Fiume
a city on the west coast of the Adriatic, forty miles S. E. of Trieste.
It is a large, modern city, with buildings of large size, covering eight square miles, and with a population of 50,000, comprising Slavs and Italians. Fiume was, before the World War, under Hungarian sovereignty, and constituted the only seaport of the kingdom, for which reason much money was spent in its development. Its exports averaged $35,000,000 a year, and its imports only slightly less.
It was also of first-class importance as an industrial center, there being established here large manufacturing plants for the production of Whitehead torpedoes, petroleum, and flour. Extensive fisheries were carried on in the Adriatic with Fiume as their center.
After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in 1918, the city fell into the hands of the Jugoslavs, who claimed it on the ground that it was indisputably situated in Slav territory. This claim, however, Italy was disposed to contest, contending that the majority of the population within the city was Italian, and desired to be part of Italy. A compromise was finally effected, both parties agreeing that Fiume should become a free city. Suddenly, on Sept. 12, 1919, it was announced that a force of Italian soldiers, under the leadership of Captain Gabriele d'Annunzio, the famous poet and writer, who had distinguished him- 6 1919, self as an aviator during the war, had entered the city and taken possession by armed force, declaring that the city should remain Italian. This action was not only without the sanction of the Italian Government, but occupation was continued in spite of the orders of the Premier that the Italian soldiers within the city should withdraw. A threat was even made to send other Italian forces against the mutineers. D'Annunzio's popularity, however, gave him a moral force stronger than the military force of the Government, or even of that of the Allies, for, in November, 1920, he was still in possession. A treaty signed by Italy and Jugoslavia on Nov. 12, 1920, made Fiume a free city.