Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-10-03
|JUG0-SLAV TROOPS
FIRE At AMERICANS
ON ITALIAN VESSEL.
UNITED STATES OFFICERS ON
BOARD EiPRO WHEN SERB BAT.
TERiES ON DALMATiAN COAST
OPEN ATTACK WITHOUT WARN
ING.


Rome, Oct, &.-The Italian steame
Epiro, with POO Italian troops anC
some American officers on boasd
, bound for Cattaro, is said in Il dis
patch from Bari to the Tempo 10 have
been shot at by Iugo-Slay regular
troops in the channel between kou
dom Island ana the Arsa promOntory
One Italian was wounded The
Epiro, the dispatch added, made on a.
full speed and escaped further attack
Adyices from Fiume report consid
cradle hardships among the people
from the ettec, Of the blockade The
dock workers are idle. and many OF
the shops are closing for lack of sup
| plies.
u. S. Force Prevents War.
Washington, Oct Intervention
| by the American naval forces at Tran.
| Dalmatia, prevented bloodshed which
| would perhaps have resulted in a
state OF actual war between Italy and
Jugo-Slavla,' according to Il report
! from Admiral Knapp, COMMANDING
American naval forces in European
waters, transmitted 10 the senate yes.
terday by Secretary Daniels.
American sailors were not landed,
Admiral Knapp said, until American
and Italian officers sent to Tral had
induced Italian raiders to withdraw
after they had surprised and captured
the small Serbian garrison
U. S. Tars Police Town.
One Italian officer and three men
were left behind, and the American
blueJackets were sent ashore 10 pro
tect them and police the town until
Serbian troops could arrive, the ad-
miral said
The Americans acted, Admiral
Knapp continued, at the request CT
the Italian admiral in command on
the Dalmatian coast, and the fore q
with withdrawn Immediately after the /
Serbians took charge
Meantime the commander Of the .
Italian raiders was ordered to trial by .
courtmartial by the Italian admiral. .
and the latter thanked the American
commander for sending forces to
Trau
F'C'ClkCu oCIIOuS SldSI.
The whole affair was most credit.
ably handled and the prompt action
Of Capt Boyd. in my opinion, un-
doubtedly prevented very serious
incident which might have resulted
in open warfare between Italians and
Serbians,' said Admiral Knapp.
THE landing was for the protection
of the offending Italians left in Trau
until adequate Serbian forces could
arrive to preserve order
The fact that Italian authority r.
quested action of Capt. BOYD and that
he was thanked by Admiral Milo for
his action and thai Admiral Milo has
brought the offending Italian officer
o trial by court-martial all go to
show that the raid was an isolated
act of hotheads, done in defiance Of
Italian authority, and that Americans
acted in cooperation with Italians to
'eStore the situation, That no seri.
Jus results happened is due to the
prompt and efficient action Of Ameri-
AN forces Had they not so acted
here would almost inevitably have
been bloodshed, which would perhaps
ave resulted in a state OF actual war
between Italy and JugoElavia. owing
o the intensity Of feeling existing
over the DaImatian question"
D'knnunzio's War Plans.
Fiume, Tuesday Sept 30-Gahiele
D Annnnzio'S stan has laid plans for
A surprise attack on Dalmatia but it
$ said it is not intended to carry them
nto execution-that they were made
imply Tor fancy"
Rear Admiral Andrews, head OF the
american naval forces, will retain his
headquarters at Abba2ia. The cruiser
pittsburgh Is 8tll at Spalato.