ITALIAN AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1920, Page 2

ITALIAN AFFAIRS

[by TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] j AUSTRALIAN ANI) N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION, j STRANG K CASE IN ITALY. ROM®, December 26. ’Hie extreme sentence of twenty-four years’ solitary confinement brings to a close a dramatic trial of the monk, Brother Ciavolino, known as the Italian Rasputin. The ease was stranger ‘ than fiction. By means of a mysterious fascination the monk obtained the love of dozens of 'society wom'en. in Naples. After bringing woman after woman to shame and misery, he became a victim himself, by falling in love with a Cabaret singer. He finally murdered the Father Superior in his own convent to provide her with money. BATTLE AT FIUME. ! ROME, Dec. 28. j The troops of General Ferraro at--tacked the outskirts of Fiume on Xmas Eve. D’Annunzio ordered that all the

woods encircling the city should be burned. A lamentable destruction ensued, including a number of public buildings. Later on, field guns and armoured cars joined In the battle. The Alpini, moving from Castrano, broke D’Annunzio’s left wing, and entered Fiume, where they occupied the Danubins Yard. The regulars tlien found themselves under the fire of hundreds of machine guns. There were 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 the citizens of Fiume to fight (o the last. There are rumours that he has been wounded. j The destroyer Espero, which went over to D’Annunzio, was destroyed by violent five from the Government warships. y

D’ANNUNZIO FALLS. HIS DEATH REPORTED. ' ROME, Dee. 27. According to a dispatch from Fiume Signor Gabrielle D’Annunzio has been killed. He fell while trying to prevent a fight between his legionaries and the Italian regulars.