The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-02
BELGRADE.
The orr Besicsed white Castle on the
Frontier Hill.

The orr Besieged white Castle on the
Frontier HIii.
To the people OF any other nation in
Europe the fall of their capital would
mean moro than the capture OF Bel
grade means 10 the Servians. Situated
on the border, and browning a lofty
limestone hill, which might have been
imprcgnable In ancient wars. II lay
an easy mark for long range Austrian
guns on the opposite Hungarian plains.
The Servians have long recognized Its
vulnerability to attacks from the north.
and with each alarm If war they have
advocated the removal OF their capital
to the interior of their country: but n
high regard for Belgrade's historical
associations and pride in the work Of
lifting a squalid little Turkish town into
beautiful modern city have deferred
the plans of transfer.
Neither war nor siege is a novelty
to Belgrade for tho walls OF the white
fortress that gave the town its name
were many times drenched in blood.
For centuries with each fresh invasion
of the Danube or Save valley 1t
changed masters. Huns. Goths. Romans.
Bulgars, Greeks and Serbs threw their
forces against it's great rock founda-
ton. To the Turk 1t was the key to
conquest north of the Danube, "the
home of wars for the faith" There
are no more thrilling stories than the
defence Of the city against Mohammed.
the conqueror of Constantinople. when
John Hunyady descended the Danube
with his motley collection of boats
loaded with Hungarian and Serb peas
ants, accompanied by an Ill armed
crowd on the banks. kindled to enthu-
siasm by the burning words OF the
weird, feeble old monk John Capistrano.
and fercely fought the battle that
wrought victory TO the cross.
Since the Turks finally retired, in
1862, Belgrade has had no enemy at its
gate until row. In these years Of
peace the Belgradians have built their
town. They fell heir to no bu lGings
for the Turk left here. unlike many
other places from which he was driven.
no imposing konak, great barracks. ar
scnals or storehouses. They replaced
the novels and dirty narrow alleys by
wide. well paved streets lined with
buildings that more than ever made
| Belgrade deserve the name of the white
city.
Because OF the feeling OF Insecurity.
perhaps, Belgrade has no notably fine
public buildings. The royal palace COM
pared with the homes of royalty in any
other OF the Balkan States is most
modest, the little two story parliament
/ building Is half hidden in n cluster of
! trees on a side street the post office is
| inadequate TO its business and none of
the Ministries are well housed. Even
I NJ. pashitCh received representatives of
| foreign countries in a little room bare
| of decoration in what appeared the
poorest of the Office buildings of that
/ part Of the street. Life, too, in Bel
grade was without prctensi1n. Automo-
/ biles were as few as fine turnouts:
/ livericd buffers. footmen and men SER
wants were almost unknown, for the
girl was supreme as the domestic
servant. Belgrade went 20 work early,
took its MONDAY rest, and in the eve
ming filed the streets leading to the
park back Of the old fortress. That
was Belgrade's gay hour when it lis
tened to gypsy orchestras at the street
corner cafes. drank its Turkish coffee
in tiny cups and its water in large
glasses. Then the town went home to
supper and an hour after dark the
streets were deserted
AS typically Servian as this simple
ity may he and pleasing to its peasant
population. 1t is very likely that Servia
will entrust some other town than
Belgrade with the seat Of government.
Nish which Is now acting temporarily
in that capacity. has been proposed, and
the former King Milan in his advocacy
of this site went so far rs to adorn
the town with many fine public build
ings and to plan its present defences
Uskub, in the newly acquired territory
is another candidate for the honor and
presses in its favor the romantic claim
OF having been once the capital of the
ancient Serb empire.