The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-02-19
ELGRADE, "the little Paris

the Balkans" and perhaps tn,
FL most bombarded city of the
present war, has probably seer
more battles fought under it.
walls. and experienced the surge
shock and eddies of war more otter
than any other city in Europe. Its
whole story is one of conflicts of races
religions and governments, says bull
ietin of the National Geographic so
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 up
per and lower Danube; at one time an
outpost of Roman power; at another
time considered the key to Hungary;
for i've luckless centuries situated on
the borderland between Moslems and
Christians. and now Slayonian out
post, Belgrade never since its founda-
ton has been able to feel any certain
ty about the morrow's peace.
The Servian capital was founded in
the third century before Christ upon
D triangular, rocky promontory at the
confluence Of the Save and Danube
rivers. 1t lies opposite the Slovenian
town of Semlin, in Hungary. Upon
pne side the Danube, here about two
thousand three hundred feet wide, d.
Tides 1t from Hungary, while the Save,
1880 feet wide, bounds another foot
of the triangle. The ground of the
city is an unsymmetrical razorback,
sioping 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
rivers.
ceits Built First Fortifications.
The Celts built the first fertilization
On this strategic rock. They called it
Singidunum. The Romans we're the
next possessors, and they added to the
city's strength. The Roman empire
fell to pieces and Belgrade became
battlefield for many races converging
from every quarter of the compass.
Huns. Samatians. Cloths and Gepids
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 Charlemagne's
Frankish adventures. overrun by Bull
sars. reconquered for Byzantium,
wrested from the Greeks by the Hun
garians. and then battledored, with
rapid-changing fortunes of war, among
Greeks, Bulgars, Hungarians and Ger
mans.
In the fourteenth century the city
was in the hands of Servian kings
first. and later was held by the Hun
garians. Then came the Turks. They
waged number OF unsuccessful cam.
paigns against the city, but finally 1t
fell into their hands in 1921, a prize
for the Sultan Suleiman. It remained
practically in the power of these mas
tiers until 1867, bearing the brunt of
every attack upon the Ottoman from
the north and west. Internal dissen-
sicns kept things lively, even when
Turkey was at peace with her neigh
bors. The Turks called the city "the
home of wars for faith"
Between the sixteenth and the nine
teenth centuries the Servian capital
was conquered number of times, and
besieged often. It, however, always
found Its way back to Turkey, and al
though Servia practically became indie
pendent in the eart part of the nine
teenth century, the Turkish garrison
at Belgrade was not withdrawn until
1867.
Became Big, Gay City.
Belgrade Is the governmental and
religious center, the center of art and
culture, the financial commercial and
foreign trade center of the Servian |
kingdom. and 1t is the kernel of the
Serbs national consciousness. Since
the withdrawal of the Turkish garri- |
son. 1t has blossomed out into a mod
ern city. with the streets, electric |
lights, street cars, and parks and other
gay places Of recreation. 1t has earned
its designation Of little Paris of the |
Balkans" for there Is deal Of flnery.
Of Parisimitated tone. In Belgrade: