H. Krleza; Treasurer, Mr. Huber.

Chapter XXIV. Yugoslav Volunteers all over the world.

Chapter XXV. The Serbian Military Mission in the U.S.A. at the end of 1916. Lieutenant Colonel Milan Pribichevich. The one string violin (Gusla) player Petar Perunovich. Captain Jaksimovich, Dusan Bogdanovich.

8

Chapter XXVI. The Reelection of the President of the U.S., Woodrow Wilson.

Chapter XXVII. The death of Franz Joseph. The demonstrations of mourning. The farce of a funeral in Chicago November 21 - 1916.

Chapter XXVIII.The second Yugoslav National Assembly of both Americas at Pittsburgh, Pa. November 28 - 29 - 1916.

Chapter XXIX. Ljubomir M. Mihaljevich, the first Serbian Minister at Washington, at the end of 1916.

Second Part

Chapter I. The Yugoslav National Council in the U. S. A. Washington D. C. November 28 - 29 - 1916.

Chapter II. The Yugoslav Chanclery at Washington, February 1917 - 1918.

Chapter III. About National Life, 1917 - 1913.

Chapter IV. The echo of the Russian Revolution. The official declaration Mr. P. Miljukov concerning Yugoslavia. America's Hels.

Chapter V. America before the war. The conditions of Wilson's peace. The Yugoslav

Chapter VI. Why America broke with Germany. President Wilson's speech.

Chapter VII. The President's Declaration of War.

Chapter VIII. The United States in the World War. Declaration of war. The speech of W. Wilson in Congress, April 4 - 1917.

Chapter IX. Senate and Congress accept the War Resolution.

Chapter X. The preparations far war.

Chapter XI. The Yugoslav volunteers in the United States. Messrs. Milan Pribicevich and P. Perunovich at work.

Chapter XII. The preparations of Civilians during wartime. Participation of Yugoslav 9Chapter XIII. The arrival of Dr. Ljuba Leontich, organizer from South America.

Chapter XIV. Offers of a special peace poet, by Austria through Sixtus of Bourbon, a royal liar, 1917 - 1918.

Chapter XV. The answer of the President W. Wilson to Pope Benedict XV. rejecting such peace proposals, 1916.

Chapter XVI. The manly declaration of the Slavs in the Austrian Parliament, May 30- 1917. The Yugoslav Club unanimously for an Independent National State of the S.C.S. The Croat Assembly is in accord. Minister Pastich in favor of a new State.

Chapter XVII. The Declaration of Corfu. July 20th - 1917. Arrival of Dr. H. Hinkovich. His personal explanations.

Chapter XVIII. The Defeat of the Italians. Caooretto, October 24 - 1917.

Chapter XIX. America declares war against Austria, December 5 - 1917.

Chapter XX. The Official Serbian Mission in the United States. December 21 -1917.

Chapter XXI. The speech of President W. Wilson concerning war aims. America's Fourteen Points, January 6 - 1918.

Chapter XXII. The Parliamentary action of Congressmen Sabath at President Wilson. Explanation of the Czecho-Slovak and Yugoslay questions. Memorandum of the Yugoslav National Council directed to Senator Stone.

Chapter XXIII. Brest-Litovsk. The breakdown of Russia. Memorandum of the Yugoslav Club in Vienna. Declarations of L Trotsky and Nicholais Lenin. The message of President Wilson; America stands by Russia.

Chapter XXIV. The correspondence of the Minister President N. Pastich with the Serbian 10Minister at Washington. Mr. Ljuba Mihajlovich, Pasich abandons the idea of a national unity. The fight for Yugoslavism.

Chapter XXV. About the partition of the Austria-Hungary Monarchy. Henry Wickham Steed Theodore Roosevelt, Prof. T. Masaryk's.

Chapter XXVI. The Roman Congress. The fight for liberation from Austria-Hungary. April 8-9-10-1918.

Chapter XXVII Return of Professor T. Masaryk from Russia. His diplomatic and propaganda action in the United States. From May to November 1917.

