Jugoslovenski Rotar
the present Yugoslavia. The Croats united with the Hungarians in a personal union at the beginning of the 12th century and this union, which afterwards became a real one, was never advantageous to the Croats, continued until 1918. The Slovenes covering the northernmost part of Yugoslavia (about one million people) soon fell under the rule of the Germans. The Serbs had their own State covering approximately the eastern half of the present Yugoslavia. Their State flourished until the battle of Kosovo in 1389 when the Turks conquered Serbia, both emperors the Turkish and the Serb losing their lives in the battle. The Serbs remained under the Turkish domination for almost 500 years and after a heroic struggle were the first to regain complete independence. During the world war the Serbian Army covered itself with glory in an unequal combat with the forces of the Central Powers.
The Croats, by the unanimous vote of their »Sabor« (Parliament) severed their centuries long relations with Hungary and Austria on October 29th, 1918, and entered into a union with Slovenia and other provinces which seceded from Austria-Hungary. A national Council as supreme authority for these lands was then formed in Zagreb and the union with Serbia and Montenegro decided upon. This union was acomplished on December ist 1918. |
Education. The education in Yugoslavia is compulsory for all children until the age of 14. According to statistics of 1931-32 there were 8.000 elementary schools with 1,250.000 children. Yugoslavia has further about 180 secondary schools of the »gymnasium« type with 80.000 pupils.
Universities exist in Belgrade with 6 faculties and about 8.000 students, in Zagreb with 7 faculties and about 5.000 students and in Ljubljana with 5 faculties and about 1.700 students. A branch faculty of Law of the Belgrade university exists in Subotica, while a branch faculty of philosophy of Belgrade university exists in Skoplje.
There are also academies of Art and Music in Zagreb, a Conservatory of Music in Ljubljana, a High School of Commerce in Zagreb and various other institutions of Learning.
Currency. The legal currency in Yugoslavia is the Dinar which is divided into 100 paras. The value of the Dinar is roughly 250 Dinars to one pound sterling.
Commerce and industry. Being a mainly agricultural country Yugoslav exports are chiefly represented by agricultural and forest products, whereas the imports are chiefly represented by manufactured goods and machinery. Since the war, however, many industries have sprung up in Yugoslavia, mainly textile and timber industries.
Mining. Yugoslavia is very rich in ore of every kind, although the largest part of deposits are not yet exploited. Since the war there has been a great progress in this respect and we shall mention only a few of the larger mining concerns: The copper mines in Bor, Lead and Zinc mines in Trepéa, Lead mines in MeZice, Gold Mines in TroSnik апа Ва» kovi¢i, Coal Mines in Trbovlje. There are also large deposits of iron and bauxite, some of which are exploited. Coal, chiefly brown coal and lignite, are available in large quantities.
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