IN "DEATH BATH."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 54, 5 March 1937, Page 7

IN "DEATH BATH."

D'ANNUNZIO'S PLAN. Famous Poet's Grim Resolve to Hasten End. POWERFUL NEW CHEMICAL. Lnited Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 11 a.m.) LONDON. March 4. The 'world-famous Italian poet, soldier and politician, (Jabricle D Annun/.io, is planning: to take his own hy dissolving his body in a bath containing a powerful chemical comjxiund which lie invented himself, says the Gardone correspondent of the British United Press. According: to a close friend, lie proposes to take this "death hath'' when he feels natural death approaching.

lliis. it is said, is the real meaning of D'Annunzio's recent message to General Staraee, Fascist leader, in*"which lie said: "I am an old. sick man. so I am going to hasten my end. - ' He will be 74 on March 12.

Of Dalmatian extraction. Gabriele D'Annunzio is one of the most romantic figures in the modern world. At the age of l.i he published a book of poems, but his fame came 11 years later, when he was described as the "greatest modern Italian writer." For l.~> years (1800-19051 lie was a member of the Italian Parliament. Then lie left the country owing to financial difficulties, but returned in 1912 to lead nationalist feeling with fervent war songs, celebrating tlie conquest of Tripolitana. His vocal vehemence helped to bring Italy into the war with the Allies, when his adventures really began. Thought by many to have been an aesthete and a decadent, he became a soldier of great hardihood ami courage, serving in the most exposed trenches on the Carso. Then li« joined the Navy and took part in many torpedo-boat and submarine raids. Again, he was transferred, becoming a brilliant airman, performing many dare-devil teats. On oil" occasion he led a flight over enemy country to Vienna itself, but dropped only propaganda pamphlet*. He was awarded the Italian equivalent of the Y.C., and many other decorations.

After the war he wrote vituperativelv of the attitude of the Allies, and of President Wilson in particular, toward* Italy. Ho placed himself in 1019 at the head of a hand of volunteers who captured Hume in the name of Italy. Koine repudiated this action and threatened attack, but 1) Annunzio. after remaining there for fit teen months, suddenly capitulated He was not prosecuted for high treason, but went to live at Lake Garda. where he lives to-day. When Mussolini seized power in 1922 D'Annunzio was made Count of Fiume, then Prince of Montenivoso. The war vessel Puglie, which was presented to him. was set up in the grounds of his Lake Garda villa, and he fires salutes from its decks in honour of visitors. A torpedo-boat in which he performed some of his war exploits lies at anchor in the lake below. He also lias aeroplanes at }iis disposal.