New-York tribune., 1919-09-16
D'Annunzio

What curious, medieval flavor there
is to Gabrielle d'Annunzio, whose latest
exploit is the placing of himself at the
head of an army of equally hot-headed
Italian soldiers, with which he has
seized Fiume. In all the war there is
no more romantic figure than that Of
this poet, playwright and novelist. His
facile imagination never invented a more
fascinating tale than might be written
from the narrative Of his own life.
Gabrielle d'Annunzio had lived life
rapidly and knew most of it's phases be-
fore the war broke, in 1914 All the
world knew his books, his poems and his
plays and the stories Of his affairs Of
the heart. A half century had passed
over his head, and a dreadful ennui
seized upon him. He would live one
more year, he said, then he would end
his life in some manner that would abso-
lutey destroy all trace of his body; he
would annihilate himself.
Before that year expired the storm Of
war burst and d'Annunzio was reborn.
From the first he was the leader of the
fight to bring Italy into the war against
Germany and Austria, or, primarily,
against Austria, his nations ancient
enemy. With pen and voice he waged
ceaseless campaign.
every day that goes by is lost to our
eternal glory" was the message that he
preached from countless platforms while
Italy was still hesitating. And he is
credited with having been the greatest
single force that turned that hesitation
into declaration of war against
AUSTRIA
D'Annunzio was among the first in the
field. A man past fifty he chose to be-
come an aviator, that service that COM
mands only youths hardest and bravest
The recital Of his exploits in the air reads
like chapter from volume of mod
ern "Knights of the Table Round"
Time and again he led his air squadron
in long raids over the Austrian base at
Pola and other Austrian cities Once,
while his comrades dropped bombs upon
Triest, he flew low in defiance of the
Once during a terrible hand to-hand
struggle with the Austrians on the
Carso he rushed among MS comrades, in
spring them with fiery words. Citations
and rewards were showered upon him.
When ltaly's armies broke under the
Austrian drive his voice was raised,
crying:
"All the light of thousand victories
does not equal the light of one day of
resistance. That which we have lost for
days shall be reganed for centuries"
He was wounded several times and
once was reported dead The Austrians
were said to have issued a large re-
ward for his capture or death.
When the dispute over liume arose
there could be only one stand for dan
nunzio, The city must belong to Italy,
peace conference compromises 70 the CON
trary notwithstanding. The fall Of
Premier Orlando was due in no small
part to the sentiment created by dan
nunzio's speeches and writings Then
suddenly comes the word that DAM
nunzio, at the head of an army, has
marched upon and seized Fiume for
Italy, thus violating the armistice terms.
The Italian 9th Army Corps, ordered
by Premier Nitti to intercept and dis
arm d'Annunzios force, refuses The
Premier has directed that his orders be
carried out at all costs. D'Annunzios
offence, into which his fiery patriotism
led him, is serious one. A lesser figure
might we'll suffer the extreme penalty
for it. The world will be inclined to
hope that the leniency that is the due of
genius will be meted out to the culprit.