The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-19
ENTERS FIUME IN
GARB OF PEASANT
First American Woman to Do
So Since Its Occupation
by D'Annunzio.
KEPT IDENTITY SECRET
Witnessed Considerable Dis
: order in Streets-Town
Mass of Soldiers.
specia, cdo'e Despatch TO The Sun and the
Public Ledger.

Special Ca6le Despatch TO The Sun and the
Public Ledger.
Copyright, 1919. oil rights reserved.
LONDON, Oct 1s.-without stockings
but without cold feet / arrived in
Fiume because It was necessary for me
to disguise myself as a woman of the
peasant class to pass five sentry posts.
! wore a blue cotton dress and a gray
woollen shawl furnished by the family
of an Italian naval officer with con-
nections in New York city. I left Rome.
where 1 had been engaged in the COL
lection of material for an article about
the coming consistory. I went in the
regular passenger train from Rome to
Trieste. where I stopped at the Hotel
Savoia.
In n motor car containing vegetable
supplies for the Italian army / stopped
at a town twenty miles from Fiume
where l boarded freight train that
took me to D'Annunzios sentres. l was
carrying provisions and was enabled
20 supply the soldiers with food as
passed through their lines
Within a few yards of the city
found myself a woman alone. The
entire town, especially around the rail-
road station, seemed to be one mass of
soldiers, but I managed to elude them
and crossed the street to the Hotel
Wilson, which presented the appear
ance of having been the target of in
habitants who wished to show their dis
like for the American failure to sup
port Italy.
Disorder I'm the Streets.
7 had been refused food at two restau-
rants in Trieste, so I knew that this
feeling would be intensified in Fiume
I did not dare to go very far into the
city. II lost my way there was the
added danger of my having to ask for
help in English. and therefore disclosing
my identity. So 1 remained within
short distance Of the station. There
was a great deal Of disorder among the
people The first fight occurred as
was approaching the Hotel Europe, be-
tween an italian and a Jugo-Slav. end
ing in the latter's utter defeat. I stopped
10 listen to a discussion carried on be-
tween a group of men congregated Just
outside the hotel. While do not under
stand Italian very well, discerned that
the name Wilson was mentioned re-
peatedly. One man gesticulated wildly
and drew his hand across his neck with
a motion that did not carry with ii
esteem for our Chief Executive.
All the city needed was an array of
bunting on the buildings and an ex-
preston of cheerfulness on the faces
Of inhabitants to make one think 1t was
a holiday. No one was working At
Corsia dock, which / passed on my way
back to the station. there was a small
boy who was enthusiastically yelling
what no doubt was ''Hurrah for DAN
nuzio! Hurrah for Italyl"
Passersby took a strong hold of
him and, shaking him roughly, muttered
something which sounded like rebuke.
Another passerby grabbed the boy out
OF the ntruder's grasp and took up the
cry Soon there were many people
crowded around, but these were finally
dispersed without further trouble.
Although D'Annunzio was not visible
there was a certain consciousness of
his nearness prevailing in the air.
felt It myself. That Italians predomi-
mated In the city was evident. One
particular thing 1 noticed was a sign
reading, Italia a Morte" I judged
by appearance that some Of these shops
were run by Jugo-Slavs and that they
were afraid to remove these signs.