Encouraged by Binički, the National Theatre performed operas such as "Il trovatore", "Djamileh", "Der Freischütz", "Werther" and "Mignon" during the 1913–14 operatic season. The National Theatre's work was interrupted by the outbreak of World War I in the summer of 1914. Binički joined the Serbian Army after war was declared. He composed what became known as "March on the Drina" shortly after the Battle of Cer to commemorate the Serbian victory. He dedicated it to his favourite commander in the army, Colonel Stojanović, who was killed in the fighting. His piece was initially titled "March to Victory". Some scholars have hypothesized that Binički based his work on an Ottoman Turkish military march.