More D'Annunzio.

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:--

If Mr. Crane takes great pleasure in defending your editorial "D' Annunzio's Dream," I take extreme pleasure in attacking his unsupported statements. Although he thinks it is unnecessary to get into arguments over Italy's complete annexation of Fiume, yet, contrary to his intentions, he begins to argue by saying that Italy in possessing Fiume would virtually bottle up the Balkan Slavs; besides, he gives no proofs for this false statement. And it is this and the astonishing assertions about D'Annunzio that compel me to write you this letter.

In the first place, what D'Annunzio has done, he does not consider much. If that is what he thinks of a man who swayed the opinions of 40,000.000 people and spiritually led 5,000,000 men to victory, then we are lacking an editorial entitled "Crane's Dream."

His next and most astounding assertion was that D'Annunzio is not Italian. Where he got this idea is beyond imagination, D'Annunzio was born at Francavilla, Italy; he is the son of Duchessa Maria Gallese di Roma--she is Italian; he received his education in the College of Prato and University of Rome--both are Italian and in Italy. He has been a member of the Italian Chamber; he is a captain in the Italian army; his speech is Italian; his dress is Italian; his food is Italian; and finally his blood is Italian.

The third unsupported statement about D'Annunzio is that he is backed only by a small part of the Italian people. The present ministerial crisis in Italy shows that this statement is groundless. Premier Nitti, one of D'Annunzio's bitterest enemies, has fallen; this is a great victory for D'Annunzio, a victory which plainly shows that the majority of the Italians are with D'Annunzio.

In telling the world that it ought to accept the leadership of Lodge and Reed, Mr. Crane is doing nothing more than telling the world to accept the leadership of D'Annunzio; for just as Lodge and Reed against much opposition fought for the rights of this country, so is D'Annunzio, against much opposition fighting for the rights of Italy.

As for Italy trying to bottle up the Slavs, a few facts will show that such is not the case. Even if all of Italy's Adriatic claims were granted, the Jugo-Slavs would still have thirteen important ports, among which are Serenico, Spalato, Metovic, Ragusa, and Cattaro, all having excellent railroad communications with the illterior. Yet it is said that Fiume and not any of the above is the natural port of the Balkan Slavs. The falsity of such a statement is plainly evident from the Austrian official trade statistics of 1915. Here we find that only 7 per cent of Jugo-Slav commerce is carried on through Fiume, while 87 per cent is carried on through the above-named ports. Does this not show that if Italy should have full control over Fiume, it would by no means affect the trade of the Balkan Slavs?

Thus we see that all this adverse criticism of Italy and D'Annunzio is absolutely unjust. FRANK E. LACAUZA '23.