Evening star., 1941-08-31
YuqosIov Attoche Here Tells
How Boy King Fled Homeland
Peter II Shared
Perils of His People,
Col. Rodoychieh Says

The first detailed account OF
the escape Of King Peter II OF
Yugosldpid after the Germans
inrdded his country is giUen here
bu the Military Attuche OF the
Yuooslau Legation in Washing
ton, Uho accompanied the King
on his flight. The 18th birthday
OF King Peter falls on Septem-
Der S, the day he toould hare
ascended the throne il he had
not defed the ArtS polUerS on
March 27, 1910.
BY COL. z. S. RADOYCHICH.
Belgrade was bombed by the Ger
mans on Palm Sunday. April 6, eight
days after the Yugoslav people man
ifested their determination to hight
the entire power of Germany rather
than enter into a shameful partner
ship with Hitler. The German lead
ers and the German press referred
to young King Peter as ''Peterchen."
His name stood first on the list OF
Yugosiavs scheduled by the Nazis
for destruction.
When the German bombers ap-
peared over Belgrade, King Peter
was at Dedinye, residential district
about 10 miles southeast of Bel
grade. There stood the summer res
idence OF the royal family. In sue
cessive waves German planes few
over Dedinye and unloaded their
hail of bombs. The Kings home
and the surrounding buildings were
hit, but the wing in which the King
lived remained untouched.
Under the palace was an under
ground corridor connecting the
kitchen with the Kings quarters.
In preparation for the air raids,
that corridor had been converted
into an air shelter. About 100 men,
women and children we're gathered
in it when the bombs began to fall.
Practically all of them were killed
or wounded. The King came to the
scene of disaster to help the
wounded
The night preceding the attack,
Gen. Simovic, Prime Minister OF
Yugoslavia, had spent ins his office.
He left 1t in the morning to at
tend the wedding of his only daugh-
ter to young man who was leaving
that day to join the army. The we'd
ding was completed to the accom-
paniment of the explosion of Ger
man bombs. Gen. Simovic rushed
back to his Office to issue the first
orders for the defense of the coun-
try. Then he started toward De-
dinye, over which he saw sWarms
of German planes. There he found
King Peter in front of the main
building observing through blnocu-
lars the unequal fight between Yu-
goslav planes and German bombers.
There were 10 German bombers
against each Yugoslav fighter. The
King was serious, but calm and un-
afraid.
Shared Peoples Suffering.
Gen. Simovic, the war has start
ed" said the King.
Yes, your majesty. We have been
attacked and we will defend our
selves" answered the Prime Min
lister.
without saying another word. the
King shook hands firmly with Gen.
Simovic.
From that moment on, the King
shared the sufferings OF the people
and of the army. He slept on a
soldiers bed and ate soldiers food.
Even in places where he could have
had greater comforts he refused to
accept them. The supreme COM
mand was in Zvorik, in Bosnia.
There the King spent day follow
ing the course of operations. When
retreat became necessary, he went
on foot across the mist-enveloped
Bosnian Mountains. Toward the
end of this arduous trip, still cheer
full. the King turned to one OF his
tired companions and said: you see.
my friend, the sport which 1 love
can be useful in life"
On April IA, the Yugoslav govern
ment was compelled to reach the
conclusion that 1t was necessary to
leave the country in order to carry
on the struggle from abroad on the
side of the powerful allies OF Yugo-
slavia. The King and the govern
ment waited to board the planes.
There could not have been one per-
son among those present who did
not at that moment remember that
the grandfather and the father Of
the young King were compelled to
leave their country under similar
circumstances.
Sighted Enemy Planes.
Three Savoia Marchetti bombers
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