Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1920-12-26
Il1kio
Feels Pinch.
OfBlockade
Cities Under Siege by Italian
Government Forces Fac
ing Starvation in the
Near Future.
All Fiume Exits Closed
by The Associated Press.

Triest, Dec. Is. - Fiume, Arbe,
Veglia and San Marcos, under block
ade by the Italian feet, are already
beginning to feel the scarcity oi
food.
The greater part of Gabrielle
d'Annunzio's troops are remaining in
their barracks at Fiume and their
officers are in, direct communication
with the poet, who looks after the
military as well as the political af-
fairs Of the beleagnered city.
Immediately after official notice
OF the blockade was given to the
regency of Quarnero,' the Italian
general, Ferrario, who already had
a group of soldiers posted arolnd
the Fiume frontier, closed in upon
the city, barring all exit on three
sides. For about 100 yards out OF
the city the railway tracks were re-
moved, stopping traffic into the city.
The roads Immediately outside, were
torn up and those crossing the From
tiers were barred with tree trunks
and wire entanglements. Here and
there trenches have been dug from
which patrols are keeping lookout.
Blockade Strict.
Regular troops surround the block
ade line at short intervals. Royal
guards and carabineers hold the sea
line, while ALPINE troops dominate
the city from the northeastern
heights. What is considered the
most dangerous spot, however, is the
mouth of the River Recina.
DAnnunzio, according to informa-
ton. leaking out of Fiume, is vir-
tually taking no rest and is display
ng great nervous activity in the work
OF defense. He is imparting orders,
giving advice, writing proclamations
and reciting aloud.
lhe poet-commander is highly in
deignant about some of the conditions
In General Caviglia's ultimatum. es-
peclally that pertaining to the dis
bandment of his troops, which he
considers an outrageous offense to
the independence of the regency,
which he declares, has a right to
form an army for its own defense,
even with foreign subjects, as
France and Holland have done in
the case of their foreign legions.
Food Prices Advance.
Meanwhile the blockade has
caused a great increase in the price
OF all, necessaries, some OF, which
have reached fantastic sums, as ow-
ing to the danger of starvation
many Of the people have purchased
large stocks of food.
Tins of condensed milk, for in
stance, have entirely disappeared
from the market, while fresh milk
IS not coming in from the neighbor-
ing country, which is occupied by
Italian forces.
Meat is a food of extraordinary
luxury. Measures, however. have
been adopted to punish shopkeepers
and food hoarders.
Since the blockade was instituted,
nobody has been able to enter Fiume.
Many have been obliged to turn
back, some of them being parents
desirous of entering the city so that
they might persuade their sons to
return to the regular army and cease
assisting in plans contrary to law.
The number of persons requiring
to be fed in Fiu1ne is $1,000 ap-
rroximately, while the regency is be-
lieved to have accumulated rations
only sufficient for 10000 for two
weeks. This has contributed greatly
to the depression of the citizens,
who are reluctant to endure priva-
tions and suffering even to insure in
dnDa, Joaoa