Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-04-15
HE TOOK THE THRONE
Bloodless Coup d'etat Of Alex
ander OF Sepia.
PROClAiMS HIMSELF KING
The Regents Invited so - Banques.
Their Houses ssizss; and Then
They Mere Arrested.

BEiGsApk. April | A bloodless coup
d'eta, was effected re las, nigh, and
King Alexander J.. the youthful ruler q
Ser,ia. who has heretofore governed the
country through regents. today rules in
bis own name. 4 grand banquet WAS
gwen ~ the palace last night T. cele
brate King Alexand.r's success IN pasf,
iug the examination prescribed Tor Sery-
ian students. NJ. Risiics and Gen. Bell
Markoy.tch. the regents. and all the
ministers IL state We're present. as were
also large number of the friends
and supporters 81 the regents.
For many months past the
situation in ScryIa has been critical.
owing la the abuse III their power hy
the regents and state officials. Anairs
had become So bad that the king deter
mined to take the rcIns IN his own
hands. In accordance with this deter
mination plans were secretly lald toy
means IL which the regents and ministry
would be oustsd without opportunity for
opposition. CnsusIeciIngly the regents
and ministers attended the banquet. and
while they were enJo,Ing themselves at
the palace. ictachmenis ~ soldiers and
bodies ~ police took possession ~ the
ministers houses and occupied the GOV
crnment buildings.
At midnight while the festivities were
still in progress. King Alexander pro
claimed that he had attained his ma
iority and that he had assumed. with
the skupshlna. the government of the
country. As "a matter Of fact the king
had not attained his majority. Accord
ing To the Servian law he does not he
come 81 age until he il Is years old
and as he was born August II. 1876 he
will not bc Is for considerably over "A
year.
When the deposed regents and minis
ters heard the proclamation they were
dumfounded. The king and his ad-
visers acted with great prompttude.
and soldiers who were in awaiting at
once placed the regents and ministers
under arrest. and they were sent 10
rooms which had been prepared for
them in the paIace. where they are under
guard
The Servian army is loyal TO the king.
Had it not been the coup d'etat would
not have been possible. After the iseu-
ing od the proclamation and long before
daybrcak the king proceeded to the
barracks where the troops were under
arms and was received with joyous ac-
carnations and many expressions Of
loyalty.
Proclamation Of the King.
The proclamation. which will be is
sued everywhere in the country today.
bears the kings signature. In il Alex
andet declares that the constitution has
been lately in core jeopardy. the rights
of the citizens imperiled and the con
stitutional position of parliament so
abased that the king must end the un-
happy condition of affairs. lie there
fore declares that he has become OF age
and has assumed kingly powers. Hence
forth, the proclamation adds, the Ser
WON constitution acquires it's full
significance. The regents have been de
posed, the cabinet dismissed and new
ministry appointed. NJ. Dokitch is the
new prime minister.
This morning the king dissolved the
skupshina and issued new election
writs The elections will he held April
-. The 'Te Deum" was sung in the
cathedral this morning IN celebration Of
his majcsty's accession Ia the throne. \
royal salute was also fired. The people
chcered the king. who made speech of
thanks from the palace balcony.
May Involve Europe in War.
The situation in Scrvia affords ground
for the greatest anxiety. \ revolution
there would make breach for Russia.
who. a. every one knows, has always
wished 10 re-cstablish her influence IN
Servla. Austria on the other hand
could not look on such change un
moved She holds Milan in reserve as a
last card II the Russophiles were 10
overthrow the reigning child king and
Russia hurled her troops in Scrvia ON
pretensc ~ restoring order. Austria
would he forced Ia make counter
stroke. war would be- declared and from
Servia il would spread all over Eu
rope France too would be dragged
into the quarrel for it would be
impossible 10 prevent her from helping
Russia. II is difficult to prophesy the
future ~ the king. That he has ccur-
age and determination has been sufii
ciently demonstrated 10y the events - last
night unless II should turn ont that he
Was simply tool in other hands hut
that youth ~ u should possess the
wisdom. trmness and patriotism re
quircd by his difficult position would
bc indeed extraordinary.
VIrSNa. April H. The receipt - the
intelligence that Ming Alexander - SER
via had dcpcscd the regents and taken
upon himself the full powers - king.
caused sharp fall in ServIan and other
turoY.an secufitlca an, the lotlrse herr.