Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 01.djvu/573

BELGIUM 473 BELISABIUS over contested Moresnet, over part of Prussian Moresnet, and the circles of Eupen and Malmedy on the Prussian frontier. Germany was required to give a ten-year option for the delivery of 8,- 600,000 tons of coal annually to pay all debts incurred by the country to her allies up to Nov. 11, 1918, and to restore her art treasures. A decision of the Peace Conference June 24, 1919, allotted to Belgium the first payment from the German indemnities amounting to $500,- 000,000. Her condition at the signing of the armistice was almost unspeakable. Unquestionably no conquered country in the whole history of modern warfare had so suffered at the hands of a foe. All of her important cities, with the sole ex- ception of Antwerp and Brussels, had been devastated, and the whole country, despite German promises and protesta- tions, had been systematically harried, exploited, and ruined. An idea of the ex- tortions of the Germans may be gained from the fact that the monstrous initial war tax of 40,000,000 francs imposed on the hopelessly paralyzed nation in 1915 was gradually raised to 60,000,000 and an attempt was made to increase it to 75,000,000 in 1918. Special taxes of 50,- 000,000 francs on Antwerp, 20,000,000 on Liege, 2,000,000 on Tournai were im- posed. The country was bled, starved, destroyed, and but for the heroic work of the American Relief Commission would have become utterly disintegrated by the close of the war. For months after the signing of the armistice there seemed little prospect of a normal return to common trade con- ditions. Of her sea-going ports only one — Antwerp — was not ruinously damaged. By the end of the year a few articles of the foremost necessity began to come in. The losses to the railway system alone during the four years of war were $275,- 000,000. There is little doubt in sum- ming up the whole record that Ger- many regarded the stubborn resistance of the heroic little Belgian army at the outset as the reason for her failure to reach the French capital, and that the severity of her treatment of the prostrate country was the result of rage and re- sentment. See World War. Elections were held in December, 1919. As a result the new Chamber was con- stituted as follows: Catholic, 77; So- cialists, 67; Liberals, 33; Flemish "Acti- vists," 3; Middle Class Representatives, 2; Representatives of Combatants, 3; Nationalist Party, 1. The Socialists gained 27 seats, while the Catholics lost 24, and the Liberals lost 12. The Olympic games were held in Ant- werp in August, 1920. BELGRADE, a city and capital of Serbia, on the right bank of the Danube in the angle formed by the junction of the Save with that river, consists of the citadel or upper town, on a rock 100 feet high; and the lower town, which partly surrounds it. Of late years buildings of the European type have multiplied, and the older ones suffered to fall into decay. The chief are the royal and epis- copal palaces, the government buildings, the cathedral, barracks, bazars, National theater, and various educational institu- tions. Pop. about 91,000. It manufac tures carpets, silk stuffs, hardware, cut- lery, and saddlery; and carries on an active trade. Being the key of Hungary, it was long an object of fierce contention between the Austrians and the Turks» remaining, however, for the most part, in the hands of the Turks until its evacu- ation by them in 1867. As a result of the treaty of Berlin (July, 1878) it be- came the capital of Serbia. In the World War (1914-1918) Belgrade suffered heav- ily from bombardments by the Austrians in 1914-1915-1916. The Austrians cap- tured it twice and were driven out by Serbian troops, but with the help of Ger- mans and Bulgars held it from the third year of the war to the close. See Serbia ; World War. BELGRAVIA, a fashionable residence district in the S. part of the W. end of London, bordering on Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace Gardens. The word is derived from Belgrave Square, in the center of that quarter, and has its name from one of the titles of the Duke of Westminster, who owns the whole dis- trict. BELIAL, a word which by the trans- lators of the English Bible is often treated as a proper name, as in the ex- pressions "son of Belial," "man of Be- lial." In the Old Testament, however, it ought not to be taken as a proper name, but it should be translated wickedness or worthlessness. To the later Jews Belial seems to have become what Pluto was to the Greeks. BELISARIUS, the great general of the Roman Emperor Justinian, was a na- tive of Illyria. He commanded an expe- dition against the King of Persia about 530; suppressed an insurrection at Con- stantinople; conquered Gelimer, King of the Vandals, and put an end to their do- minion in Africa; was recalled and hon- ored with a triumph. In 535, Belisarius was sent to Italy to carry on a war with the Goths, and took Rome in 537. Beli- sarius recovered Rome from Totilus in 547, and was recalled the next year. He was afterward sent against the Huns.