A FAMOUS FORTRESS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1929, Page 7

A FAMOUS FORTRESS

NOW A FLOWER GARDEN. A high, precipitous hill that used to glower out over the Danube River, with its angry guns pointed at a neighbouring State, has been converted into a flower garden, a playground for little children ,a refuge 'for those who want to sit quietly in the shade of well-kept trees, and a rendozous for friends (writes “R. H. M.” in the Christian Science Monitor.) That is Kale Magdan, the famous fortress of Belgrade. It is a steep cliff pushing sharply into the angle made by the juncture of the Save and Danube Rivers. At its outermost tip it still bears massive old buildings, sheer wall and barricades, and they have withstood many fierce attacks. Centuries ago, after the Turks had overrun the Balkans and defeated the Serbs at the battle of Kossovo, snng ever since by sad Serbion ministrels, they pressed on to the Danube and made the Belgrade fortress their stronghold and the fitting symbol of their oppressive power.

UNITED WITH HISTORY. But finally, after hundreds of years the Serbs won it back, and it became a rallying point for them in their, continuous struggles for liberation. It became the symbol of the might of freedom in the struggle against despotism Little by little Serbia expanded her borders and increased her power until she came into conflict with Austria. And it was just at this point that the World War began. Belgrade was the first fortress to be nttacked. It held out for many months, and stood massive and lofty as a Serbian Gibraltar but in the end succumbed. Serbia was overrun and occupied. But now all that is history. Serbia has been converted into Jugo-Slavia, her boundaries have been pushed far from Belgrade in every direction, and the old fortress no longer has any border to watch. No more can it glare at a foreign empire, nor. does it need to serve as a refuge against-the Turks. Vo the whole atmosphere of the place has beefi changed. Over the top of the hill is spread one of the most beautiful small parks in the Balkans. It has meandering walks, flourishing -green grass, an abundance of trees, pleasant retreats and. a large variety of flow-

On one side it overlooks the Save far below, as Riverside Drive, does the Hudson. From the other side can he seen the Danube. Behind ' stretch the streets of the Jugo-Slav capital, the new Belgrade. One long boulevard starts in the park -itself and runs almost straight for miles to the other ertd of the town. It passes, near- the cathedral, the main hotel, and the university ,and'ends on another-hill near a cluster of massive new hospital build ings. It is well paved and well lighted and further, it is daily swept and washed. , '< CONVERTED INTO PARK. , Midway between the ends there branches ofl.to the right a'broad new street, lined by scores of new, large official State buildings. &ot far from the place where these streets meet is the new palace of the King which, is a large, semi-circular building embracing a beautifully kept lawn and flower garden, opening on to the main boulevard. On the left runs another wide newly-paved street, passing the ne\v Parliament House, the enormous new university building for the technical depertinent ,and the new Students’ Home built by the King.

A fortress converted into a park and n village transformed into beautiful city—perhaps these are rightly symbolic of Serbia that has been changed into Jugo-Slavia.