The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-09-23
Wilson Hopes Prediction OF
Disruption in Europe
Will Not Come True.
THOUSANDS CONV INCED
Il residents Reception on Pa
cific Coast Well Worth
Pondering On.
(sY DAVID LAWRENCE.1


President Wilson has been kept
constantly advised while travelling of
events in Europe and has of course
been given an account of the seizure
of tiume by an Italian force under
DAnnunZio Mr., Wilson has made
specific mention of the incident in his
speeches, but he has in general way
warned his hearers against the dis
ruption of affairs in southeastern Eu-
rope unless the league of nations
were quickly brought into being. He
has expressed the hope that tragic
confirmation of his prediction would
not result from the delay.
American destrOycrs co-oporated
with the Italian navy in the Adriatic
and American troops once stood
guard at Fiume alone. The other
powers would have felt embarrassed
by any aloofncss on the part of the
United States had she stood off. So
the addition of small contingent
of American marines to the force
which is demanding D'Annunzios
Withdrawal may hc construed as
largely for moral effect. 1t is not
expected that any lighting will be
necessary to compel D'Annunzios
evacuation of Fiume. as the forces Of
the associated powers are sufficient
to maintain n blockade that can
easily starve the recalcitrant Italians
INTO submission.
II the league Of nations had been
in actual operation today the govern
ment Of Italy would have been held
responsible, and il it disavowed con-
nection with the D'Annun2io move
ment, then It's aid along with the ma
val forces of the other members OF
the league would have been invoked
to establish an economic boycott of
the town Similarly Jugo- Slavia
would have been given such assist
ance through other ports as was
necessary for her to maintain n con-
slant flow of supplies. An economic
pressure, not war is expected to be
the chief weapon In compelling
DAnnunzio to reconsider his indis-
creton, and thus would other out
groupings of arhitra1v force be dealt
with. The president has encountered
on his travels the editorial question.
"Why should Americans be con-
cerned at all In these classes and
conflicts?' And he has answered by
declaring that just such a class, just
such a friction between races and
peoples in 1914 finally brought about
world war. These newspapers
which are, on the other hand trying
70 give the impression that the
ieasue OF naIohS means the constant
p"troi OF an partS Oh lhe WorIu pS
american mllltary force use the land-
ing oI American marines near rune
"S u. y 90 the occasional departure
Vi an American lr,hsport carrying
relhlorC nehfS TO Siberla as confirm
a'lon q lhf,r "rSu l'nts'
me hf'"'d @n' MS referred only
once dNf." ms SIP ech- MAKING tour
10 tNe AtltI'cI troops IN RUSSIA,
declarNl% m g were assisting IN
keeping iood "H' necessities or lite
intended for the {Issian people from
talilhg INTO tf' hands or brigands,
yet there Is no ttiection or the Ger
man frontier of exports into Russia,
and ore ot tn FIST problems which
the lea%ue OF tons must solve is
the KIND or b".tl.r 1t means to erect
between Rs. and the outside
world. Nhe'E,r il can compel the
holding o. an election in Rus
sia and a.r' ION Of military die
tatorship by threatening economic
isolation, by Q EIn@ more assistance
to the kolrt"H government The
president refers feelingly to the
plight Of Russi" and has condemned
the rule OF the bplsheviki. as minority
rule is worse than czarism. But he
has not yet given an tntimation as to
how the LEAGUE Of nations, by its COM
bined economic. if not military poten-
tiaIity will bring Russia back into
the family of n'ttons Provision has
" ',' '' '' ''''''' wa u iN'