The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-23
bESIECERS
TRY HARD TO
TAKEF|UME
D'Annunxio's Forces h.
pect Battle With Gov
ernment Troops.


has proclaimed that "a state Of war
exists between his Fiume govern
ment and Italy" and has forbidden
the population Of Fiume to leave
the city. says q Rome dispatch to
the Exchange Telegraph, quoting
official advices.
The proclamation says the Cen
trail News Rome correspondent,
adds that anyone speaking against
d'Annunzio is liable to be shot.
Military operations have been be-
gun by the Italian government
troops against forces in and about
Fiume commanded by Captain
Gabrielle d'Annunxio, who refuses
to evacuate the city and permit
Italy to put into operation the pro-
visions Of the treaty of Rapallo.
Dispatches received here state that
military works along the line mark
! ing the frontier OF the regency of
i Quarnero" have been raided, and an
Italian destroyer is said to have
shelled d'Annunzian batteries on
the island Of Veglia, southwest Of
Fiume.
An attempt on the part Of dam
nunzio to seize control OF the Mon
tagna canal, running down the
Dalmatian coast behind a screen of
low islands, has been foiled. Men
dispatched to Castle, Venier, north
east Of lara, a point which COM
mands the southern entrance to the
canal, were forced to retreat, some
of them being captured and others
disarmed. D.Annunzian legionnaires
Which have been acting as garri-
from tnxf city. 2
Frustrate scheme.
1t is asserted that d'Annunzio
planned to abandon Fiume and land
somewhere along the Dalmatian
coast, where he would raise the
banner of revolt, hoping to create
q situation which would nullify the
treaty Of Rapallo. His scheme,
however, is said to have been frus-
Itrated by government troops. which
have prevented the departure from
the city of Vessels loaded with le-
gionnaires.
Rome dispatches reflected a de-
sire on the part Of the Italian gov
ernment to bring about the peaceful
retirement of d'Annunzio from
Fiume. 1t is reported the Duke o1
Aosta, the cousin Of King Victor
Emmanuel, may 60 to- Fiume and
attempt to dissuade the poet-soldiel
from continuing his opposition te
the Rapallo convention.
Searchlights Playing.
Trieste, Dec. 22-(Associated
Press. .)-Strong cordons of carri-
biniers and alpini, brigaded into
probably a score of battalions, have
been thrown about Fiume and have
completely isolated that city by
land. The Italian feet, which has
its headquarters at Pola, is scour
ing the Gulf of Quarnero day ant
night for d'Annunxio raiders, ant
searchlights play on the water!
from twilight till dawn.
General Caviglia gave Captain
d'Annunzio until 6 o'clock last nigh
to reach q decision to accept tn,
treaty of Rapallo, but the poet-sol
der permitted the time limit to ex
pire, when he replied that the pac
could not be accepted and he woul,
resist its enforcement. Following
the issuance Of orders to establish
q close blockade, General Cavigli,
. directed that foreign citizens an,
civilians in Fiume be given 4
hours to leave the city.
sHoly war;
! Rome, Dec. 23.-To all appear
! ances q state Of war has been re
, established along the Fiume front
Roads and railway tracks hay
been torn up, barbed wire entan
!. clements have been established an
all telephone and telegraph wire
!, leading into Nume have been Gu,
General Caviglia, commander Q
: government troops around Ffum'
has issued manifestos urging hi
!. men to give evidence Of their discl
: pline and loyalty.
Captain Gabrielle d'Annunzi0, O
the other hand, is launching ~
peals. He is praising sailors 9
Italian destroyers which recent
took their ships over to the d'An
nunzian side. and is inviting othe
Italian soldiers and sailors to f0l
/ low their example. He says ths
the mutiny, Of the sailors is worth
Of imitation and that his rebellio
il . holy war" - f,ss-