the reactionary Magyar regime." And around
them a number of more or less questionable persons were assembled, whose
conduct with regard to the disposal of the Austrian stores has now been
so severely censured. That organization which, dependent on the C.N.I.,
was supposed to administer the stores, was known as the Adriatic
Commission. "We all knew," said the Commission of inquiry, "that the
eyes of the whole world were gazing at our little town." It was,
therefore, very desirable that nothing irregular should be done; whereas
the judges give a most unfavourable verdict. Nobody, they say, would
rejoice more than themselves if their conclusions should be shown to be
completely or partly erroneous, for they are all of them penetrated with
love for the fatherland Italy. But they relate, with chapter and verse,
a large number of peculiar transactions which show that the goods were
very improperly and very hastily auctioned, and that those who reaped
the benefit were nearly always the same people. To give one instance,
some of the wine, said to have been damaged, was sold at 260 crowns the
thousand litres, while undamaged wine brought 320 crowns, and the firm
of Riboli, the only one which appeared at the so-called auction, was
only asked to pay 30 crowns. Thus a considerable number of people in
Rieka were anxious that the town should not come under any Government
which might punish the culprits or make them disgorge. And Nitti and
d'Annunzio agreed with these interested parties in opposing a solution
other than the overlordship of Italy. "The Yugoslavs should understand,"
said the amiable Premier, "that Italy has no intention of acting in a
manner distasteful to them, but is struggling for a national ideal." And
meantime what of the conditions in the poor distracted town?
"D'Annunzio," says an Italian paper, "is no longer the master of Rieka.
He has become the prisoner of his own troops.... While he amuses himself
and organizes the worst orgies, his troops quarrel in the streets and
discharge their weapons.... A great many of them have their mistresses
in the hospital, where they make themselves at home. When the doctors,
after some time, protested, the arditi, with bombs in their hands,
threatened to blow up the hospital if they were not allowed to enter
it." On the other hand the pale, weary-looking poet succeeded in
impressing on a special correspondent of the _Morning Post_ that he was
"master of his job." He told this gent