The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-19
FIUME

Gabrielle DAnnunzho, the Italian poet, playwright and avn
ator' has turned buccaneer and seized Fiume with its port, and
IS holding 1t against all corners. This may produce a critical sit
uation among the allies, who, until three of the great powers sign
the treaty, have no organization and no force to compel obedience
y tner wl1hes. Italy is making a show Of roofing out DAN
nunzio, but the world knows that Italy would rejoice to see him
get away with the loot. The Italians in Fiume are with him to
a man; so are 10000 soldiers who accompanied his expedition.
lie is in a stronger position than many think. HI is doing things
while the peace conference is dawdHng and killing time over con-
ventionahtieS and diplomacy. This reminds one of a section
foreman on a railroad, who, when a bridge was knocked down,
got out his gang and put it back again so the trains could run
over it In the evening, when the superintendent came along in
his private car, asking about the bridge, he was told that it was
fixed Did the engineering department furnish you with plans?
he asked. The foreman replied, There's a young man inside the
house making a picture of the bridge. | don't know Il the picture is
finished, but the bridge is, and the trains are running over il" The
section foreman believed in doing things, not in dawdlng over
them. Same with the poet He knows that he is giving concrete OBJ
lectivity to the latent though ardent wishes of his countrymen
He is doing what they want done, and any ministry that tries to
stop him, or undo what he has done, will be %overthrown by the
people. If trouble once starts the throne itself may be over
turned. Italy kept out of the war until she could make such a.
trade as she desired. This was done in London, but the peace
conference refused to confirm it, and the Italian delegates with
drew and returned home to receive the plaudits Of the people
Gabrielle knows what he is doing, His own government dare not
modest him, and the allies cannot. He is safe for the time being
and if he gets away with it he will do something new in history
His chances of success depend on the weakness Of the allies.
Our own senate is holding them helpless, and they can do
nothing. He may lose, eventually, but he has at least done what
his countrymen want done, and anyone who attempts to undo it
will have a fight on his hands which will mean civil war
The United States is the great criminal in this issue, and
those who are delaying the signing of the treaty must answe for
it before the courts of earth or heaven.
Revolution in Italy will mean revolution all over Europe.
and there is no telling where the debacle will end. Grief may be
brought home to us, and the %retribution would not be unjust.
We have sinned and are shining grievously every moment we de-
lay signing the treaty or disposing Of it in some way
Since art has taken such a prominent part in Italy, Puccini
might raise a force and seize Danzig, If he is as graspinp as he
= Tor ROYALTIES on his operas sung in this country, he would not
be satisfied with anything less than the entire Adriatic coast
together with the lonian islands, This would give Italy all she
wants, and satisfy at least one country. The prospects for the
future are not bright. The little poet has presented a problem,
and whols going to solve it? Italy cannot, for the reasons Given
and no other country can without a war on Italy, which would
mean another world war.