Chapter XXVIIIThe official Declaration of President Woodrow Wilson, through Secretary Lansing, by which America accepts in full the liberation of the Czechoslovak Yugoslavs, in favor of emancipation from Austria-Hungary and complete independence. Washington May 29 -1918.

Chapter XXIX The second official declaration of Secretary of State Lansing, as answer to the Memorandum of the Serbian Minister L. Mihajlovich, by which the United States guarantee, that all branches of Slavic people will be completely free. June 24-1928. The third declaration was, that the United States great the Union of Yugoslavs with Serbia. February 18-1919.

Chapter XXX. The Yugoslav question before the House and the Senate. The resolution by F. W. James of Michigan in the House, in the Senate by Senator Smith of Michigan adopted unanimously, that the National aspirations by the Yugoslavs will not only find sympathy but also the well merited help in their fight for liberation and unification. Washington D. C. Nov 4 - 1918.

Chapter XXXI The Fourth of July in the United States. The Yugoslavs. The Yugoslav flag hoisted at the celebration of the 4th of July in Washington. Pilgrimage of President. W. Wilson, with 32 representatives of different nationalities, 11 to the tomb of George Washington. The famous Wilson speech at Mount Vernon. Yugoslavs in a festive procession in national costumes to glorify the legendary [gap].

Chapter XXXII The Serbian Government recalls the Minister [gap] from Washington.

Chapter XXXIII The American Army and Navy on the battlefields of France. The first successes. The battle of Cantigny. The Yugoslav dead and wounded.

Chater XXXIV. The proposition of the president of the Yugoslav Committee in London; Dr. [gap] to the American Government and the allies; that the American navy [gap] through the port of [gap] with 50,000 soldiers into Bosnia, break the back of Austria-Hungarian power and finishes the war 1917 - 1918. 1. The mutiny in [gap] February 1917. 2. Mutiny in [gap] February 11, 1917. 3. Mutiny in [gap], May 5, 1918. 4. Conspiracy in [gap], October 1918. 5. Mutiny in [gap], October 27, 1918, is successful. The Austrian Navy, the Fort and Fortress offere dby [gap] to president of the United States W. Wilson October 30 - 1918.

Chapter XXXV. The Elections for the Senate and House of Representatives. Campaign in Illinois for the reelection of the Democratic leader of the Senate: James V. Lewis. October 31, 1918.

Chapter XXXVI. The Convention of the National Croatian Union in Chicago on September 16 - 1918.

Chapter XXXVII The Front at [gap] pierced through. The battle of [gap]. The victory of the Serbian Army and of the Yugoslav division. September 12 16 - 1918

Chapter XXXVIII The fateful October days, 1918.

Chapter XXXIX The discord between the Yugoslav Committee at London and the Serb Government; over sovereignity of the constituent issues taken to the Yugoslav National Council at Washington August-October 1918.

Chapter XL The historic note of President W. Wilson. Answer to the peace offer of Austria-Hungary. The last moments of Austria, T. Masaryck. Greetings of the Yugoslav National Committee in the name of the Yugoslav people to President Wilson. His characteristic answer October 18 - 1918.

Chapter XLI The dissolution of Austria-Hungary of the Army and Navy. The Yugoslav National Committee at Zagreb. The executive committee for unity and independence.

Chapter XLII Armistice. End of World War. November 3rd - 11th - 1918.

Chapter XLIII The Conference of Geneva. The fight for the creation of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovens.

Chapter XLIV The move for a Republic. The proclamation to the people (issued) by Rev. Nikola Grskovica and Dr. H. Hinkovica. The break in the Yugoslav National Council at Washington. 13 - 14. November 1918.

Chapter XLV. The establishment of the Yugoslav State. The Italian occupation.

Chapter XLVI. President W. Wilson on the Peace Conference in Paris. The most courageous defender of the national unity of the Yugoslavs, does not approve of the London Pact. Italy as well as the Allies will not recognize the Representatives of Yugoslavia, January 18. President W. Wilson recognizes at the peace conference the State of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.

13

February 5th, 1919. The Adriatic question. Italy leaves the Peace Conference. Declaration of President Wilson. The original Documents December 1919 - January 1920.