Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-10-01
(By Associated Press.)

10y ASSOCIdI6Q ItSS.J
Fiume, Sunday, Sept. 2S-Gabriele
D'Annunzio, the poet leader of the
Italian forces in Fiume, received the
correspondent of The Associated
Press. this afternoon and gave to
him a statement expressing his I'M
alterable determination to hold
Fiume until it is annexed to Italy
1--WE are glad to see you in
Fiume," he told the American cor
respondent. 1--WE are here to stay
until we are through with or task
of having Fiume annexed to Italy.
We will not leave under any consid-
Grafton until our object is accom-
plished.
"You see the enthusiasm of the
people to be annexed. You see that
the people of Fiume are Italian. We
are most firm in our determination
to continue until our aim is fulfill
ed Our motto remains today as
since the beginning of this enter
prise ,--"Fiume or death.
"We are willing to sacrifice all
in our effort to gain what we be-
lieve to be just and right.
D'AnnunZio appeared tired and
worn out. The last few days have
imposed the severest strain upon
him. He has been rising at $3.50 IN
the morning to commence the work
of answering letters and drafting
proclamations. This has been his
task in addition to attending to staff
work in connection with the forces
of occupation under his command.
One of his secretaries 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-colonel,
with five rows of ribbons, including
those Of sixteen medals for valor.
ly of young men. There are no Of
The staff of the poet consists main
ficers in Fiume above the rank OF
Northumberland.
The soldiers displayed most in
tense admiration for D'Aannunzlo.
Ablaze With Flags.
Fiume is ablaze with flags, her
streets are filled with marching SOL
diers and her air is vibrant with the
confidence felt by the men, who un
der the command of D'Annunzio
marched into the city and still fir
ly hold it.
Italy's flag, with that Of the city
of Fiume, predominant, the only for
eign banner being the French tri-
color floating over the French naval
headquarters. remnants bearing the
words "vici Italia" and Captain D.
Annunzio's slogan, "Fiume or death
mingled 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 loco
motive for the last part of the jour
ney to avoid guards along the way.
Soldiers are everywhere in the
city, motor trucks lurch through the
streets, carrying men from one point
to another and hundreds of troops
may be seen at any hour marching
with the greatest precision and with
the ,estrictest military discipline, the
whole scene being similar to that to
be encountered at a great Italian
military post. Men from all regi-
Rnents arms and branches of the
$ervice 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 we'll as those indicating they vo
lunteered for the fighting here. One
lieutenant on the staff of Captain
D.Annunzio, wears six wound stripes