Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-29
D'ANNUNz|O's OWN STORY
OF HIS COUP At F|UME
by Mystic Call OF Exalted
Patriotism.
READY TO DEFY WORLD
Learned aThat Rnvcning Horde of
Croats Planned to Sweep, Down
With Fire and Sword and Ravayc
Italian Port OF I'iume.
ny GAnnIELE p,Ayy,,Nz,o

was on the night OF September IL.
when. as / lay FRUSTRATED in bed at
Venice, devoured by fever. vision
came to me-a vision OF beloved
Fiumc.
1t was '.,rystlc call OF exalted
patriotism IT babe me arise and lead
a crusade for the rescue of that city.
No time must be lost. for | learne ed
that on tho 18th. raveninS hordcs Of
IRE and sword and ravage wherever
love and loyalty to Mother Italy were
found within the confines of Fiume.
"nlch. today, is the holy mecca or all
true Italians.
SO. su,nmonns handful OF fol-
lowers. explained that the hour of
sounded and we set out upon the great
pilgrimage OF patriotism.
some have described our odyssey as
the fiamboyant. glory seeking ad-
venture OF mad poet There are
poor, shallow spirits without vision.
Neither for myself nor for my heroic
followers IS this an adventure. vain
hid for glory, or a piratical romance.
IL is divine mission. no less pure
and holy than the c!usadcs OF ancient
From the humblest grenadier to the
leaders, my forces are all inspired
with the same unquenchable fire.
AT first 1 had thought of leading
volunteers on the perilous quest, but
! saw at once that this would not
that the call which reused from
my sick bed had come TO all Italy. So
decided TO set forth almost alone.
preaching the gospel OF Fumes de-
iiverance as I went along and gather
ing from bivouacs and camps along the
road an army Of patriots in the cause
OF right and justice-an army com
posed by regular Italian troops rep
resentative of the entire moohe r
country.
Roynl Army Followed Him.
Mo {,,l,
vision clear. II was the Italian royal
army which closed ranks in my wake
as ! marched TO F>iume. 1t is the
holy city o. t'iumc under my com
mand. in defiance of all enemies
An know their leader viii not fall
them n tho hour o. peril All know
j am ready to die a. moments notice
In the service OF great cause
What Is death TO me, who have al
ready. braved II two score and more
Lines? What Is the value OF this poor
crust. my body.
When Flume is definitely won. am
going to ny from Rome 20 Tokyo. hop
ing devoutty that typhoon will end
my Ire. far out in the Indian Ocean.
hithcr: nor did death deter me- Glory
is mine already. and death Il know too
Veil
This same spirit .mbues my heroic
followers. who have signed their lives
into my hands and confided their dcs-
TIMES into my Keeping.
this sacred so!l--l!ving or dead this
SOIL is our b!dinG place.
From Venice / hurried 20 Lonchl the
home of the martyr who died in the
cause Of Italy thirty years ago. There.
for a moment, l dcspaired. for the
auto trucks thn; had been promised
were not OH hand.
Seized Sufficient Trucks.
Blu; courage famed again. My forces
seized sufficient trucks and-forwards
again! Even ! myself had not ex-
pectcd the expedition would be SO easy;
| had looked for resistance and feared
bloodshed en- route. particularly at the
hands OF the allies.
God be thanked. we were not op-
posed by our former brothers in arms
The news OF our progress few ahead
Of us like wildhre. harangued troops
along the road. and all joined my
Triumphant column. When We reached
heels. In II l counted regiment of
infantry. two battalions OF arditi
aGsk troops of a The Regime BTigsas
equipped and two squadrons OF ar
They had miracuously sprung up
from the ground as though called
forth by the stamping OF nagician's
foot
once a general barred our way, say
who and what are you? Whittier
are you going? 1 am your superior"
Il am going to Fiume. where today
e.,
! responded. IF you like, go TO the
rear and take our dust: but stand
aside
Meeting With Pittulasn.
That was all. for forward again
ceeded by glorious dawn. we came
10 halt at the gates of Fiume. There
General Pittuiasa. commanding the
Italian troops. was awaiting US with
an outraged air.
-What-you who are so wise are
doing this?" he asked.
Don't you understand the gravity
OF the situationy'
II am the master here. and am
going to pass" l told him, disdatning
the handy Of words.
why, my troops will fire on you"
he said. whcreupon and all who heard
him burst into peals of laughter.
let 4a haxs vf nepsd in r sh' Hoh aG
troops II they want target l invite
them to aim at my war wound. my
9aa ns or y gon staf for W.
Not O shot was heard
The entry into Fiume was the SUI
preme moment Of my life. Not won
vast welcoming throng that did not
bear laurel branch in token OF honor
and love and gratitude.
Through the delirious crowds OF in
habitants we pushed on, then we
reached, surrounded and entered the
palace. There I at once undertook the
arduous task of distributing my troops
and putting into action plan of de-
tense which I had personally devised.
Troops of Allies Withdraw.
BY the 18th of September nothing re-
manned for us to do but wait. All
allied troops withdrew peacefully. ii
summoned the Italian Admiral Casa
nova who is an old friend of mine /
asked him to surrender and then inn
prisoned him, later sending him home
with safe conduct He thanked me
for his capture. saying:
You have thus saved me from the
supreme anguish Of having to fire on
my Italian brothers"
Fiume now is ours. Nothing but
death shall dislodge us. The PROPOSE
recognize Fiume as a small independ.
ent state is quite unacceptable. / will
oppose It with all force If the situa-
ton warrants II.