The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-01
'FIUME OR DEATH IS
D'ANNUNZIO SLOGAN
Poet Asserts He Will STAY
There Until City Is An
nexed to Italy.
HE APPEARS WORN OUT
Wears Is Medals for Valor
When He Is Interviewed
by Correspondent.
HE APPEARS WORN OUT


the correspondent of the Associated
Press and gave to him a statement ex-
dressing his unalterable determination to
hold Fiume until it is annexed to Italy.
I'VE are glad to see you in Fiume,"
he said. 1--WE are here to stay until
we are through with our task of hav-
ing Fiume annexed to Italy. We will not
leave under any consideration until our
object is accomplished
You see the enthusiasm of the people
OF Fiume to be annexed. You see that
thu people of Fiume are Italian. We
are most firm in our determination to
con Ninue until our aim is fulfilled. Our
motto remains to-day as since the be-
ginning of this enterprise, 'Fiume or
peatlNr
WV are willing to sacrifice all in
our effort to gain what we believe to
BE- just and right"
Had Attack of Neuralgia.
DAnnuzio appeared tired and worn
out and his face showed evidences of
fever. During the day he had suffered
from an attack of neuralgia and had
teen confined to his bed until late in
the afternoon. The last few days have
imposed the severest strain upon the
poet. He has been rising at $3.50 in
the morning to begin the work of
answering letters and drafting procla-
nations. This has been his task in ad-
dition to attending to staff work in con-
nection with the forces of occupation
under his command. One of his secre-
tarles said that D'Annunzio had received
500 persons Friday and that at the
close of every day he was exhausted.
At the interview D'Annunzio wore the
uniform of a Lieutenant-C Colonel. with
Ave rows of ribbons, including those of
sixteen medals for valor. The staff of
the poet consists mainly OF young men,
There are no officers in Fiume above
the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel Out of
nineteen officers on the staff of Dan
nunzio seven won the italian gold medal
for valor, of which only twenty-five were
bestowed during the war.
The soldiers displayed a most intense
admiration for D'Annunzio. One of them
said to the correspondent; "He is the
greatest man in the world. We are
willing to follow him to the death"
The chief of D'Annunzio's orderlies
said that the poet was a nard worker
and was able to do more than any four
officers. He was up early engaged in
writing and other work which his as
sistants were unable to do. He had a
number Of assistants. but they were only
boys compared with him.
Demonstrations occur practically every
evening in Fiume. Sometimes It is the
Alpine mountaineers. sometimes the
Arditi or Bersaglieri who get up,
parade and march through town sing
ing and cheering the D'Annunzio colors
The D'Annunzio troops are quartered in
the schools of the city and other public
buildings.
JuEo-SIav Signs Removed.
All vestiges of Jugo-Slav signs or
names have been removed, the hotel
where the Associated Press correspond
ent stayed was named ''Hotel de Deak"
before Fiume asked for annexation to
Italy. After the armistice and because
OF the fourteen points the name was
changed to Hotel Wilson. After Presi-
dent Wilson's declaration last April
against the handing over of Fiume to
Italy the name was again changed to
Hotel Orlando and this name was re-
tanned desDite Orlando's withdrawal
from the Ministry until the arrival Of
DAnnunzio's expedition. and the hosiery
then became the Hotel dAnnunzio."
There is an extensive av alton station
south of Fiume, near Suslak, where a
review took place yesterday. Many
hydro airplanes lowered over the city
to-day, attracting the attention of all
Humans. They were employed in the
transportation OF messages from Fiume
along the Istrian coast favorable to the
D'Annunzio enterprise.
French troops are occupying their bar
racks along the wharves without moles-
tation and French officers and privates
promenade the streets. apparently at
home. Big French camions pass through
the streets carrying poilus In horizon
blue uniform. showing marked contrast
to the gray and green uniforms of the
Italians.
Fiume is ablaze with flags, her streets
are filled with marching soldiers and her
air is vibrant with the confidence felt
by the men who, under the command
Of DAnnunzio, marched into the city
ltaly's flag, with that of the city OF
Fiume, predominates, the only foreign
banner being the French tricolor float
ing over the French naval headquarters.
remnants bearing the words viva
Italia" and d Annunzio's slogan. 'Fiume
or Death" mingle with the red, white
and green OF Italy and the violet, blue
and yellow OF Fiume. The correspondent
reached Fiume last night from Trieste
being buried in the coal in the tender
Of a locomotive for the last part of the
Journey to avoid guards along the way
Soldiers Are Everywhere.
Soldiers are everywhere in the city.
Motor trucks lurch through the streets
carrying armed men from one point to
another. and hundreds of troops may
be seen at any hour marching with the
greG test precision and with the str!ctest
military discipline, the whole scene be-
Ing similar to that to be encountered at
great Italian military post.
Men from all regiments, arms and
branches Of the service seem to be here.
Among them are thousands of veterans
OF the great war; majority of the men
wearing three or four service medals
AS well as those indicating they volun-
ieered for the fighting here. One lieu
ter@nt on D'Annunzio's STAFF wears six
wound stripes, While men who wear four
o. five stripes are frequently met
There Is an air of confidence every
where among the volunteers. who, wear
Ing their gray uniforms, look as much
az home as they would in Rome or Flor
ehce The uniforms of the men are
neoked with the regulation italian army
insignia, and military regulations are
enforced. Strictest attention is paid ia
me military salute, while most rigorous
rules govern those engaged In guard
duty. Two companies of Alplnists
passed down a street to-day ON their
way 10 mount guard about the city. and
az they marched the men sang patriotic
songs
DAnnunZio's headquarters are estab-
'hh'd IN the Governors palace. VIII 'ch
mas been converted into veritab'e gel-
,'aI star building. filled with different
'paNment~, The private office Of The