Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1920-03-02
.F|UME SUBJECTED Of
D'ANNUMzIO CONTROL
Conditions Rapidly Growing From
Bad to Worse; Ardite Terror
ize Populace.

Fiume, March 1.--Fiume is now in a
| sad plight apd the great majority OF it's
citizens bitterly c,,et that the post com
mnnder, as DAnnunzio was called in the
heyday of his popula ity, ever entered il.
The city's internal condition rari1ly goes
from bad To worse. True, there il no long
er immediate danger Of the volunteer
army putting il to the sack, as there was a
few days ago, when the whole place was n
fernent over the plebiscite.
D'Annunzio, who assumed the dictator.
ship against the wishes Of the majority OF
the citizens, has his troops fairly well in
hand. The city obeys him, too, but with
out any of the enthusiasm of few weeks
ago. In fact, enthusiasm Is stone dead and
hundreds Of men are deserving from the
poets army.
The food situation is very bad. Many
people get nothing but the bread and soup
which is distributed in various parts OF
the city now. Local stock. of grain are
SD low they cannot possibly hold out till
the middle of January, even with the
strictest economy. Thousands of men
have been out of work since last August
and local resources cannot cope with their
modest needs.
EPIDEMIC OF TyPHUs.
Pessimism stalks about the city, which
for weeks has been living on hope, blind
TO cold facts. The sanitary conditions get
worse as food grows scarcer. An epidemic
of typhus has broken out and is sweeping
over the city.
D'Annunzios Arditi, or storm troops,
made up Of the most reckless elements. are
regarded by all peaceful citizens with fear
and dislike. They commit many acts of
violence against those they know voted IN
favor of agreement with Nittis govern
ment and use their arms against volun-
teers who say this agreement Is the only
right course These Arditi have had
pleasant time in Fiume and do not want to
leave the idle life and good pay which the
poet commander has so far assured them.
When they do have to 90, Humans great
" fear they will sack the city. And this
only adds to the prevailing gloom.
The volunteers who have left Fiume had
10 go back to Italy by way of Trieste, all
other roads being blocked. Those of them
who were in the regular army reported at
general headquarters there and were sent |
off to the fortress ut I'rente. H. IL not yet |,
decided whether they will be tired for de- /
sertion or let free after certain time. /
Probably they will not he very severely !
dealt with, since many hiphgTade officers,
including Admiral Milo, have got OF scot /
free.
Fumes Christmas was desperately
gloomy. D'Annunzio and his staff, with
few hundred soldiers, attended midnight
mass. Many women were there. but few !
male citizens. In fact, the little popularity
that he has left is due to the fair sex.
On Christmas Day his troops gave fresh
offense by their rowdy behavior. All day
long and far into the night they fred musk
ITS and threw hand bombs. ii ing from
guns and revolvers is a Balkan custom on
east days, but Fiume has always looked
Town on Balkan peoples as savages and
'esented such boisterous fun when thous-
inds of citizens are face 10 face with ruin
md hunger.
News having reached Rome that
, Annunzio has been selling military store
eft by the American, French and British
roops so as TO raise much-nceded cash for
MS troops, Nifti's government has warned
i'm that IL will seize all such goods taken
nto Italy and restore them 20 their lawful
wncrs. As a matter OF fact, comparatively
title Of the stuff has been bought by
Italians. Most of it has gone into the Slav
illages and towns near here. But Nittl's
,arning probably will stop the sale.
The poets popularity has vanished like
noke. Even his Christmas present to the
DOR of $4,000 lire failed 10 raise q spark Of
Enthusiasm. Vanished, too, are the crowds
no used 10 cheer him as he reviewed his
oops His day is done All the humans
ant now is for him TO leave the town ut
Ne head OF his dreaded Ardifi, and leave it
nsacked.