Milford chronicle., 1919-10-10
UNCLE TED'S
BEDTIME STORIES
Current Events for the Children
and Grown-Ups, Tool
THE FIGHTING POET OF ITALY


Uncle Ted had been home for some
time before Jack and Ruth were seen
coming up the street toward the house.
They had been to the movies and were
talking away, forgetting everything
around them, when their Uncle ap-
peared at the front door and called:
Here they come. Two little kiddies
returning from the wild and woody
movies. l don't suppose you want to
hear a new fairy story now, do you?'
Il do!" answered Ruth as she ran
up the steps.
You know I'm always asking you
to tell us stories, Uncle Ted" was
Jacks answer
"All right then. I'll have to tell you
one before dinner tonight. Get your
wraps off and we will go into the front
room where I've started a nice fire
in the fireplace
When they were all settled, Uncle
Ted in a big arm chair, Ruth on one
arm of the chair and Jack on the uOor,
Uncle Ted began:
"Once upon a time, not so very long
ago, there was a poet in far OFF Italy.
He sat in his window looking out over
the blue waters of the Adriatic Sea
and dreamed dreams and wrote very
beautiful poetry Then the Great War
came and his country joined with Bel
gium England and France to fight
Germany just as our country did later
on. He didn't dream so much then for
he joined the Italian army and helped
his country and the Allies beat Ger
many. After the war was over men
from all the fighting countries met in
Paris to make the Peace Treaty 1t
was then that President Wilson start
ed trying to decide matters for every
country in the world instead of max
ing peace with Germany for the United
States and then coming home to at
te1d to the important work here. He
said that every little country should
have the right of 'self-determination'
which meant that many little countries
which have been included in other big
countries should be allowed to start
a country of their own. This meant
trouble for all. A people called Lith-
uanians started fighting Russia. Po-
land started her own country Another
country called CzechO-Slovakia was
started and still another by people
called Jugo-Slavs. These Jugo-Slavs
are made up of Serbians and some
people from Austria-Hungary and
other mixed races from that part of
the world
Where was the poet all this timer"
asked Ruth impatiently.
I'm coming back to the poet in a
little bit. Now when the peace con-
ference got to the claims of Italy the
Italians said they must have a city
called Fiume which had been captured .
from them by Austria years ago. They
said the people in this city were Ital-
ians and that it should belong to them. .
But President Wilson and some others
wouldn't let them have it and when
the treaty was signed Fiume was
given to JugO-SlaYia. This made some
of the Italians very angry but most
of them got over it, But the poet did
not get over it, He said, 'Fiume is
Italian and Italy must have it.. So he
called for volunteers and almost over
night he had an army and navy of
Italians with him. With the poet in
the lead they went right over to
Fiume. captured it and stayed there.
all to give orders to our navy. The
D'Annunzio, was so successful that
to take possession of other places
near Fiume on what is called the Dal-
matian coast This whole business
may mean bad war because Italy will
not only have the JugO-Slay troops
against her but the allies in addition
because she has broken the peace
treaty
rs the United States going to get
into it?" asked Jack.
THE United States has already got
ten mixed up in it," answered Uncle
Ted, "and some of the big Senators
in Washington are angry about it and
demand an explanation. We got mix
ed up in it this way. When it was
learned that the Italian forces were
going past Fiume and trying to take
other towns below, Rear Admiral An
drews. who is commanding the Amer
lean naval forces in the Adriatic, re-
ceived orders from Great Britain TO
land L. S. Marines on this coast at a
place called Trau to assist the Jugo-
Slavs in driving out the Italians. The
Navy Department in Washington gives
all orders to the Navy but they knew
nothing about it. The situation is
more serious now because Italy is
,ack of the poet and any action against
him Will be action against Italy and
might mean war
"Why didn't England or France land
roops instead Of ordering CURSE asked
Jack.
Because England at least didn't
want to get into trouble with Italy
and it looks like she thought it would
be easier to order Americans than to
90 herself. This sort OF thing just
shows what would be happening all
he time if the world club We're going
md we belonged to it. England acted
ust as though it were going, because
otherwise she would have no right at
III to give orders to our navy The
loet has said that he will fire on any
;hips that try to interfere with what
le is doing, and / don't blame him.
Il is the business of Italy and Jugo-
Slavia and we have no business mixing
I'D in it at all. Unless we get out
We may find ourselves at war with
tally"
Are the Senators going to do any
hing about it?" asked Ruth.
They dread to think how close our
Iarines and Navy men came to bring
ng war on the United States when
hey were landed to use force in driv-
ng out the Italians from Trau. They
will start an investigation Of the mat
er just as soon as they can"
Il think England and all OF them
ad better learn that we don't belong
o any world club and never will"
aid Jack.
Il hope you are right, Jack" said
lis uncle, "or we will be getting into
rouble like this all the time"