Evening star., 1921-08-17

been ill, was reported early in June
TO be in a serious condition. He was
then suffering from pleurisy. A short
time afterward he was said to be
tsteadily improving in health. and
his physicians declared him out of
danger.
Nothing was heard of the aged mon
arch until few days ago. when a
seriously i'll with congestion of the
Hungs. He sank into unconscious
ness Friday. remaining in that con-
-dition until the following day. His
condition became worse Sunday night
and he gradually failed until the end.
Abdicated Throne in 1919.
King Peter of Serbia. seventy-siX
years old, white-haired. deaf. i'll from
the infirmities of age and suffering
from the wounds of three or more
wars. relinquished the cares Of state
FRINGE Alexander. succeeded him and
became the ruler of the new state of
Jugoslavia. He then declared:
My beloved Serbia is now free and
its future, l believe. will be great
one. My work is over. desire only
the continued affection and devotion
of my dear people and. finally.
grave on Serbian SOIL
Despite his age. King Peter pre-
sonted one of the most courageous
figures of the war. On the day that
Serbia rejected the Austrian demands
Peter renounced his temporary. alb
diCation of the throne and placed
himself once more at. the head of
the country. He was even then al
most sightless and hard of hearing
and was under the constant care of
a physician.
Stayed by His Armies.
When the fortunes of war turned
10 he remained
with his armies till practically the
last units had been driven from the
country. He then effected an escape
ythrough Albania and went to Sa-
nonilki. where he presided over the
Reorganization of his forces.
Afterward he went to Corfu. where
he established headquarters and took
an active part in the direction of his
numadic government.
Forced from his capital. Belgrade,
and thence from Nish by the advanc-
ing army of the central powers In
1915, his country laid waste by fire
and shell, Peter lived to return to
Serbia and engage actively In the
reorganization and reconstruction OF
his domains.
From the beginning of the conflict
the aged king encouraged his troops
and people despite the most depress-
ing reverses and on several occasions
personally led the Serbs into battle.
Exile in Greece.
An invalid, self-imposed exile in
Greece. his son Alexander took his
fathers place as commander OF the
army. Alexander was later desig-
mated prince regent by the elder
Karageorgevitch. and on November
go. 1918, the national council of Ju-
Soslavia at Agram. Croatia. confirmed
the choice, thus relieving the vener-
4 bile king of the rulership of Serbia,
Afopfapapro G1avOpia BOSNIA. HerZe- =
Sovina, Dalmatia and Croatia. which
Ead united after their liberation from
Austria.
Early in 1919 the aged king was re-
Lmoved to a quiet retreat near Athens.
Greece, where he lived in a small six
room house overlooking the Bay OF
Phaeleron. A .personal secretary and
his physician were his only compan-
ions. He had only one diversion, an
occasional early morning ride around
the Greek capital in the side car of a
motor cycle driven by a Serbian SOL
dier. To avoid the gaze of crowds he
disguised himself with mask and a
pair of goggles. Later his health be-
came so feeble that he passed most OF
his time in bed or wheelchair.
Last Granted Interview.
When a correspondent for the As
sociated Press called to see. him in
May, 1919, the king consented to car
ry on a conversation only through the
person of the Serbian minister to
Greece. 1t was the last interview
granted by the former ruler of the
Serbs. Croats and Slovenes. To meet
his long-cherished wish that he might
die on his native soil the Serbian au-
thoritieS in 1920 brought the invalid
king back to his beloved Belgrade.
He avoided society, however. and
kept aloof from all court and public
functions.
King Peter was tall. erect and mus
cular, and in spite of his age had the
appearance of a much younger man,
He had all the rugged qualities of
one sprung from the soil.'' wrote one
sbiographer. He took pride in refer
ring to his humble origin, and
throughout his life lived modestly and
unostentatiously. He was extremely
were simple to the point Of severity
He was beloved by his people, par
ticularly the peasantry, who called
him Father Peter"
Royal Career Beclouded.
But hi, royal career was beclouded
by gt3te and terrible tragedy-the
ASA sihAtions of his predecessor
King Alexander and the latter's wife
Qpeen Nfaga-in the palace at Bel
grade Oh June 10, 1903. A suspicion
that members of the Karageorgevitct
were implicated in the conspiracy
which exterminated the rival ruling
akrenovitch dynasty. of which Alex
ssGder and Draga were representa-
ties, and which placed Peter on the
throne five days later. was never en-
Hfely removed. In 1911. when King
Heter made a tour of Europe. he re-
ffS,m other royalties.
AAll told, more than fifty person: