FIUME INCIDENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 134, 8 May 1945, Page 6

FIUME INCIDENT

D’ANNUNZIO RECALLED. The capture of Eiume by Marshal Tito’s forces recalls a , ew days ago the famous DAnniinzio adventure of 1919. The Italians turd claimed the port of 1< iume in virtue of President Wilson’s principle of “self-determination”, and they ultimately obtained it, thanks to the raid made by Gabriel D’Annunzio, the soldier-poet, who mustered a body' ot men at Ronchi, near Trieste, and on September Iff, 1919, occupied tlie contested town, 'there, despite official Notes, he remained as “commandant . He drew up a constitution lor the “Carnaro”, as he called bis miniature State. He descended with bis “legionaries” upon Zara and mediated an extension of his territory still further soutnwavd. While successive Italian Governments gave him no official support, he received considerable sympathy from the Nationalist elements in Italy, but when Signor Gioletti, in 192(}, became for the last time Premier and concluded the Treaty of J’apallo with the Yugoslavs, lie resolved to turn the poet out of Eiume. The commandant's official residence was bombarded by the warship Andrea Doria and lie narrowly escaped the martyrdom which he had proclaimed for himself and his followers. After the heroic “age” of his rule there came a prosaic interlude of his local rival, Signor Zanella, who represented the autonomous as opposed to the Italian National Party and aimed at bringing about a good understanding with Yugoslavia. A coup d’etat by Fascisti and Legionaries took .place in 1922; (he Government offices were stormed, Signor Zanella abdicated in favour of a “Government of National Defence” and was escorted over frontier in an armoured car; Signor Prodan, a local engineer, succeeded him and the annexation to Italy was proclaimed. Official Italy, however, acted with caution and persuaded Signor Guirati, a Fascist Deputy, io decline the proffered post- of civil "“Commission,” while D’Annunzio, from his retreat on Lako Garda, denounced the dissensions of Fin me and refused fo return and lead the Fiuman movement. At last a series of arrangements was concluded at Rome between the Italian and Yugoslav Governments on January 27, 1924. whereby Finnic was definitely recognised as Italian.