D'ANNUNZIO, POET AND PATRIOT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue 13907, 7 November 1919, Page 2

D'ANNUNZIO, POET AND PATRIOT.

The exploit of d'Aununz.'o in Finnic revives new interest in the man. and his personality and record as a patriot have aroused much sympathy, which the New York' Tribune voices in the statement thai while the Captain has committed a serious offence in violating the terms of the armistice, "the world will be inclined to hope that the leniency that is the due of genius will be meted out to the culprit." The Tribune recalls that d'Annunzio, who. oppressed bv a dreadful ennui, had announced that he would live one more year and would then end his life by some means (hat would completely destroy his body, was, before the year expired, aroused from his lethuriry by (lie outbreak of the war and from the tins! had employed all his enerirv io bring Italy into the conflict. Savs the Tribune:

"Willi pen ;')idvuiee lio watred a ceaseless campaign. 'Every dav that jroes. iiy is lost lo our denial trlory.' was ilit- messaire he preached from noun! lons platforms wliilo Italy was still liosifcat.iii.ir- And lie is credited with liavin.tr boon (ho irrontosl simrlo fbiw that turned that hesitation info a declaration of war at>ainst Austria. O'Ainmnzio was amonir (ho lirsl in the liold. A luan past liftv. lio ohoso in become an aviator, that service /hat oniiiiuniids only voulh's hnrdiost and bravest. Tho ivoital of his exploits in tlio air roads like a ohaplor ■ IVom a volume of a modern 'Kniuhts of iho Taldo Round." Time and ap'ain ho led his air squadron in lone; raids over (he Austrian base ill I'ola and olhor Austrian oilies. Omr, while his oomrades dropped l.omlis upon Trieste, he flew in tow dolinneo of file .•inh'-airernH <juns and dropped a poem ! Onoe duriuir a terrible luuul-lo-lmni! with I lie Austriaus on the t'arso ho' rushed iinionjv ],; s eumrades. inspiring I hem with fierv words. Citnlions and rewards wore showered upon him. When Italy's armies broke under; (lie Austrian drive his voire was raised, orvinir ; - - 'All the luvht of u thousand vietories does rjiif equal Iho lijrht of une dav of resistance. That which we have hist for days shall lie retrained f„r eeiiluries,' lie was wounded several times and once was reported dead. The Austrian* wore said to have ishu<h\ a laiov reward for his capture or ileal It. When tho dispute over l''iumo arose (hero Mould ho onlv one si and for d'Auitillt'.',io, ft was, ||i;i! Ihe cifv mitsl linloUU' to !tnlv. I'oarc ('oiilVlvnoo eoinplouuHc-i In iho con ti'|o'v UoltvilhnlMUdilU) , , > '