The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-12-28
FIUME IS
REPORTED
CAPTURED
Forces Of d'Annunzio Civ
ing Way as Veterans
Cut Thru OefenSeS


ROME. Dec. 2s.-Wreathed In
smoke from burning forests and
exploding mines. Fiume today
neared surrender 20 Italian soldiers.
At 10 a. m. today TUESDAY reg
ular troops had drawn a tight line
around three sides OF tho city.
Swarming thru barricades and
slashing wire entangicmentS the
soldiers edged their way thru
crooked streets until they had un.
disputed possession OF a number OF
important structures.
Premier Giolitu was informed by
Gen. Csvislia- commanding the
reguiarr, that he could expect oc.
cupssIan Of tho city this afternoon.
He reported progress OF his troops
impeded by dAnnunxio's tactics Of
burning bridges and streets and by
snipinr. but said his men had oc-
cupied several important ccnters In
the city. .
Out In the harbor drcadnoughts
and lesser craft trained their guns
on Fiumc. ready 10 support the
land forces IL necessary. Navy Of
ficers thus far have refrained from
bombarding tho city except for a
few shells thrown on the barracks
OF Fiume lcgionnaircs.
Caviglia's carbiniers found use for
their wartime training. They were
forced TO advance against machine
gun and snipors' fire. 20 break thru
harbed wire entanglemenis criss-
crossing the streets. Tho opposi-
ton melted away before the steady
advance OF Caviglia's troops.
SCORES OF WOUNDED
TAKEN To HOSPITALS
Scores OF wounded were taken
aboard vessels In the harbor and
carried across the Adriatic to per.
manent hospitals. The regulars
were compelled to Withhold their
fire except In extreme cases. but
their advance continued.
From refugees IL was learned that
d'Annunzio lad many bitter enc
mics within the city. They OBJ
jected to the manner of the legion
naires. who. they said. treated
Fiume as a conquered city and
gave the civilians no recognition.
They disliked d'Annunxio's militar.
ization Of civilian employees also.
Tho poets troops were accused OF
mining many buildings as well as
streets and bridges.
The government prepared for
harsh punishment of d'Annunzio's
assistants. Fifteen years OF i'm.
prisonmcnt as ''traitors' will be
meted out 20 the poets followers.
Premier Giolitti declared. He in.
formed a parliamentary commits
sion that Gen. Caviglia had issued
a manifesto demanding capitulation
without further opposition. He an.
nounced that the Rapallo treaty,
which settled the Adriatic boun.
daries, was a national necessity and
that those opposing It must be con.
sidered traitors.
D'Annunzio's wide experience dur.
ing the great war was exemplified
at Fiume in the construction OF the
city's defenses. The mines destroy.
Ing roads and bridges and impeding
the progress OF the regulars, the
barbed wire entangiements. the nests
of machine guns and the location of
snlpers in steeples were planned from
his observations over the Italian and
enemy lines.
Ffume was more of a fortress than
n residential city. Its citizens were
beginning TO feel the blockade and
the wreckage in the city streets add
ed TO their Decentralization.
The poet was said to have sup
pressed ruthlessly any attempt of cit.
izens to oppose his program. That
the commandant was contending
with opposition within the camp was
shown by a rumor that Mayor CT.
gante sought a parley with Gen. Ca.
viglia. commanding the regulars.
DIR. Belasich. former councilman OF
Fiume. was reported to have escaped
from prison and fed to Abazzia,
where he declared the legionnaires
were treating the city as "A conquered
municipality, with no regard for the
rights of its people
D'Annunzio's decree militarizing
all city employees met with resistance
he said. and $50 leaders were arrest
ed. Similar reports were brought out
by former Mayor Zanella. who was
downcast over the city's plight.