The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-28
italian Regulars Claim Victory
Over Rebel LegiOnnaires.
All d'AnnunziO'S Men To Be
Treated as Traitors.
BIG CASUALTY LIST REPORTED
Leader of Defenders Wounded
by Italian Shell.
Frightened Citizens Attempts
to Surrender Are Suppressed.


Rome, Dec. 2S.-The mayor of
Fiume has asked General Caviglia.
commander of the regular Italian
forces, for suspension of hostilities,
says a Fiume dispatch today.
General Cayiglia stipulated two
conditions, one of which aseady has
been accepted. 1t is expected that in
an interview arranged for today be-
tween the mayor and General Fer
rario, commander of the blockading
force, the terms of capitulation will
be agreed Upon.
City Smothered In Smoke.
Rome, Dec. 2S.-Wreathed in smoke
from burning forests and exploding
mines. Fiume today neared surrender
to Italiau soldiers.
At 10 a m. today regular troops
had drawn a tight line around three
sides of the city. Swarming thru bar
racades and slashing wire entangle-
ments the soldiers edged their way
thru crowded streets until they had
undisputed possession of a number OF
important structures
on the Contrida side of Fiume, the
troops occupied the big Danubius
shipbuilding plant. Whitehead torpeoo
works, an oil refinery and other struc-
lures. Their line fronted on the city's
public gardens.
on the Grodovic side the regulars
had reached Monte Calvario.
on the Eneo side no advance had
been made and General Caviglia's
forces faced an apparently deserted
stretch in which machine gun and
snipers' nests were concealed.
Bridges Arc Destroyed.
Here the regulars were delayed by
the destruction of bridges. The engi-'
neering forces were busy constructing
makeshift crossing to replace the
crunIbled masonry.
Rector Ventura of the d'AnnunZio
forces, and Mayor Gigantic OF Fiume,
were granted a conference with Cen
eral Ferrario, Caviglia'S chief subordt-
nate They were to confer with the
general this morning.
Premier Giolitti was informed by
General Cavislia, comma nding the
regulars. that he could expect occu-
patton of the city this afternoon He
reported progress. of his troops inn
pcdcd By Gabrielle dAnnunzio's tao
tics Of mining bridges and streets and
by snipinG.
out in the harbor dreadnaughts and
lesser war craft trained their guns on
Fiume, ready to support the land
forces if necessary. Navy officers
thus far have refrained from bonn
harding the city except for a few
shells thrown on the barracks of
Fiumc leGionnaires.
Weight of Numbers Wins.
Caviglias carabineers found use for
their wartime training. They were
forced to advance against machine
gun and snipers' fire. to break thru
barber wire entanglements crisscross-
ing the cobblestone streets. The op-
position melted away before the steady
advance of Caviglias troops.
Scores of wounded were taken
ried across the Adriatic to permanent
hospitals. The regulars were COM
PEELED TO withhold their fire except in
extreme cases. but their advances con-
tirued.
From refugees it was learned that
d'AnnunZio had many bitter enemies
within the city. They objected to
the manner OF the legionnaires who,
they said. treated Fiume as a con-
quered city and gave the civilians no
recognition. They disliked d'Annun-
zios militia riza ton of civilian employees
also. Most of the destruction this far
has been caused by the legionnaires,
they said. The poets troops were ac-
cused OF mining many buildings as well
as streets and bridges.
The government prepared for harsh
punishment of d d'AnnunziO's assistants
Fifteen years imprisonment as trait
ors" will be meted out to the poets
followers, Premier Giolitti declared.
Giolttti informed a parliamentary COM
mission that General Caviglfa has is
sued manifesto. demanding capitula-
tion without further opposition He
announced that tine Rapallo treaty,
which settled the Adriatic boundaries
was national necessity and that those
opposing it must be considered traitors
D'Anpunzlo wounded
Trieste. Dec. 2S.-News confirming
reports that Gabrielle d'Annunzio, the
Italian insurgent leader at Fiume, had
been wounded in the recent fighting
y between his legionaries and General
CaNiGla's regular troops was received
here today. No details were given,
however
Later advices said that d'Annunzio
was struck in the head by a piece of
smell while conversing in the palace
but that the wound was slight.
Casualty List Growing.
Rome. Dec. 2S--Land and sea oper-
ations developed rapidly around FL
ume today With constantly increas-
Ing pressure, regular forces crept
toward the heart of the city.
Thirty regulars have been killed and
100 wounded in the sniping, bombing
and mining defense of the d'Annunzio
troops which have fallen back to the
center of the city
Every approach to headquarters has
been mined. Orders were issued that
no buildings were to be spared if their
destruction would hamper the regulars.
Poet Is Adamant.
D'Annunzio was reported TODAY to
have declared he will destroy the city
rather than submit to the regular
army. a series of his procIamations
reached a xxrf4f