New Britain herald., 1927-04-29
BELGRADE REALLY
 IMPORTANT PLACE
Dates Back From Third Century
 B. (. in History

Washington, D. C., April 29.-l Belgrade, capital Of Iugoslavia, has shared with Rome the interest of diplomatic circles during the recent threatened friction between Yugo- slavia and Italy over Albania.
 Tt was inevitable that there should be an important city on the site of Belgrade" Tt is situated on the angle Of land between the Save and Danube at the meeting point of those two important rivers. At the very apex of the triangle is a chalk cliff. some POO feet high. This be- came 0 fortress and citadel as early as the third century B. C. when Celtic tribes established Belgrade's predecessor. the town of Singidu- mum.
 Long Turkish Stronghold
 Through the centuries that have passed since, this rock has played an important part in European af- fairs. It was held successively by Celts. Romans, Huns, Goths, Bull garians. Byzantines, Hungarians. Servians and Austrians. One of it's most important holders was the Turks. From 1521 until little more than half a century ago it was in Turkish hands, except for short pe- riods, and was Islam's northernmost arrow aimed at the heart of Christendom. The Turkish garrison finally withdrew in 1866 when Ser bia became practically independent.
 Belgrade is sometimes known by the older form, Beograd. The name means white city, an appropriate name, the observer feels, when he sees the white cliff of the citadel and sundry white towers and walls. Even in the days when Belgrades streets were narrow, dirty, oriental ways, the View from across the Danube or from it's waters was charming one. The aspects Of the city has changed greatly in recent years. and it has little now to dis tinguish it from other European capitals. Since the World war there has been a marked building boom, stimulated in part by laws holding new dwellings taxfree for 25 years, and other new structures for short CT terms. The population of the capital, drawn from a much greater area than that of prc-war Serbia, has practically doubled, being now about 100000.
 street Paved by Russian Czar
 "Old Russia at times sought in- fuence over Serbia, the blood of whose people is also Slavic. For one of the principal thoroughfares Czar Nicholas gave the paving, hay ing it laid by Russian laborers. The street was renamed Czaritza. and bears that name today. At o'clock each afternoon police clear the street of carriages and automobiles and the promenading populace fills the space from curb to curb, many dropping into the chairs of the sidewalk cafes for coffee and con- Nersation. It is an interesting. color ful spectacle. this afternoon parade on Czaritza street, with the promen- aders running the gamut from peas ant to man and woman of the world.
 In addition to its wars and segcs. Belgrade has had its stark tragedies. In 1868, Prince Michael, who had brought about the evacu- ation of the Turks, and had given Serbia it's first taste of independence for centuries, was assassinated in his garden. In 1903 King Alexander and Queen Draga Of Serbia were murdered in their palace. This structure of ill omen was demolish- ed and a new palace built for the king of Q different dynasty who suc- cceded."