SERVIAN OFFICERS WHO KILLED THEIR KING.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1917, Page 7

SERVIAN OFFICERS WHO KILLED THEIR KING.

J OVERTAKEN BY FATE. i Fate has at last fallen on that band of mllifary regicides who some fifteen years ago broke into the royal palace at Belgrade at night and assassinated King Alexander and the Servian Queen Draga (states a despatch from the Island of Corfu), Three high officers have recently been shot after military court-martial. ' Three more are awaiting death sentence; seven officers, including a general, have received life sentences, and some thirty officers have received lesser sentences of from one to five years. While tiie outside world was shocked, the band of assassins enjoyed at home a certain immunity, and even glory, for having rid the country of a dissolute ruler and his gypsy Queen, for the name of Draga had been well known in the concert halls of Emolu before she had the luck to win a king and crown. The murder clique remained in control of the army until after the present war, wiien Prince Alexander became regent, owing to the age of King Peter. One of his first acts was to restore to active service a great number of officers retired by the murder clique. This resulted in the clique plotting his death, hut the conspiracy was discovered. More than forty high, officers Were tried as a Tesult of the conspiracy. Those condemned to death include Colonels Dimitrivitch, Milanovitch, Toutzovitch. Lazitch. Lieut.-Col. Vesniteh, and Commander Vulovitch. General Pop•vitch heads the list of those condemned to life imprisonment.