Further Reflection
"These men fought in opposing armies during the world war. Now they are students and friends in the American University of Beirut. Kaspar Mamagonian, 28 years of age, is the son of an Armenian merchant in Diyarbakir. He was a soldier in the Turkish army; Mohammed Said Nabih, age 26, is an Egyptian. His father is the Chief Engineer of Irrigation. He was a doctor in the Egyptian Medical Corps, attached to the British Army. He had some unusually interesting experiences with the '' gyp-pies" (Egyptian Labor Corps). He is a student in the School of Medicine; Demetrius Serlis., age 30, comes from the Island of Crete. His father is a farmer. For four years Serlis served as an interpreter in the British Army, although he is a Greek by birth. He speaks six language: Greek, English, Russian, Arabic, Turkish, and French. During the war he served at Gallipoli, Salonica, Palestine, Arabia, Russian Caucasus, and in the interior of Asia Minor. Now he is in the School of Pharmacy, and is head waiter in the dining room."
Demetrius Serlis, “Four Friendly Enemies”, Newsletter, Robert College & American University of Beirut, February , 1921, v. 2, no. 1, [6].
" Paul Slavacoff, age 23, is the son of a Bulgarian priest. His home is in Macedonia. He has lost six years of education because of the Great War and the Balkan Wars. For three years he was in the infantry on the Salonica front. Later he became a Sergeant-Major. Here is a remarkable account of Serlis and Slavacoff meeting each other at the American University of Beirut, and learning that they had fought opposite each other at Salonica: "It was something extraordinary for me to meet here in the College, a Bulgar, Mr. Slavacoff, who, during the war in the Balkan theatre, was opposite my sector. '' Fancy, at that time ' No Man's Land' was dividing us. Our thoughts and ideals were expressed only by rifles, by machine guns, and by cutting each other's throats. How glad I was at the news that our bombardment and raids had caused some mischief to the enemy. Many a time while on patrol I used to say to my comrades, 'Well, we are out for Johnny Bulgar's blood.' Mr. Slavacoff was among the Johnny Bulgars.". "Now the College has put Mr. Slavacoff next to me at the table. We dine and work together, and we have found that we have a good many interests in common."
Demetrius Serlis, “Four Friendly Enemies”, Newsletter, Robert College & American University of Beirut, February, 1921, v. 2, no. 1, [6].
At the beginning fo the War, President Bliss had addressed the community with the following words: these words best summarize the College's vision, what it has achieved, and what it will continue to try to do: preparing men and women of wisdom, immersed in wide reading, hard study, public service, and above all "reflection": "[...] when the awful conflict is over, the world, exhausted and sorrowing, will be in a mood to listen, as perhaps never before, to men who have the wisdom to point out the pathway that leads to true national greatness and to a lasting peace. Are teachers and students here and in our sister institutions awake to the coming opportunity and the new responsibility? The task requires seriousness above our usual wont, wide reading, hard study, and again, let it be repeated, reflection."
Howard Bliss , " Our college and the War", Al Kulliyah, November, 1914, v.6, no. 1, p:3.