ITALIAN AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1920, Page 2

ITALIAN AFFAIRS

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. PAPAL MANIFESTO. HOME, Dec. 25. The Pope has issued a manifesto, in which ho declares that war is not yet over. If men, ho says, are still fighting among themselves, then the moral damage they sustain is greater than the material damage. The Pope says that evils afflict present society.—First, a lack of discipline second, hatred among brothers; third, a craving for pleasures and enjoyment; fourth, a refusal to work; fifth j a loss of faith in God. Nations and peoples, ho declares will endeavour in vain to reconstruct if they forget what is written in the holy hooks, viz., that reconstruction is impossible without Gpd’s co-operation. “It is the mission and duty of the Pope to remind society” and*he says I shall devote all my efforts for a return to belief in the gospel.” D’ ANNUZIO’S ATTITUDE. PARIS, Dec 24. The Fiunio Government announces that it has vacated Mounts Lubian and

Toomba, and other points on the frontier for tactical reasons. It is reported that D’Annunzio has sent an emissary to Rome, offering to give up Quarnero, Barros, Viglia, and Arbe if Italy abandons immediate annexation, and leaves Dalmatia alone. ROME, Dec. 25. D’Annunzio has ordered the expulsion of all strangers from Fiume. The city has only one week’s provisions. According to advices from Fiume, Gabrielle D’Annunzio’s followers are divided as to whether to continue resistance. Several clashes have occurred between tho Poet’s forces and the Italian Regulars, but with only a few casualties. Many of tho legionaries favour only passive resistance. Others, who are more faithful to D’Annunzio, are determined to fight. A delegation of leading citizens of Fiumo visited the Poet and said th’ey were tired of suffering in a beleaguered city and asked him to arrive at an immediate peaceful solution. FIUME IN DIFFICULTIES.

ROME, Dec. 25. A Trieste message states that a large number of Government torpedo boats are cruising in the Adriatic, and shutting off the sea approaches to Fiume. The land approaches are also cut off, and are heavily guarded by Government troops. - Itis believed that Fiume is beginning to suffer from a lack of food. A number of legionaries have deserted, fearing that they would be forced to fight against their brothers.

anti-bolshevik troops. ROME, Dec. 25. Two steamers with 4000 of Wrangel’s troops and Crimean refugees have arrived at Cattaro. Typhus has mode dreadful ravages on them. 'Tlie sick cannot disembark, as the Serbian authorities ■ are making no hospital provision.

CLOSING IN FITJME. ROME, Dec. 26. Italian Regulars have reached the outskirts of Fiume and are gradually closing in on the poet’s strong-hold. It is expected the city will he taken during the next forty-eight hours. A despatch from Udine states Ca-vigella’s Regulars advanced without firing a shot, in a. combined land and naval movement to surround Fiume. D’Annunzio’s men retired and his aviation field was captured. MATTERS AT FIUME. (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) ROME, Dbcember 27. The official reply to d’Annunzio states the Government will take steps to make the blockade of Fiume absolutely effective. jFIUME ; (Received This Day at 8.30 a.m.) PARIS, December 27. . The Foreign Office lias- been advised that six were killed and many wounded

t in the figliing around Fiume. 1 THE FIGHT FOR FIUME. (Received' This Day at 9.45 a.m.) ROME, December 27. Legionaries’ at Gara on the 25th. captured the “mall war vessel Marsala. The crew refused to mutiny. Torpedoers at the rear ordered a rescue or to ! sink the Marsala. The captors snrren- ' dered the vessel and themselves. Regulars besieged Gara for five days till the 1 legionaries capitulated, after fighting wherein five regulars were killed and twentyfive wounded. •