New-York tribune., 1919-03-13
Ships Left Unloaded at
Eiume and Triest While
Italians and Allies Dispute
Quick Peace Is Stressed
Starvation Threatens Cen
tral European Republics;
Action Distrcss;ngly Slow
BY Frederick Moore
Ncw York Tribuac
pccidi Cajfe Serrise

spcciM Cable Serr'ce
Copyright, 1918. Sew York Tribune Incl
VENICE, March Ill have just ar
rived here from several Adriatic ports,
including Trieste and Fiumc, through
which supplies should be passing in
large quantities to Central European
areas whose condition, the MARQUIS Of
Lansdownc said last week, might prove
the most disastrous in the history of
the world
Although starvation is threatening
the destruction of the populations in
some regions, as we'll as the overthrow
OF hard pressed existing governments.
and is cndangcring the successful CON
clusions Of the various peace treaties.
petty incidents and difficulties have
Dceh permitted to delay the shipments
OF foodstuifs through Trieste and
Fiumc. Gnu
Railway strikes and dock dieicnltics
have also played their share in barn-
erng shipments, but primarily noii-
tical disputes caused last week the
complete cessation Of the transhipnent
or supplies from American and Allied
vessels to the cities Of the hintcrlond
Doth Allied and enemy, and valuahlo
Gays were wasted while nearly a dozen
Ships awaited unloading in harbora and
IonG llnes of railway cars stood cmutv
IS interesting that some of these
snlPS ny the International flag Of three
pIue s1rIpes divided by two white ones
Delng vessels taken by the Allies from
germany and Austria.
Allies Blame Italians
ne resentment Of the American and
hF'tSn relcf delegations at this halt
,'e ol operations causes them severe
~ to crlticlse the Italians. Who IN
turn, feel that the Allies, and os
peclallY the French, are unsynlpathetic
and apprcciatiYc as rceards taly.
ANA ealing attention 70 the French
propaganda as being hostile to rhom
among the Jupo -Slavs, who arc ac
cUsed Dy the Italians of intriguing
continually among tthc Americans.
brltons and French operating in dis
pNtcd regions and cndcavoring to win
lnc favor OF these representatives Of
lhe AilleS IN their counter claims for
territorial settlements.
the bitterness, naturally, runs very
hi@h. Along the streets Of the dis
putcd cities posters bearing such
slogans as "ltaly or Death are to be
seen, while the Croatians ply their
counter efforts secretly and by word
of mouth, because the Italian army is
IN occupation Of all territory condi-
tonally ceded to Italy by the pact of
London before she agreed to enter the
war The port of Fiume, like other
ports not included in the pact, is oc-
cupied by an international force, IN
cluding no Americans but a regiment
of French Annamite troops. The French
hrst sent French soldiers, but after
ward substituted Annamitcs because Of
constant friction with the Italians.
Interference Is Alleged
The Italian commander at Fiume,
who is in charge of the Allied detach-
ment there under the supervision Of
the Supreme War Council, expressed
regret that he had not free hand.
He informed me that his work was
hampercd by interference. Although
the Italians did not behave magnanim-
ously in closing the frontier after an
unimportant encounter with the Croa-
tians, they arc justly indignant with
they saved from defeat. by participate
ing in the war on the Allied side
The Italians charge that the local
French representatives are now con
niving with the Croatans to prevent
the fulfillment of the pact which
France and Great Britain signed in
the desperate year Of 1915. The Itali-
ans point out that the Croatians were
among the most loyal Austrian soldiers
and fought the Allies until the collapse
of the dual monarchy. after which the
Austrian navy was taken over by the
Croatians, who allied themselves with
the Serbans to avoid the penalties
which will befall Austria Hungary.
The Italians realize that no powerful
state can develop from d combination
of Croatians, Slovenes and Serbians
, because OF the undevelopcd condition
of the Jugo-Slavs. They desire contro
of the strategic islands off Dalmatif
and a portion of the mainland agains
any future alliance of that possibly
ambitious state with another poweI
that may become a Jealous rival o.
| Italy in the Mediterranean. The Itali
= ans feel that the French are Alread y
displaying jealousy over the improved
naval position which the defeat o
, Austria Hungary gives Italy. In thi!
r complication Hungary prefers Italian
to Slav control of tiume.
Quick Peace Demanded
The necessity of quick conclusion
and the delimtation of frontiers no
only between France and Germany bu
also between Italy, Austria and tn,
{ Jugo-Slavs is Imperative for local rca
sons and for the relief Of Contra
a Europe. While President Wilson'S por
, trait hangs everywhere in Austrian
a and other Adriatic ports and til,
. Americans are received with notceabl
=, Difference, | could find, nevorthole leSS
i little confidence in the league Of ra
tions and little sympathy with IN