D’ANNUNZIO.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18599, 29 December 1920, Page 7

D’ANNUNZIO.

FIGHTING AT FIUME.

SENSATION IN ITALY

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.

PARIS, December 27

The Foreign Office iias been advised tliat six were killed and many wounded in the fighting around Fiume. ROME, December 27.

Legionaries, at Zara (Dalmatia) on December 25, captured a small war vessel, tho Marsala, the crew of which refused to mutiny. Torpedoers were ordered to retake or sink the vessel, whereupon the captors surrendered the vessel and themselves. Regulars besieged Zara for five days. I’lie Legionaries capitulated after fighting in which five regulars were killed and twenty-five wounded. ADVANCE OF THE REGULARS. HEAVY FIGHTING. (Received December 28, 7.55 p.m.) ROME, December 27. The news that fighting had begun on the Finnic front on Christmas Eve was withheld for several days. It caused a seusation amongst tho public. Tho newspapers deplore the fratricidal conflict, but strongly support the Government. Regulars advanced on the whole front? without firing until the legionaries opened an attack. Tho advance was temporarily cheeked at Susack by legionaries blowing up a bridgo after three hours’ heavy fighting. Losses on both sides are reported to be heavy.

D’Annunzio crushed two attempts at insurrection amongst the population of Fiume. Some legionaries are deserting and joining the regulars.

BATTLE FOR FIUME.

MANY CASUALTIES. (Received December 28, 10.5 p.m.) ROME, December 28.

The troops of General Ferraro attacked the outskirts of Fiume on Christmas Eve. D’Annunzio ordered that all the woods encircling the city should be burned. Lamentable destruction ensued, including a number of public buildings _ Lnter field guns and armoured cars joined iu the battle. Alpmi, moving from Castrauo, broke d’Annunzio’s left wing and entered Fiume, where they occupied Danubinsyaxd. The regulars then found themselves under tho fire of hundreds of machine-guns. There wore many casualties on "both sides. Motor lorries laden with -wounded are arriving at Coho. D’Annunzio is continually sending out violent proclamations, inciting his troops and tho citizens of Fiumo to fight to tho last. There are rumours that he has been wounded. The destroyer Espero, which went over to d’Aununzio, was destroyed by violent fire from Government warships. D’ANNUNZIO REPORTED KILLED. (Received December 28. 10.30 p.m.) ROME, December 27. According to a. dispatch from Fiume, d’Annunzio was killed while trying to prevent a fight between legionaries and regulars.