New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-17

A few days ago dispatch from Bel
grade said the aged Serbian monarch
was suffering from congestion of the
lungs. 1t was the first word as to his
condition that had been received since
June, when he suffered an attack of
pleurisy, but from which he was said
to be recovering.
Last Friday the news came that King
Peters illness had become severe, and
that he had sunk into Inconsistencies
He continued to fail throughout Satur-
day and Sunday and did not rally again.
He was seventy-six years old.
King Peter was placed upon the Ser
bian throne five days after the tragedy
in the palace Of Belgrade on the night
OF June 10, 1908, when forty officers of
the army forced their way into the
sleeping room &C King Alexander and
Queen Draga, killed them and threw
their bodies out of the window. He
relinquished the crown to his son,
Crown Prince Alexander, in 1914.
Wounded in Three Wars
At the time of his retirement Peter
was white haired and aged and was
still suffering from the effects of
wounds received in three wars.
Owing to i'll health" his proclama-
ton said, Il am unable to perform my
duties and, in accordance with Para
graph 50 of the Serbian Constitution,
l lntrust the government of Serbia to
my heir, the Crown Prince Alexander,
during my Illness"
Peters retirement lasted until the
day the warlike little state rejected the
Austrian demands. Deaf and almost
tendance. Peter came from his retire
ment and resumed command of Serbian
affairs.
In active command of the army and
with the Teutons slowly crushing his
kingdom in an advance, he had not the
strength to stop, Peter continued fight
Ing until his forces were scattered be-
yond hope of onsolidation He then
made his escape through Albania to
Salonica, where he remained until the
end of hostilities
The Crown Prince Alexander sue
ceeded his father in command Of the
remnants of the Serbian army In No
vember, 1918. Alexander was chosen
Prince Regent by the national council
of Jugoslavia, confirming the designa-
ton already made by Peter, and the old
fighters retirement became permanent.
The new kingdom comprised Serbia
Montenegro, Slavonia, Bosnia, Here
govina, Dalmatia and Croatia.
Passed Last Days in Greece
In 1919 Peter took up his residence
il small six-room house near Athens,
overlooking the Bay of Phaeleron. with
a physician and a secretary. Wearing
goggles and mask, he took short rides
in motorcycle sidecar, driven by a
Serbian soldier, until he became toe
feeble to leave his house. He was then
seen occasionally in a wheel chair.
However brave in battle or courage
down the suspicion that the Karageorge-
witch family, to which he belonged. was
involved in the assassination If Alex
ander and Draga and of two Cabinet
ministers, and in the killing of fifty or
more guards and members of the royal
household who endeavored to prevent
the crime. During tour of Europe
made eight years afterwards, Peter was
coldly received at the palaces of royalty.
Alexander and Draga were the last
of the Obrenovitch dynasty, and with
their passing came the end of rivalry
between the two royal families that
had lasted a hundred years Peters
ancestor, "Black George leading the
fighting against the Turks, was accused
of treason, deposed, and succeeded by
Milosh Obrenovitch, swineherd
Assas nation and alterations in the
kingship followed.
A Succession OF Murders
"Blacl. George was murdered. IN
1912 his son, Alexander Karageorge-
witch, held sway for a time, but the
people renstated the Obrenovitches
Milosh Obrenovitch was murdered in
1868 at the instigation of Alexander
Karageorgevitch. Milan Obrenovitch
who succeeded, was exilcd and his son
Alexander Obrenovitch, tho victim Of
the Belgrade murder Of 1905, ascendo !
the throne.
Alexander defed opposition ard mar
ried the divorced wife of an army off
GER. Draga added to the resentmen
aroused by court scandals by attempt
ing to have a child not hers accepted
as heir to the throne. Then came the
assassinations.
Peter Karaseorgevitch, then living \
Geneva. protesting the crime. but as
csnding the throne, found all diplo-
matte relations cut off. A promise
made . punish the conspirators, which
was never redeemed, brought q re-
sumption Of international relationships
Peter from the first took strong
stand against the Austrians and the
Russians and became the hero of his