ng, so he went to bed for a couple of days with salicylate.

The Serbian authorities were beginning to lose their heads. In the
morning they said that the "State" was to be made into a hospital for
officers, and chased all the patients out; in the afternoon they decided
that it was not, and chased back the patients--who had been divided
amongst the other hospitals. Thus they kept us busy and accomplished
nothing. In the evening another batch of wounded came in.

Nearly all the reports of the previous week were now confessed to be
lies. A Serbian minister had been dying in the town, and the good
stories were made up to keep him cheerful. Now he was dead the truth
leaked out. The Austrians and Germans were advancing on every side, the
Serbs making no resistance since Belgrade. The Bulgars had occupied the
whole of the line south of Nish. The French and English were advancing
with extreme difficulty. The Farmers' unit trailed into the town, no
conveyance having been arranged for them from the station. The Scottish
women were already here, having come in the night; they had to sleep
twelve or fifteen in a room. Next day a small contingent of the wounded
Allies arrived.

Sir Ralph Paget arrived in a whirl. Leaders of units appeared from all
sides, and a hurried conference was held.

Mr. Berry called a meeting at two. He said Paget had announced that the
game was up; that all members of units should have the option of going
home, and that he (Paget) was going to Kralievo to see about transports.
Jan got to work on the map, and decided that the best route out would be
one to Novi Bazar, and thence by tracks to Berane. There were villages
marked in the mountains which did not seem so high as those by Ipek,
also the road, if there were one, would be at least two days shorter.

Sir Ralph came back next day, and knowing that we had but lately
returned from Montenegro, he asked Jan a lot of questions about the
road, etc. Sir Ralph's latest decision was that all men of military
age--not doctors--should attempt to cross the mountains into Montenegro.
He could not say if any transport could be provided, or if there would
be any means of escaping from Montenegro, and in consequence he advised
no women to move, as they would be better where they were, than in
facing the risks of the mountains; they would not be in the same danger
as the orderlies, for whom internment was to be expected. Dr. Holmes
decided to accompany us, as he said