The New York herald., 1920-12-02
WAR IS DECLARED
ON YTALY BY POET
D'AnnunZiO's Forces Take
Prisoners Outside Fiume in
First Combat.
SEIZE BRITISH STEAMER
Narenta, Loaded With Flour
and Fodder, to Transport
Insurgent Troops.

LONDON. Dec. Thursday Gabrielle
d'Annunzio, in command of the insur-
gents at Fiume. has declared war on
Italy. according to Milan despatch to
the London Times The state Of war
will begin Friday
While Gen. Caviglia's regulars have
thrown a Gordon around Fiume. only
small Incidents have thus far been re-
ported, said the correspondent Every
effort will be made by the regulars. it
was said, to induce the followers Of
D'Annunzio to desert.
The despatch quotes a telegram from
Triest to the effect that regular Alpini
and some of d'Annunzio's men exchanged
shots and hand grenades when the latter
crossed into Italian territory proper. A
few regulars We're made prisoners by
d'Annunzio's soldiers at an advanced
post on the road to Cantriva. The gar
rison on the island OF vegIla. held by
men loyal 10 the poet soldier. has been
reinforced.
The correspondent. discussing the
semi-official announcement of the proc
lamation of the blockade Of Fiume. says
that the communique explains that the
blockade is only intended to prevent any
eventual hostile movement and not to
hinder commerce. He adds:
"D'Annunzio has replied that he will
instruct the Regencys representative at
Rome to ask for his passports. and will
consider the Regency of Guarnero at
war with Italy from December 3.
'Tn a private letter to the national
society at Trieste, DAnnunuzio. after in
viting the Nationalists to erect barri-
cades. calls Caviglia a traitor and Gio-
litti a madman."
A despatch from Rome says 1t is semi
officially announced that as the Gov
ernment's order calling upon the Regency
of Fiume to withdraw its troops behind
the frontiers has not been obeyed. Gen.
Caviglia has summoned the Regency not
to prevent the free departure Of Italian
warships from the port of Fiume. He
has also proclaimed blockade OF the
coast of the state OF Fiume, the islands
of veglia and Arbe and the neighboring
waters
mandcr OF the italian regulars invest
ing Fiume. in a proclamation to be con-
veyed to d'Annunzio's forces by airplane.
says It IL the intention of the Italian
Government TO enforce the conditions Cf
the Rapallo treaty without delay.
The proclamation invites the poets
legionaries to withdraw behind the from
tiers of the free State Of Fiume and re
frain from useless resistance to the en-
ergetic measures the italian Government
is prepared to take.
FIuME, Dec. In the expectance
that an ultimatum from Gen. Caviglie
may be delivered at any time. the
d'Annunzlo forces are In state OF
feverish activity. His troops are max
ing incursons into the outposts OF the
regulars and capturing occasionally small
groups OF soldiers. Intermittent rifle
firing Is In progress but no serious con-
sequences have so far resulted.
D'Annunzio's headquarters In The PAL
ace are likewise the scene OF marked
activity. with the hurrying to and fro
OF the young officers who since the de-
serton OF many OF the older heads are
now In control OF the defence OF the
city" D'Annunzio himself Is constantly
busy in conference with his iieutenants.
Oae of tho young officers. when asked
a question by newspaper man. re-
marked. as he excused hi,nself: We
are extremely busy we are al .ur"
TnIEsT, Nov. 80 (delayed) The Brit
ish steamer Narenta. which was captured
yesterday by d'Annunzio's ardIti near
Pola. has been ordered to be takeu- 20
Fiume. The steamer, which Is loaded
with flour and fodder. will be put into
service by d'Annunzio for the convey
ance of troops and ammunition to the
island OF vegia. The Narenta was
bound from Pola to the island OF Lussin
when she was captured by d'Annunzio's
men.