The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-27

Rome. Dec. 27.-It was reported
from Fiume today that Gabrielle
d'Annunzio. the insurgent leader In
that city. had been killed while trying
10 prevent a fight between his le-
gionaries and regular italian soldiers.
Paris. Dec. 27.-sixty have been
killed and many wounded in fighting
around Fiume. according to advices to
the French foreign office today.
General Caviglia, commanding the
Italian regulars who are attacking the
city. expected to take Fiume today,
according to these dispatches.
Gabrielle D'Annunzio, poet COM
mander of the legionnaires holding
Fiume, was reported ready to flee.
D'Annunzio persisted to the last in
his defiance to government troops. He
continued to write proclamations and
appeals to Fiume residents to stand
firm.
Poet Has Plane Ready.
AS the regulars clung to their posi-
tions anG continued to edge in toward
the city. the poet commander pre-
pared for flight. His own airplane
stood ready near the. official resi-
ucncc. with the leg.ons outposts Civ
ing way To the regulars, it was be-
icved. these reports said, that shortly
the Italian troops would come pouring
into the heart of the city. The poet
commander was expected to take
flights at the last moment.
The poets government was totter-
ing. At first his adherents scarcely
believed that their own people would
actually fire upon them and the le-
eionnaTres protested their entire 10y
atty. Actual battle was said to have
been precipitated by d d'AnnunZio him
self who ordered an advance on the
first outposts to creep ip toward the
city.
His Friends Fleeing.
The legionnaires awoke then to the
fact that the regulars fully intended
TO fight if necessary. A steady weak
eninE of the Fiume forces resulted.
Many of the poets closest friends
ana advisers departed.
Dispatches said d'Annunzio learned
Of the return of one scout cruiser to
the regular forces and the sudden
yielding Of small garrisons.
Last Stand in City.
Fiume remained practically the only
defensive point ana its garrison of less
than 5000 men was not expected to
stand long before the large body of
troops under Caviglia.
F.umian legionnaires and Dalma-
tian volunteers at cara. a port south
OF Fiume on the Dalmatian coast,
have surrendered to Italian regulars.
after failing in an attempt to capture
the Italian warship Marsala.
The volunteers captured the vessel
hut the crew resisted and seized twen-
ty-seven of the legionnaires. landing
them at Ancona, an Italian port on the
western side Of the Adriatic says a
Havas dispatch.
Fire on White Flag.
Rome. Dec. 27--Five regular SOL
Gicrs have been killed by the garrison
Of Gabrielle d'Annunzio at Fiume. As
a result. the constructing ring of troops
about the city has been imbued with
a tension which is expected to result
In further bloOdshed il the poet COM
mander does not yield Forty regulars
were wounded.
The five soldiers killed were mem
bcrs of n truce party. advancing to
the outskirts of Fiume to make a last
appeal for d'AEnunzios submission to
the governments will in the matter of
the Adriatic treaty.
General Cavislia, commanding the
bloclading troops. in his effort sent
a truce party to the city. Legion
uaircs. on edge for more than a week,
opened fire before the visitors could
explain their errand. Five men
dropped dead and others of the party
withdrew with their wounded