understand.]

[Footnote 43: Cf. _Morning Post_, November 17, 1920.]

[Footnote 44: A most vivid account of this affair was
contributed to the _Chicago Tribune_ (July 13, 1919) by its
correspondent, Thomas Stewart Ryan, one of the two neutral
eye-witnesses. He came to the conclusion that as Italy was an
interested party and was exasperated by the long delay in the
decision, an outbreak even more violent might occur unless her
forces were brought down to the level of the other Allies. In
alliance with the city rabble, the Giovani Fiumani, Italian
soldiers attacked the French: "I can state emphatically," says
Mr. Ryan, "that the French guards did nothing whatever to
provoke the assault, some details of which would blot the
escutcheon of most savage tribes. I saw soldiers of France
killed, after surrender, by their supposed Allies.... I could
scarcely believe my ears when Italian officers rapped out the
order to load. But they seemed to remember that Frenchmen can
fight." However, he also saw an Italian officer who "prevented
this murder and held back the civilians who were trying to
reach their victim. I must record it to the credit of this
officer that his was the only Italian voice to defend the game
little soldier. 'A hundred against one! Shame on you, soldiers
of Italy!' I wish I knew this officer's name." At another part
of the harbour, "A British naval officer, fearing that the
wounded Frenchman would be stabbed inside the court to which he
was dragged, followed the body and defied the captain of
carabinieri, who ordered him to leave." And at the close "I was
no longer alone with my friend as a neutral eye-witness. The
British Admiral Sinclair appeared, causing much perturbation to
the Italian officers, who though some of them had just taken
part in the shambles, were already glib with excuses. 'The
British Admiral wants to know' was enough to bring the Italian
officer running and bowing, with 'I beg of you....' 'We are
willing to explain all....' American naval officers of the
destroyer _Talbot_ were also among this post-mortem crowd. In a
French motor bearing two Italian officers who stood up to ward
off possible shots, came a French captain. He was of that calm,
splendid type that makes you think of the Chevalier Bayard, a
knightly figure. Quietly he moved amon