New-York tribune., 1904-08-08
KING CAUGHT IN A TRAP.
Atsrander Of Seruia Had Bricked
Up His Only Means Of Escape.

n deI7o.is;'.ng the palace II Belgrade wheSe the
murder of King Alexander and Queen Draga took
place the workmen cam across A secret stai~way
opat IN ne walls and communicating with tunnel
o. great length. leading to a remote spot outside
;Se civ precincts
Inquiries have developed that King Milan had
caused this secret staircase and subway 20 be
structed years ago, in order 10 provide him with
means of escape il the event of a military revolt
such as that which brought the reign of his i'll
Iafed son 10 so tragic close. but ;hat just
months oe-ore the assassination CS Alexander, the
latter, convinced that he had nothing TO fear, and
looking upon the tunnel as afrordng OPPORTUNITIES
10 thieves ana burglars to rob the palace urper-
ce:Ted caused the opening IN the wall TO the secret
staircase. and also the entrance OF the tunnel IN
the basement. 70 be brickeG lp. This was done so
qr!elly that not Of those members Of the royal
household who took part in the massacre Of the
King and Queen were aware OF the existence OF the
subway.
Ty having it bricked UP .he unfortunate Alex
arder shut OF what would otherwise have proved
Il road 70 safety. since. IL he could have secured
access . The tunnel he would. with Queen Draga,
have eee7 able 70 reach the rivers edge, and prob
ably transportation across the stream 10 the Hun
garian bank the other side thereof before his
sssaan;s had realized the direction il which he
had howr
No trace VIII soor be left Of the palace where the
crime took lace Its site will have beer converted
into a garden before the return the caPtel OF
he new King.
Peter is now At the seryau health resor: of
Fiearska Bonya, the medicinal springs Of which
a-e analogous 20 those Of Carlsbad, and his action
II spending his holiday there instead OF proceeding
TO some fashionable health resora abroad. as both
Kings Alexander and Milan were in the habit o.
dOng each year has given considerable satisfaction
TO his people Moreover. his boys have abandoned
theiv projected visit Switzerland and are devot-
irg instead. their vacation tour through Se-va.
wiki the3< tutors and officers IN attendance. with
tie orf"o- OF making themselves thoroughly ac-
quasrtc1 with the country. and OF getting into
touch with the people Of both high and low degree
or III occasion 81 tha Kings birthday the other
dcy the diplomats representatives. Of all the for
oisu powers save the United States and Great Brit
tain were present at the banquet given in honor
q the anniversary by The monarch this being the
first occasion Of their appearance at mis- court IN
body since the boycott established against him by
the foreign powers on his accession 70 the throne
The absence OF the American envoy merely
fortuitous diplomatic relations between this
country and seFvs nave already heea resumed.
But England still frowns upon Servia and
tinues 10 decline TO accredit an envoy Belgrade
long the assassins OF Alexander remain
punished and continue 10 hold Office court and
in the army.
These men are however, gradually being elm
mated. and although several os them received
decorations and promotions IN the various orders
Of k-izhthood TO which they belonged on the occa-
sion of the kings birthday. Vet IL was rather by
way Of Signalling the termination OF their connec-
ton with the royal household and with the army
than as p token of royal favor.
colonel Maschir. brother-in-lsw Of Quee7 DraEa.
that is 10 say the brother OF he first husband.
and Of the leaders Of the regieide party is ef
his accord keepsns as far as possible in the
background with tEe manifest object OF diminishing
the embarrassment which his presence IN the mill
tarv encourage Of the king causes the latter.
He is one OF the most capable officers ana admins
traitors Of the Servan army and while of course the
prominent part which he took IN the conspiracy
resulting in the murder Of mss sister-n-aw, Queen
ha -ha 3 ne
cause Of his brothers ruin and death and as the
shame OF his country renders his temporary
eclipse imperative, Yet his dismissal or banshment
would be a distinct loss TO the Ser7ian Var De
partment
P.ter's friends and champions explain his att
,u6e with regard 10 the assassns Of his predecessor
On the throne BY his resolve 70 adhere strictly 70
he terms OF the existing national constitution OF
Serya and 10 violate IL in no single particular
Both Milan and Alexander were forever suspend
ing the constitution or else proclaiming a brand
new one which. taker- in con- JUNCTION with their
hagrant disregard OF the terms ef all the agree
rnents whica they had made with the nation, rem
dered constitutional government a perfect farce
n ser ds during their reigns. King Peter regards
himself merely as the executive Of the National
Legislature The latter has seen NJ 20 eXonerate
the regieidAs from all blame, and II the cir
currstances he nelds that il is not for him to In
stitute criminal proceedings against them
Il must certainly be admitted that his strict com
uliance with his oath 10 respect the existing con
stititon. ana 20 fulfil all of It's terms. s alto
ge-her new experience for The SeTv!aH people, OF
which the beneficial results are gradually becoming
spparent slowly but nevertheless surely, the Ser
vian people are becoming imbued with confidence
in The perrnanency and solldity Of their govern
rnent institutions which they have not untE nos
been anle 70 feel
OF course there is one immense advantage Which
Peter enjoys over his predecessors or TIE throne
They were in constant danger Of assassina-ion hy
tloss who desired tho accession Of the lIarase 2se
Witch dynasty 70 the crown Tho Obrenow!tch Gym
as-y has now been wiped out Of existence, and the
only other dynasty which ever showed any han
kering for the sovereignty Of Servia, namely that
Of Montenegro. IS rendered harmless as far as
King Peter IS concerned by the circumstance that
the later IS tn son-iniaw OF the reignirg Prince
Of Montenegro. and that ne IS the Oldest grandson
of the latter who is the acknowledged heir appar-
ert 10 the servian throne. Consequently, no one
has anything TO gain BY Peters death.
Str George D!bbs, former Premier OF the Aus
tra!iar colony o. New South Wales achieved
. uuenviable notorie:y al one time in this country
by ass particularly offensive criticisms Of every
thing American. beth during and subsequent to
LIS sojourn IN the United States. lis career was
an extraordinary one He began life as Of
Zee boy IN n wine merchants firm in sydney
after which ne too& 10 the sea During the Civil
War here and again during the troubles in South
America some lears later, he acquired con-
siderable n0toriety and wealth as Il blockade run
ne hut after returning Australia he quickly
lost all his money ana became a bankrupt This
led him 10 abandon business for po4iucs- But De-
ing blessed with an Uneovernabla temper II was
no, long before he got into trouble by assaultlhg
,sF1..- that In. la