THE REBEL POET

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 80, 30 December 1919, Page 5

THE REBEL POET

MORE WiLD TALK AND SWORDDANCING REFUSES TO LEAVE FIUME (By Telegraph-Press As9ooiatiou-Copyrlfflit (Hec. December 20, 7.-15 p.m.) London, December 28. "The Times" Milan correspondent states that after the Council meeting at Finnic the great majority accepted the Government's scheme, but d'Annunzio de. manded a plebiscite, and the Council, anxious to save the poet's susceptibilities, agreed on a lurmula treeing d'Aiiimnzio and his followers from their oath to remain ill the city till annexation took place. Tim Aulitis, fearing that the ballot would bo unfavourable, seized the ballot-boxes. D'Annuiizio was within an ace of resignation and departure, but when surrounded by ardent supporters he changed his mind, and proclaims himself to be led by Divine inspiration. Ho talks wildly, and, banging his sword, declares that iio will aid the rebels in Ireland, Egypt, and India. - Really he incarnates the characters of his decadent literature, and proclaims himself tho promoted corporal of the Arditi. Like a mountebank of the Middle Ages, ho has secured control of the city, and will not leave it, while all but a few thousand fanatical Arditi, who iiro unwilling to return from their licentiousness to normal life, are vainly seeking a wny- to liberate themselves from their liberator. The alleged Social Democrats are also implicated.—"The Times." D'ANNUNZTO's" KTUKNDS DESEKTING iint. . London, December 27. Indications are growing that d'Aiintinzio's friends are deserting him, and are beginning to renlise that his romanticism is no substitute for ordinary workaday lifc.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.