Evening star., 1919-07-20

In America. Fiume hardly had
L geographical position At in
frequent intervals in previous
years the daily news service had
chronicled items concerning this citv.
such as great fire at the railway
station, bomb explosion in the
governors palace or clash between
ltalian and Croatian masses in the
streets. but these events did not bring
the city prominently forward and a
large part Of the public indefinitely
thought of Fiume merely as "some-
where in Europe" Hence, when It
was flung like the apple of discord
upon the table of the twenty-seyen
nations concerting at Paris for uni
versal peace. many curiously INQUIRED
where is Fiume?"
Between the Istrian and Croatian
coasts. upon a gulf Of the northeast
ern Adriatic. Is situated Fiume. well
named the Gem of the Quarnero. The
city looks to the southwest upon
Cherso and Veglia. two great islands
which rise like buttresses of protec-
ton In the lower part Of the gulf, or
Quarnero. islands as ancient in history
as F.tume itself and interesting be-
cause OF their wild scenery. pic-
turesque ruins and quaint inhabitants.
They divide the gulf into three mar
row channels which lead toward the
port-the Canale di Farasina between
Istrla and Cherso. the Canale di Meg
20. between the two islands, and the
Canale di Maltempo. which is pro-
lnnOoH In fn no
or Montagna, between Vegia and the
Croatian shore.
Like Trieste. seventy miles by rail
to the northwest. Fiume sits at the
base of lofty mountains. which form
an amphitheater upon the Quarnero
and In places to the south descend
sheer into the sea. The city covers
territory of about seven square
miles along the shore and upon the
hills to the northwest. 1t extends
from the deep gorge of the Fiumara
river. which divides 1t from Croatia
on the east. to the Cantrida on the
west where the boundary lines Of
Croatia. Istria and Fiume coincide.
. The world does not know Just when
the first settlement was made upon
this territory. The event antedates
the era of we'll defined history and
belongs to those far-off times through
the golden haze of truth and legend
of which have come so many beau
ttful stories Of the world when 1t
was young. Classical writer's tell US
that certain Colchi. who pursued the
.Argonauts from the eastern shores
of the Euxine, fearing to return
empty handed to their monarch,
turned their prows into the pale
sapphire waters Of the Adriatic and
settled upon the islands along the
eastern shore. Perhaps some Of these
bold voyagers explored the Quarnero
and sought a refuge and home upon
the hills above the harbor.
Out Of the obscure past have come
other Indefinite traditions Of colonies
founded here by the commerce loving
Phoenicians. by Greeks. by Etruscans.
by .Pelasgians and by wild tribes
from the north and east.
The Romans came to the Quarnero
In the time of Augustus Caesar and
round near the site of modern Fiume
the Ltburntans, people who had MI l
grated from Illyria. The imperial In ]
vaders established themselves short ,
distance from the shore and upon ,
hill to the east, across a ravine OF .
the Tarsia river. now called the ,
Fiumara. They built a fortress OF
defense against the hostile Gepids. a
warlike race which swarmed down
upon this outpost Of civilization from
the surrounding ranges Of the Julian
Alps. Here. taking Its name from the
river. grew up the settlement OF Tar
satttca. mentioned by F1iny. and 1t
survives today In the little village OF
Tersatto, with It's castle and Its =