The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-12-30

already had an excess Of valuable ports.
their country and the adjoining lands
needed Fiume rs their only outlet 10
the sea. This position won tho support
Of President Wilson VINO was subse-
auently denounced by D'AnnunZio ana
his sympathizers IS 'the only obstacle
to the realization OF Italy's aspirations.
President Wilson's view, however. was
shared by the British and French.
Many And-WnEon Outbreaks.
Backed by Italian public opinion. the
italian delegation TO the Paris Peace
Conference. headed by premier Orlando
and Foreign Minister Sonnino refused
to yield Italys claims. In April. 1919.
tho crisis came TO n head when Presi-
dent Wilson threatened to Withdraw
from the conference. He issued pub
lie statement sustaining the pact Of
London Insofar as II related to Fiume.
Receipts Of the document In Italy pre-
c!pitated numerous anti-Wilson out
breaks IN which D'AnnunZio took a lead
ing part Meanwhile. Orlando and Son
nino quit the Paris conference and re-
turned to Rome where they were re-
ceived with wild acclaim by the people.
The italian chamber Of deputies adopt
ed a vote Of confidence IN the Orlando
ministry. Later. however. the two
statesmen returned to Paris at the In
vitatlon OF their colleagues and par
t!cipated in tho negotiations and the
signing OF the Austrian peace treaty.
Caused Orlando'B Downfall
Failure 10 reach n satisfactory solu-
tion of the F!umc emproglio, however,
was one OF tho principal causes Of the
downfall OF the ORLANDO ministry on
June 10, 1919, and II was succecded
by tho moderate NTH cabinet. whose
selection exasperated the Italian Ma
tlonalists and was the forerunner of
tho D'Annunzio coup d'etat the follow
Ing September.
Fume. at the time OF tho entry Of
the d'Annunzio forces. was under the
military control Of General Pittaluga
OF the Italian army. The general had
led strong detachment to the OUT
skirts OF the city to intercept the In
vaders who had armored automobiles
and were. armed with machine guns
D'Annunzio met him with the saluta-
ton: Il understand you would fire upon
your brethren? Clearing his brcast.)
Fire upon me- At this, II was re-
ported. Pittaluga embraced D'Annunzio
and the soldiers on both sides set up the
The D'AnnunziO troops then entered the
Many Clashes Occur
The Is months that have elapsed since
The poet..warr:or set himself up as "a
as well as opera boufIe events. Clashes
between the Italians and Jugo-Slavs
were frequent. D'Annunzio proclaimed
the annexation OF Fiume TO Italy even
while that country was appealing to
him. Riots. strikes and fires were num-
, erous and the United States cruisers
Olympia and Pittsburgh were sent to
. the Adriatic to protect American In
Ill.,,
nunzlo's food supply and Italian war
ships blockaded Fiume from the sea-
D'Annunzio put the city on scant ra-
t!ons and continued TO issue defiant
leave Fiume alive" Many Italian sail
orS and soldiers Joined his forces until,
at one time, he was reported 10 have
an army OF more than 10000 men. He
occupied several other places in the dis
putcd region, including Sussak, Risniak
Durazzo. Trau. Castua and Earn and pa
trollcd the Dalmat!an coast with his
warships.
Plume, q FREQ state.
On January |. 1920. when the Su-
prem0 Allied Council dishandcd IN Paris
the AdrIatic question was sim unset.
tied. Last March Italy strengthened
the blockade. whcreupOu DAnnunzio
proclaimed F!ume "A free and indepcnd-
Allied powers he said the action did
not mean Fumes Remuneration" OF
Italy. He also summoned a constitu
ent assembly 10 meet an order that pre-
CtpItatcd the resignation OF the F!ume
National Council and left DArnunzio
rs chief Of state, foreign minister and
commander of the army.
Agreement Finally Reached.
Meanwhile. diplomatic efforts were in
progress between Italy and Jugo-Srarla
to compose their differences. These led
10 the party between delegates repre-
seeming both nations at Rapallo early
in November. 1920. and a settlement OF
thu long veNing Adr!atic question on
the following basis: % Che Is:rian
frontier TO be controlled by the Jugo-
SlavS: (2I Fiumc to be independent,
with territorial! cont!guIty to Italy; (D
lara 10 be under Italian sovereignty:
(D IsIandS OF Che-so. Lussin ard Unie
10 be granted TO Italy. The treaty was
signed by the ENJOYS Of both nations on
November 10. II was later approved by
the foreign relations committee Of the
italian chamber Of deputies. D'Annun-
zo was admon!shed to accept it's terms
He replied tha, 90 do so would be sui