The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-03-27
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'"ese groups and serious trouble WAS threatened
was only the thought that back In Paris
."""ehuui statesmen were assembling fully de-
termined to settle once for ,II tho ,os.ihuitv Of
war tnat enabled one to 60 through Fiume with
~. ""k'hG the prediction that the war was In It's
INFANCY rather than at Its end
For some unknown REASON E',ums w.. mt H.
c'nded In the list of towns allotted Itaiv m that
now famous pact of London which wss siened
Wy tue allies just before Italy catered the war.
ioe soa Tfsste Ports the Adriatic and situ
ateo oa the Istrian Peninsula were given to Italy.
ltahHa pessessfoa Of the last-named cities was
eN're or ie~s unQuestioned. HUT Fiume va; liter
any NO Aans Land when the peace conference
started. although neither Italy nor the Jugo-Slavs
would admit a. much NN
Amssseans ~ Msdsaters
America had a really prominent part In the A.
fair. \ noncommtal part, because we were not
one OF the nations signing the pact Of London
j" every respect We were neutral. But we had
enc warshp and four des,royers In the harbor
and battalion OF soldiers ashore and our coIors
were cheered with enthusiasm by both elements
co0testing for possession of the city
Americas popularity may In a measure he
judged by the fact that OF the local hotels
had just been rechristened Hotel Wilson, and
there were numerous American flags In eyidepee
OisO pictures OF President Wilson,
While small In numher-the American soldiery
numbered only a battalion-O-r troops had y nres
tiee that was wholly out OF proportion to their
numerical strength. The responsibility OF petrolltns
the streets and maintaining quiet was divi,led
among the four allied nations. In this lob Amer
lean troops had ono quarter OF the work to per-
fvSm. since each street patrol was compoaed NJ
four soldiers Frenchman, Italian n British
Tommy and an American. They walked In fours
abreast and you could several such Rroups In
even u brief survey of the city from one of the
principal business corners.
Somehow or other the patrols managed to con.
verse win each other. The Americans and Eng
Iish could understand another of course and
the Italian and French could talk. Then in each
patrol there were usually two men that
knew few words of either Latin or English 30
the men had little trouble In transmitting n
given Idea about.
Most nf the American boys were natives of
ohio. although Lieut. Col. William Everson. their
commander, hailed from Indiana. Among the un-
der officers were strapping young fellows mainly
from the middle West. One OF these explained to
me some OF the Importance that had been thrust
% the American contingent through the develop
ment of the political situation.
I'VE are mediators here" the officer said 'and
are rather popular all around. In a way. our out
At Ia sitting the lid. When we get or trouble
Il going to break out right away. The Jugo-Slavs
arr mobllixing an army back In the country. Sew
rrsi Sisvs we know natives of this community
received their orders TO go to camp Should we
leave It's Q moral certainty the Jugo Savs and
Itaalas troOps will clash before long"
French Are Accused.
The actual contention. however. was not between
the JuRe- -Slavs, As such and the Italians but be-
tween ne Italians and the French. THE highest
ltalQaa >ncials u this Istrian territory believed
the French Wers backing the Jugo-Slava, arminG
them, and eacouFaging them In their demands for