The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-29

HAS BIG
PLACE IN HISTORY
Yugo-SlauakianC apital Held
by Many Races,

DclsIduc, Capital VI L uSO-oloNA0, AoO
shared with Rome the interest Of dip
lomatic circles during the recent
threatened friction between Yugo-
Slavia and Italy over Albania. This
Balkan capital is the subject Of the
following bulletin from the National
Geographic society:
ut was inevitable that there should
be an important city on the site Of
Belgrade" says the bulletin. ut 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 200 feet high. This
became a fortress and citadel as early
as the Third century B. O., when Gel
tic tribes established Belgrade's pred
ecessor, the town of Singidunum.
"Through the centuries that have
passed since, this rock has played an
important part in European affairs. 1t
was held successfully by Celts, Ro-
mans, Huns, Goths, Bulgarians, By
zantines, Hungarians, Serbians and
Austrians. One of its most important
holders was the Turk. From 1921 I'M
til little more than half century ago
1t was In Turkish hands, except for
short periods, and was Islam's norther-
most arrow aimed at the heart OF
Christendom. The Turkish garrison
finally withdrew in 1865, when Serbia
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 sun
dry white towers and walls. Even in
the days when Belgrade's streets were
narrow, dirty, oriental ways, the view
from across the Danube or from its
waters was charming one.
"The aspect of the city has changed
greatly in recent years, and 1t has
little now to distinguish 1t from other
European capitals. Since the World
war there has been marked building
boom, stimulated in part by laws hold
ing new dwellings tax free for 70
years, and other new structures Tor
shorter terms. The population Of the
capital, drawn from much greater
area than that Of prewar Serbia, has
practically doubled, being now about
100000.
"Old Russia at times sought fnfiu-
ence over Serbia, the blood of whose
people Is also Slavic. For one Of the
principal thoroughfares Gar Nicholas
gave the paving, having it laid by Rus
sian laborers. The street was renamed
Czaritza, and bears that name today.
At FIVE o'clock each afternoon police
clear the street of carriages and auto
mobiles and the prOmenading populace
f1lls the space from curb to curb, many
dropping into the chairs of the side
walk cafes for coffee and conversation.
It is an interesting, colorful spectacle,
this afternoon parade on Czaritza
street, with the promenaders running
the gamut from peasant to man and
woman of the world.
"In addition to Its wars and sieges,
Belgrade has had it's stark tragedies.
In 1868 Prince Michael, who had
brought about the evacuation of the
Turks, and had given Serbia its first
taste of independence for centuries,
was assassinated in his garden. In
1909 King Alexander and Queen Draga
of Serbia were murdered in their pal
ace. This structure of i'll omen was
demolished and new palace built for
the king of different dynasty who
succeeded"