New-York tribune., 1920-12-24
Civilians Flee
Besieged Fiu11le
ToObtain Food
Several Members of Regency
Disagree and Desert
D'Annunzio After Dec
laration of War by Leader
Early Peace Is Predicted
Italian Army and Fleet Cut
, OFF City; Commander Asks
Populace to Surrender

Of Fiume by civilians has begun, ac-
cording to dispatch from Milan to
The London Times. Already one hun
dred refugees have arrived at Can
crida. The food situation at Fiume
is considered almost desperate.
The population numbers $4,000, and
the food supply will not provide for
them for more than a fortnight. The
...tuation in the islands OF Arbe and
VegIia is considered even worse.
A majority of the population of
Fiume, says the correspondent. oppose
Even some members of the Regency
disagree with D'Annunzo. His
Finance Minister, Professor Pantale-
oni, has resigned and left Fiume. Fif
teen men have deserted from his army.
Deputies Suzi and Deambris have
left Fiume for Rome to submit pro-
posal that Italy recognize the Regency
with Barros, Arbe and Veglia, while
the Regency renounce the immediate
annexation of Fiume to Italy, which
would be a subject Tor future negotia-
tons, and also renounce further action
in Dalmatia
D'Annunzio Declares War
An official dispatch from Fiume an
nounces DAnnunzio has proclaimed that
a state of war exists, and has forbidden
the population of Fiume to leave the
city, says a Rome dispatch to the Ex-
change Telegraph under Wednesdays
date.
:. DAnnunzio's proclamation of state
of war adds that any one speaking
against him will be liable to be shot
says the Central News Rome CORE
spondent.
TRIESTE, Dec 23 (By Courier to
Udine) (By The Associated Press).-
Fiume is surrounded by government
forces. The approaches are heavily
guarded on the north, east and west by
powerful patrols of carabineers and
alpini Every road and lane is under
surveillance. Nothing is being allowed
to go into the town. but exit is per-
mitted to those who wish to withdraw
rather than to face siege BY sea the
feet off Pola is not permitting the
passage of any craft.
Thro, ,ghout last night Fiume ap-
peared to be a city Of darkness.
Trains are not permitted to proceed
heycnd Abfazia. where all passengers
destined for Fiume must get out.
Mavor Gigante of Fume has been noti-
fed by General Caviglia of the steps
The government intends to take in en-
forcing he blockade. AS vet there has
been no decision announced as to the
ttitude the commander of Fiume Will
sake toward the withdrawal Of the resi-
he bod
sbarg' in the number of departures
from the city to-day. All leaving will
have to do so on foot.
Poets Troops Hurl Bombs
>. One carabineer was killed and two
to-day by the poets legionaries on the
west city of the city. The legionaries
made their escape.
d'Annunzo until 6 o'clock Tuesday
night to reach a decision to accept
The Treaty Of Rapallo, but the poet
soldier permitted the time limit to
expire, when ne replied that the pact
would not be accepted and he wou d
resist its enforcement. Following the
issuance of orders to establi.h a close
blockade General Cavigla directed
that fore gn citizens and civilians in
Fiume be given fory-eight hours to
leave the city.
ROME, Dec. 23-Serbian officers have
assumed command Of the troops Of Cen
eral Wrangel FORMER commander of the
nti-Bolshevik forces in South Russia,
who recently landed at Buccari, six
miles southeast of Fiume, to operate
against Fiume in case of a conflict with
the Quarnero regency, says the Idea
Nazionale's Trieste correspondents
According to the Giornale dItalia the
regency has issued decree which ex-
tends to Albe and Veglia the Fiume
constitution. The newspaper adds that
this means virtually annexation and
DESTROYS the last hope of those persons
who had expected that DAnnunzio
would evacuate the islands.
Premier Giolitti, speaking in the
Chamber of Deputies concerning the
situation in Fiume, begged Nationalist
Deputy Federzoni, who had interro.
gated the government, to consider the
Fiume question from all points. The
Premier assured the Chamber that the
government was doing all that wa.
possible to settle the question in tn,
best manner and was hopeful of reach
ing peaceful solution. But he re
peated that the government could no
allow civil war to be unclaimed in tn,
name OF patriotism.