Evening star., 1919-01-24
CLAIM JUGOSLAVS
KlISUSED U. S. FLAG
italians Here Say Attempt
Was Made to "Smuggle"
Dinara From Port.
FOREIGN BUREAUS CLASH
FOREIGN BUREAUS CLASH


American flag on the Dinara to "smug-
gle" the vessel to some other port not
occupied by allied forces, by Italians
here who were willing today to discuss
the incident reported by the Serbian
press bureau, wherein Italians are al
legged to have seized the vessel and to
have hauled down the American flag.
Cables for Instructions.
The Italian embassy has cabled for
instructions to Rome concerning the
reply to be made to what is termed
this new piece of Jugoslav propa-
ganda."
Assuming the facts as reported to be
true, it was pointed out by Italians
that the Dinara is an Austrian vessel.
therefore at the disposal of the allies,
and intrusted to Italy, as were all the
Austrian vessels.
Italy hoisted the flag of the allies,
a special emblem authorized by the
interallied war council, together with
their own flag, on all the captured
SHIPS II is nelu CndJ no OtneT nag
is allowed to be hoiSted on the ships
formerly belonging to the Austro-
Hungarian empires merchant marine.
By using the American flag, it is
charged. the Jugoslavs hoped to get
the vessel into port not under allied
control.
1t was explained further that all
vessels of any nation, including
Italian vessels, are subject to visit
by the proper authorities whenever
they leave ports, and it is not con-
sidered surprising if the Dinara was
stopped and obliged to change her
course. and her movements placed un-
der investigation.
No Precedent Found.
Doubt was expressed in Washing
ton that Admiral Niblack. command
ing American forces in the Adriatic,
would have issued a permit to the
Dinara, such as that referred to in
the statement Of the Serbian press
bureau. His authority to do so
might well be questioned, officers
said, and no record could be found
of an incident which could be re-
garded as a precedent. American
registry is granted only to ships un-f
der American officers, it was stated.
Irrespective of the Dinara case, and
In reference to the present status of
the Adriatfc ganerally. the italian
embassy authorized this statement:
Hhe Adriatic Is blockaded and the
blockade will last - long an the war.
lasts. All must obey the rules OF the
blockade, just as they are obeyed by
the Italian mercantile ships. which
to move about or issue from the Adri-
attic must have q safe conduct from
the naval authorities.
1T Is the right Of every belligerent
HN hot
happens In a sea which the fortunes
OF war have placed under its control"
AS result of the publicity given
this incident by the Serbian press bu-
reau and other publicity matter ema-
mating from Jugo-Slav sources. effort
is being made by italians here to gain
authorization from the Italian gov
ernment for more extensive counter
campaign of publicity.
Conflict Between Bureaus
Interest also has been aroused here
recently by the apparent conflicts be-
tween the Jugoslavia press bureau
and the Serbian bureau, which is
styled official bureau of information
of the kingdom of the Serbs, croats
and Slovenes in Washington" and
which is headed by Prof Voyslay N.
Yovanovitch. Prof. Yovanovitch states
that his bureau now is the properly
accredited Information bureau of the
new Jugoslav state. The Jugoslavia
bureau. however, continues its opera
tion on another floor Of the same
building. the Southern building.
Italians claim that the Serbian bu-
reau is taking over the duties OF the
Jugoslav bureau because the latter
issued statements which later were
disproved by Italian records. One of
these. the Italians assert, was the
statement that foodstuffs were being
withheld by Italians from the terri
tory on the eastern Adriatic occupied
by the Italian troops under the terms
of the armistice. When the Italians
were able to show. it is claimed, that
food was being sent to the Jugoslavs
in those regions, the Jugoslav bu-
! reau came forth with statements that
this food was being given only to
those Slavs who signed papers Of al
legiance to Italy. The Italians hold
that this charge also was disproved
Prof. Yovanovitch recently took ex-
ception to statements issued by the
Jugoslav bureau. asserting that he
was the authorized source for Jugo-
| Slay information.