The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-12-31
POET HAS THROWN UP
Continued From Page One.l

istry ron June 10. 1919, and 1t was
succeeded by the moderate Nitti cab
met, whose selection exasperated the
Italian Nationalist and was the fore
runner Of the d. Anpunzio coup d.
etat the following September.
F1ume, at the time of the entry OF
the q Annunzi0 .orcek, Was under
the military control of General PIT
taluga Of the Italian army. The Gem
eral had led a strong detachment to
the outskirts Of the city to intercept
the invaders who had armored auto
mobiles and were armed with ma
chin guns. D'Annunzio met him with
the salutation: II understand you
would fire upon your brethren
Daring his breast.) Fire upon mel"
At this, it was reported, Pfttaluga
embraced d Annunzio and the sold
iers on both sides set up, the cry:
Viva Ftume! Viva d. Annunzio!"
The d. EAnnunzio troops then entered
the city.
The fifteen months that have elaps-
ed since the poet warrior set him.
self up as "a dictator have been fill-
ed with tragic as well as opera bouffe
events. Clashes between the Italians
and Jugo-Slavs were frequent. d An
nuZio proclaimed the annexation OF
Piume to Italy even while that coun-
try was appealing to the Allied pow
ers to wrest the city from him. Riots,
strikes and fires were numerous and
the United States cruisers Olympia and
Pittsburgh were sent to the Adriatic
Jugo- Slavs cut Of d. Annunzio's food
supply and Italian warships blocked
fiume from the sea.
Citv on Scant Ration
DAnnunzio put the city on scant
rations and continued to issue de-
lant manifestos and declare he would
never leave Fiume alive" Many Ital-
ian sailors and soldiers joined his
forces until at one time, he was re-
ported to. have an army of more than
100000 men. He occupied several 9TH
er places in the region, including
S S Risniak, Durazzo; Trau.
Dalmatian coast with his wa-ships.
On January 1, 1920, when the Su.
preme Allied Council disbanded in
Paris the Adriatic question was still
unsettled. Last March, Italy strength
ened the blockade whereupon d. An
nunZio proclaimed Fiume "a free and
Independent state" In announcing
this to the Allied powers he said the
action did not mean Fumes "renunci-
dLlOn OF lLaly. he also summoned
Constituent Assembly to meet an
order that precipitated the resigna-
ion OF the Fidme National Council
and left d. Annunzio as Chief of State,
Foreign Minister and commander of
the army.
Meanwhile. diplomatic efforts were
progress between Italy and Jugo-
Slavia to compose their differences.
Ahese led to the parley between dele
gates representing both nations at
Rapallo early in November, 1920, and
a settlement of the long vexing Adri-
attic question on the following basis:
l. The Istrain frontier to be controll-
ed by Jugo- Slavs; =Fiume to be in
dependent, with territorial contiguity
to Italy; 3-Zara to be under Italian
suzerainty: 4-Islands of Cherso. Lus-.
sin and Unie to be granted to Italy
The treaty was signed by the ENJOYS
of both nations on November l0.sIt
was later approved BY the loreign REL
iations COMMITTEES of the Italian Cham
Der OF Deputies. D. Annunzio was
admonished to accept its terms He
replied that to do so would be "sui-
eide" for Italy sJugo Slavia thereupon
appealed tosItaly to Gust d. Annunzio
from Fiume and Italian regular troops
then surrounded the city.
On December 1 d. Annunzio declar-
ed a state of war with Italy and there
las much war like activity in Fiume.