The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-03-28

Fiume well as other sections Of the Dalma-
tan 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 tho citizens Of Italian descent In the
town. directly accused the French Of backing the
Jugo-Slavs. while Vice Admiral Cagni Of the
Italian navy. commanding the port Of Pola, few
miles up the coast from Fiume. repeated the accu-
sation and strengthened 1t.
"The Jugo Savs," 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 troops 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 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 Adriatc. No one, except the
most impressionable pretended to believe the situ
alton would develop into a real war. The solution
to be some kind Of compromise to be made
at the peace conference.
Thomas Nelson Page. American ambassador at
Rome was of the opinion that satisfactory
promise solution 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 to 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 were familiar with the problem expressed vr-
tually the same beef-that Italy Is entitled to
very fair consideration Of her Istran and Dama.
tIan claims, but that these claims will probably
not be fully awarded.
There was some talk In semioficial quarters of
an internationalized Fiume kind Of free port
serving Hungary, the Balkans and the Jstrian Den.
insula is the transshipment of overseas freight
Prize Worth Seeking
Ftume is a prize worth striving for. Whatever
flag finally files from its government Offices will
wave a town famous for the beauty of its
buildings and the amplitude of its docking facil.
ties.
At a cost Of more than 100000 the Hun.
garans built magnificent stone wharves along
nearly half a mile Of waterfront, where the big
ocean going ships can tie up and unload. The
docks face the principal business street of the
city, On the one hand you have a forest Of masts
and 800 feet away across paved street, is q vista
Of stone business houses and hotels
In the city there are $1,000 people. hundreds Of
whom speak seven languages as a matter Of every
day routine. italian. French German Hungarian
and English are the principal tongues. The other
Balkan states including the Croatian.
The Italian tongue. however, is admittedly the
common language Of Fiume. for the reason that a
majority OF the citizens claim italian ancestry
The mayor Of the town claims that $1,000 OF the
$1,000 inhabitants are Italian. and pointed 10 the
fact that the schools Of the city are Italian a
well rs the inscriptions on 90 per cent Of the
gravestones All Of which he considered as fair
proof Of the italian character Of the place which
had been preserved through centuries Of Austrian
rule