The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1919-03-28

Fiume, as well as other sections of the Daima-
tian coast that rocky stretch of country that is To-
Gated on the Adriatic shore opposite Italy.
DR.. Antonio Grossich, acting president of the
Fiume international council political group
elected by the citizens of Italian descent in the
town, directly accused the French of backing the
Jugo-Slavs, while Vice Admiral Cagni off the
Italian navy. commanding the port of Pola, few
miles up the coast from Fiume repeated the accu-
sation and strengthened 1t.
'"rhe Jugo-Slavs," Admiral Cagni said, "are peo-
pies that formed large portion of the old Aus
TRAN army. They remained faithful to Austria
until the final defeat. They fought Italy to the
last ditch Now, these same troops are being
armed by the French against Italy. We under
stand the move perfectly"
Other Italian officials of lesser rank repeated
the assertion in one form or another.
This. in brief was the kernel of the problem.
not only of Fiume but OF most OF the lands along
the Balkan side OF the Adratc. No one, except the
most impressionable pretended to believe the stu
alton would develop into real war. The solution
was to be some kind of compromise to be made
at the peace conference.
Thomas Nelson Page. American ambassador Mt
Rome was of the opinion that a satisfactory COM
promise ISOLATION could be arrived at But he as
serted that in his belief, the Italian people would
fight for what they considered their rights in case
the Italian claims 20 the eastern Adriatic shore
were ignored
The ambassador did not mean that the peace
conference would award Italy every inch of lands
claimed in this region. Other American diplomats
who we're familiar with the problem expressed ylr-
fually the same belief-that Italy is entitled to
very fair consideration of her Istrian and Dama-
tian claims but that these claims will probably
not be fully awarded
There was some talk in semioffical quarters of
an internationalized Fiume--a kind of free port
serving Hungary, the Balkans, and the Jstrian PEN
insula is the transshipment of overseas freight.
Prize Worth Seeking.
Ffume is n prize worth striving for Whatever
flag finally flies from Its government offices will
wave over a town famous for the beauty of its
buildings and the amplitude OF Its docking faciIi
ties.
At a cost of more than S4O,O0OOOO the Hum
garians built magnificent stone wharves along
nearly half mile of waterfront, where the big
ocean-going ships can tie up and unload. The
docks fnce the principal business street of the
city On the one hand you have a forest of Tnasts
and 800 feet away across paved street, is aayista
Of stone business houses and hotels.
In the city there are 5000 people, hundreds Of
whom speak seven languages as matter Of every
day routine. Italian. French. German. Hungarian
and English are the principal tongues The other
languages are the more common tongues OF the
Balkan states, Including the Croatlan
The Italian tongue. however. is admittedly the
common language Of Ffume, for the reason that a
majority of the citizens claim Italian ancestry.
The mayor cf the town claims TINT 10000 Of the
56Oe0At A-l.ss Italian. and pointed 10 the
fac Luz nespf the city are Italian, as
WI fe haves on 90 per cent Of the
ID ertl and her. he considered as fair
81 lis they liked it . sne pace wien
I'll d almost the same purpose xs szaaStt'sae
rus said to have been a great kInnslsZ
gtsusufgs TO the soldiers. HI befstea,, -