The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-06-20
MILITARY WILL RULE
Servia's New King May Be Little
More Than a Royal Captive.
WITHOUT PERSONAL FOLLOWING

Il Is Thought Army Conspirators
Would Just As Readily Murder Him
As They Did Alexander Should He
Oppose Them.
Belgrade. June 1.-THE position OF
King Peter | promises To be little
more than that of royal captive;
the real government OF the country
will be military. dictatorship, under
the leaders Ut the revolution, Colonel
Maschin and Colonel Mitschitch. The
new king is almost without any per
sonal adhcrcnts. and the ruling splr-
its of the army. IL Is thought probable,
would just as readily murder him as
they did his predecessor should he OPP
pose their aims.
At the present moment the whole
country is under military rule aud al
though no projects in tho country dis
tricts have been revoked. each Is ac-
companiod by an army officer, who
attends the project wherever he goes,
even 10 the telephone. This policy
has led to one good result, not n sim
gle case Of disorder anywhere has
been reported
Extremely forcible arguments were
found necessary to suppress the radi-
cal aspirations of republic. The fore
most advocate of the creation OF
republican form OF government was
Ljubomir SchiokOvics. the editor Of
the Belgrade Odjek. Finding him Inn
porvious 10 arguments the conspira-
tors invited him 10 a dinner AT the
officers club last Saturday. During
the dinner his host told him that I'M
less he agreed TO support Prince Peter
KaragcOrgeyitch there would be one
head less in Belgrade that night VI.
Schiokovics yielded 10 the force Of this
reasoning aid accepted the situation
lie is now minister OF justice in the
new government
The deliberations Of the members
Of the senate and shupshtina on the
republican question were materially
FASTENED By the attendance OF one ~
the leaders Of the revolution. Colonel
Mitschitch The colonel took no part
in the proceedings. but his prescnce
was significant enough TO induce the
members 10 accept the army's choice
Premier Avakumoyics told the dopu
ties that q was useless to talk Of
republic. as neither Russia nor Austria
would permit IT, He further urged
that tho proposed new constitution
would give King Peter far less power
than that enjoyed by the president OF
the United States
Inquiries In official circles every
where elicit the assurance that the
people are delighted with the action
Of the government but conversations
overheard IN public places indicate
that the people. especially those liv
Ing outside The capital. know little and
care little about the trend Of national
politics. One OF the features IN all
the shop windows is the display Of
large pictures of King Peter, freshly
printed. the cuts having been brought
from abroad. Two peasants were
heard discussing one of these prints
The first asked who n was
"Thc now king Karageorgevitch. "
replied the second
"Why aid they Kill the last king?"
81 don't know think he had some
trouble with the army"
Suppose this one has trouble with
the army?"
"They viii kin him. too" came the
uncOnccrucd response.
II IS believed that the army will try
20 make secret terms with the new
king by which IL will retain the SUI
premacy gained by the tragedy. but
whether the king will agree to the
conditions Is uncertain.