Evening journal., 1919-09-18

Dispatches from Paris announce that
gabrielle D'Annunzio and Peppino Carl
oaldl, grandson Of the famous llaiisli n'l
Liberator, have landed in Fiume az sIe
head OF a voluntary heavily arineo oon-
tlnguent OF soldiers, determined 10 ui9
rather than TO see their irreuentl
brethren placed under the yoke OF ihe
Croato-Sloyene hybrid comoinstion
created by international finance intrigue
Tho expedition was effected IN contra-
rentlon 10 the orders OF the Italian gov
ernment. who Is sollcitious 10 aNolu
grave combinations. II VIII be OF IN
ieresl AZ this iuncture TO give a brlet
blographie sketch af this modern rein
carnatlon Of Garibaldi.
Gabrielle D'Anunnzio, the great Italian
poet and novelist, was the ihouerii
prophet Of the recent war, IN words OF
prs "a the soldiers OF Italy. lie ad-
dressed them and then marched WIN
lhem 10 nght the enemy. One OF the
italian generals has said that nothing
,yas more effective in rallying again the
Italian army and saving II from COM
nIete disaster during the Teutonic inva-
SION of last October than the impetus
ana example Of D'Annunzio. The fire
~ hts soul had lransfused courage into
The italian soldiers and had strength
ened their determination determina-
lion which manlfests itself In heroic
deeds and indomitable bravery. This
Is a new phase OF D'Annunzio's complex
character, and this grim war with It's
attendant horrors Is revealing TO the
world the real man in D'Annuuzio.
As a novelist. D'AnnunzlO started his
career under the influence Of the worst
kind OF German thought. This Germou
propaganda he presented 10 the ltal-
fans wrapped mp IN the drapery OF
Greek and Roman classlcism. In "ll
placere,n "Le Vergini dello Rocce," "ll
Trionfo della Morte" and other novels
or the Kind. there IS seen lurking in
the background the spectral and un-
balanced figure Of Nletzsche. The doc
irine OF the superman Is 20 be found
there also, presented with the skilful
charm Of a consummate magician. The
poison which the Italian youth here
drank. thinking It 70 be genuine wine
was offered In a jewelled chalice held
aristocratically In the white and deli
cate fingers Of a great master.
In reading D'AnnunziO's historical es-
say "La Vita di Cola dl Rienzo," a work
little known outside OF Italy. one Is
struck by {he pride and arrongance
with which the democratic leader OF
the fourteenth century Is treated. Dan
unzio takes occasion 10 describe the
common people as the Great Beast
which must on all occasions be de-
spised, whipped and crushed down; rep
resentativcs in Parliament are described
rs worthless fools in words that con
not be translated.
4 short time before the war DAN
nunzio went through a spiritual ex-
perience. Then. while in exile in France,
~ met a wonderful character, a noble
.nd simple man, who made a deep
spiritual and moral impression on him,
but D'AnnunziO soon realized that II
he should yield 10 him. his habits OF
life. his friends. his past works, would
all be as naught.
,ihen the Huns invaded Belgium and
France. D'Annunzio felt that his first
duty was 20 help the country that had
given him hospitality. He welcomed
he Italian legion. which early in The
war volunteered, under the leadership
OF the nephews OF Garibaldi, TO fight