The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-08-18
KING PETER OF SERBIA
Resumed Throne when Austria Pre-
clpitated Recent World War

Tuesday at Belgrade, was one Of the
tragic figures of European history.
White-haired. 76 years old deaf, i'll
from the infirmities Of age and suffer
ing from the wounds of three or more
wars, he .rei;nquished the cares Of
state in 1919 when his second son
Crown. Prince Alexander, succeeded
him and became the ruler of the new
state Of Jugo-Slavia. He then declar-
ed,
'.My beloved Serbia is now free and
its future, | believe will be great.
My work is over. | desire only the
affection and devotion of my dear
people and, finally, grave on Ser
ban soil. y
j Courageous Figure
Despite his age, King Peter present
ed&one Of the most courageous figures
Of the war On the tday that Serbia
rejected the Austrian demands, Peter
renounced his temporary abdication OF
the throne and placed himself once
more at the head Of the country. He
was even then almost sightless and
hard of hearing and was under the con
slant care OF physician.
When the fortunes of war turned
against the Serbians he rema ned witt
his armies till practically the last
units had been driven from the coun
try. He then effected an escape
through Albania and went to Saonik
where he presided over the reorganiza
ton OF his forces. Afterward he wen
to Corfu where he established head
quarters and took an active part il
the direction of his nomadic govern
ment.
Forced from his capital, Belgrade
and thence from Nish by the advanc
ing army of the Central Powers il
l19I5, his country Ia waite by fir
land she'll, Peter lived to return to Ser
bia and engage actively in the reore
ganization and reconstruction OF nj
domains. From the beginning OF tn
conflict, the aged King encourages
his troops and people despite the mos
depressing reverses aud On severa
occa ions personally led the Serbs IN
to battle.
Son Took His Place
An invalid self-imposed exile i
Greece, his son Alexander, took
father p ace as commander of tn
army. Alexander was later designate
Prince Regent by the elder Karageol
gevitch and en- November 26, 1918, tn
Nat onal Council OF Jugo Slayia a
Agram. Croatia, confirmed the choice
thus relieving the venerable King c
the ruler hip OF Serbia Montenegro
/ Slavonia. Bosnia. Herzegovina, Ia
malta and Croatia, which had unite
after Their liberation from Austria,
Early in 1919 the eyed King was r.
moved to a quiet retreat hear AtheM
4 Greece, where he lived in small si'
room house overlook ~ the Bay
Phaeleron. a personal secretary an
his physician were his only compal
ions. He had ony one diversion, a
4 occasional early morning ride aToun
the Greek capital in the side car
a motorcycle driyenlbylg Serbian sol'
ier TO avoid the gaze otsegQwds b
disguised himse with anna k aud
par Of goggles Later his health b.
came SO feeble that be passed most {
hi tine in bed or a wheel chair
Appeared Quite Young
King Peter was TAI. erect and mu
cut ar and inspite of his age had III
appearance Of a much YOUNGER MAJ
He had all the rugged qualities {
: one sprung from the soil wrote on
biographer. ~He took pride III rete
ring to his humble origin and through
out his life lived modesty and RnC
tentatiously. He was extremely den
ocratlc and affabe. His tastes WEI
simp TO the point of severity. i
was beloved by his people, particula
Y the peasautry. who called hi
Father Peter"
But his royal career was heclOude
by a grave and terrible tragedy Il
f. assassination of his predecessI
King Alexander and the latter's wifi
Queen Draga-in the palace at BE
grade on June 10, 1903. A suspicic
that members OF the KarageorgevitC
family OF which Peter was a memb'
, were implicated in the consp rae
we're implicated in the coaspiraI
which exterminated the rival ruin
: Oberenovitieh dynasty of VIII oh Ale
ander and Draga were representative
) and which placed Peter on the thror
five days later, was never entire
removed In 1911, when King Pet
made tour of Europe he receive
somewhat of cold reception fro
other royalties.
: All tod. more than so persons We
/ killed or wounded In the palace
Belgrade when 40 army officers forcs
their wayin with dynamite, shot dow
all who stood in their way as tht
2 King Alexander and Queen Draga, al
, murdered their majesties as the
crouched in a corner of their ROOF
clasped in each others arms The
bodies wer cast through a wmdo
glass and all. into the palace park. .
, the same time two cabinet ministe
were assas mated in their home.