The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-03-25
CLAIM ITALY
OUSTED SLAVS
Curtain OF Silence Is Drawn
Over Oalmatian Dispute
ny uERnERT COREY


Croata welcomed the allied troops
60 t'tume as deiiverers. They flung
flags on every house ana tossed
flowers into the motor cars Of tho
officers Two days after the occu-
patton had been effected the Italians
announced that they had taken pos.
session, not in the name OF the en-
tente. but for Italy. They drove the
cron tiana off the streets and tore
down their fiags.-
That statement was nnhs % me.
not by croats-aitho later n was
fully confirmed by thcm-but by
officers Of tho French. British and
American forces stationed here when
reached town. I am not rxagEerat
ing In saying that tho conviction Of
these officers WINS that Italy had not
played tho game" Hero II the
itory as II was told 20 me.
The Serbian soldiers were the first
10 enter Fiume. This was after the
revolution" which broke out In
/ Tugo-siavia ms soon as the people
read the reply OF President WILSON
10 the Austrian demand for AN arm
istlcc. No far ms II was possible
news ~ passing events had been
kept from them
Mu1slcd by Austriana
They celebrate "a victory by the
entent with the utmost Joy and
mourn when our forces are triumph
ant" reported an Austrian officer In
a report that was found by the rev.
olutlonlnta Hut even Austria could
not keep the Jugo-Siavu In complete
ignorance. At the earliest moment
possible they cast Off the yoke OF
their masters,
Here In ffune tho streets were
filled with rejoicing people. Free
dom was f.trr. Tho Austrian fleet
had been captured by Croat muffin
GERS and turned over bodily to the
Italians. Tn. Greats nay th"y had
great difficulty Ia inducing the
Italian mariners 10 come out OF their
safe harrors and accept the deliv'
cry OF the fleet
Bearing in mind the bitter enmity
between the Italian and croat. this
IL very possible The Italians were
quite justified in taking every pre-.
caution agains, trick. But u IL dif
ficuit 10 sca In what fashion their
later action % intcrning the men
who had taken the fleet for them
can DO justified. Tho crcan had
played absolutely fair.
Asked Serbs to Lave Plume
Then" said the officers Of the
other allied forces, the Italians
asked the Serbs 10 leave FiWne.
III you leave Flumc we ahall not
enter a. VA. their statement. In
IN. presence of French and n British
officer. hut N you remain In Plume
We must enter also, Our claim TO
Fiumo has ye, TO be passed on by
the peace conference. just ne yours
must be. IL our aBtaNuntAtlc forces
remain In Plume there "a tho proba
bllliy Of friction.
The Serbs Saw the fore. OF this
argument. 80 far a. have seen.
the s~rbs--or the Juxo Slays. ns you
wiii--have endeavcred TO avoid trou'
bic with the Italians They have
realized 10 the fun the weak SPOT IN
their position. II II difficult for
them TO make known their case 20
the world. Letters and telegram.
from all Juxo. slavla must pass thru
Italian hands. and they do not pass.
italy has drawn curtain 81 silence
over any protest the jugo Slavs
might desire 20 make. !, In not
censorship. but suppression. that
Italy In enforcing.
Welcome for Italians
Therefore the Serbs marched out
Of f1um@ and the Italian naval
force. entered. The welcome was
warm one. for the Italians no icns
than tn. Serbia were considered an
representatives of the entente and
a. bringing freedom TO Jugo-Siavia
Two days after TIA. Italian sailors
and marines reached town. Italian
land forces marched In. The inter
ycning time had been necessary for
the movement Then the Italians
changed their tune:
we take possession In the nafnc
OF Italy" they announced.
l am informed that a protest was
Great Britain. but cannot assert
this positively. II was not the fact
that Italy had taken posrcssion OF
Fiurne. but the manner of the TAX
ing, that brought this about. From
tho fact that French and British
officer were present when the Ital.
ian promise was given To tho Serbs.
4, xxaa feared TINT tn. good narna OF