The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-01-29

LIZ present war, has probably seen
more battles fought under its
walls, and experienced the surge,
shock and eddies of war more often
than any other city in Europe. Its
whole story is one Of conflicts of races,
religions and governments, says a bull.
letin of the National Geographic 50.
ciety.
Belgrade has more than two thousand
years of history, and has had some
seventy generations of seldom-idle
warriors. An important key to the
balkan lands on the north; a point
dominating the traffic between the I'D.
per and lower Danube; at one time an
outpost of Roman power; at another
Time considered the key to Hungary;
Tor five luckless centuries situated on
the borderland between Moslems and
Christians. and now Slavonian out.
post, Belgrade never since its founda.
lion has been able to feel any certain.
~ about the morrow's peace. "a
The Servian capital was founded in
the third century before Christ upon
triangular, rocky promontory at the
confluence of the Save and Danna
rivers. 1t lies opposite the Slayoaian !
town of Semlin, in Hungary. Upon
one side the Danube, here about two
thousand three hundred feet wide. di.
Vides it from Hungary, while the Save,
1850 feet wide, bounds another foot
OF the triangle. The ground Of the
city is an unsymmetrical razorback,
sloplng abruptly to the west and more |
gently to the east. At the apex of
this triangle is chalky cliff 200 feet
high, which overlooks and guards both
:ivers.
ceIts Built First Notifications
The Celts built the first fertilization
IN this strategic rock. They called It
olngldunum. The Romans were the
next possessors, and they added to the
clty's strength. The Roman emnire
Tell to pieces, and Belgrade became
battlefield for many races converting
from every quarter of the compass
huns, Samatians, Goths and Genids
were, in turn, its masters from the
fourth to the sixth century. The En-.
peror Justinian brought it again under
roman rule, fortified and improved It
IL was captured by Charlemapne's
frankish adventures, overrun bv Rul.
sars' reconquered for Byzantium
wrested from the Greeks by the Hum.
garians, and then battledored. with
rapld'changing fortunes of war, among
dreeks, Bulgars, Hungarians and Ger.
mans.
IN the fourteenth century the citv
was in the hands Of servian kings
nrst, and later was held by the HIM.
sarlans. Then came the Turks Thew
"aged number of unsuccessful cam.
oalsns against the city, but finally 4
ell into their hands in 1921, a prize
or the Sultan Suleiman. It remained
practically In the power Of these mas.
.ers until 1867, bearing the brunt of
,Very attack upon the Ottoman ,rom
ne north and west. Internal d,s,en.
ions Kept things lively, even when
turkey was at peace with her ne,eh.
'ors. The Turks called the city The
lome of wars for faith"
net~een the sixteenth and the nine.
eenth centuries the serviap can,t., ,
vas a, conquered number Of times and ,
often. 1t, however, alvav s
ound Its way back to Turkey ana a., :
nough servia practically became ,nd o. ,
In the early part Of the nine
eenth century, the Turkish rsr-,son :
867. avn until
Became a Big, Gay citv. :
belgrade is the governments, ond !
e,lg'ous center, the center of art a and q
ulture' the financial, commerce., ana =
, , trade center of the serv dau
onso, and it is the kernel Of the
eros national consciousness s,. .
ne Withdrawal Of the Turkish sarr rI b
nll' II mas blossomed out into 1 MD h
a ra.- Guy, with the streets, electric r.
shts, street cars, and parks and 49,. 81 81
. d p'S.es OF recreation. 1t has earned b
s,. urs.saa ATTIC of little Paris Of the e
ai, n for there is a deal Of f,no ..' =.
saris'imitated tone, in B Ss uaely' j J,