Man's dislike of militarism is prompted by sentiment, or by a sense of expediency. It is not due to instinct; therefore it is not forceful. The charge of human life has not been given by Nature to Man. Therefore, to Man, the preservation of life is of less importance than many other things. Nature herself sets an example of recklessness with males; she creates, in the insect world, millions of useless male lives for one that is to serve the purpose of maleness. It is said that the proportion of male may-flies to female is six thousand to one. Nature behaves similarly--though with more moderation--with male human babies. More males than females are born, but fewer males survive. Is war perhaps another extravagant device of Nature; or is society, which encourages war, blindly copying Nature for the same end? On the other hand, Woman's dislike of militarism is an instinct. Life--for Woman--is not a seed which can be sown broadcast, to take root, or to perish, according to chance. For Woman, life is an individual charge; therefore, for Woman, the preservation of life is of more importance than many other things. By God and by Man, the care of life is given to Woman, before and after birth. With all her being, Woman--primitive Woman--has defended that life as an individual concrete life; and with all her being, Woman--modern Woman--must now, in an enlarged sphere, defend the abstract life of humankind. Therefore, it is good that Woman shall put aside her qualms, and go forth and see for herself the dangers that threaten life. Therefore it is good that Woman shall record, as Woman, and not as neuter, the things which she has felt, and seen, during an experience of militarism at first hand. GUIDE FOR READERS This book is in five parts. PART I. deals with preliminaries and military hospital work in Bulgaria, Belgium, France, and Serbia. PART II. deals with roadside tent dispensary work in Serbia. PART III. is a diary of the Serbian retreat. PART IV. discusses: (_a_) The war work of women. (_b_) Serbian character. (_e_) The evils of war. PART V. comprises maps and letters and lists of personnel. The title of the book is taken from Genesis iii. 22-24. Readers will understand that Part III. does not attempt to deal with the Serbian retreat as a whole; materials for this were not available. It describes the day to day doings of one small segment of the historical mosaic. The book has many imperfections, but if something of the spirit of the Serbian nation shines through its pages, it will have served its purpose. PART I CHAPTER I