Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 04.djvu/176

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
LEFT
146
RIGHT

FIUME 146 FLAG gable for about 100 miles. The Queens- land river is formed by the junction of the Mackenzie and the Dawson rivers. It flows in an easterly direction into Keppel Bay on the Pacific coast. It is navigable for about 40 miles from its mouth. 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, com- prising 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 develop- ment. 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, paper, petroleum, and flour. Extensive fisheries were carried on in the Adriatic with Fiume as their center. After the collapse of the Austro-Hun- garian 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 pop- ulation within the city was Italian, and desired to be part of Italy. A compro- mise 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- 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. FIVE FORKS, a locality near Din- widdle Court-house, Va. Here, on April 1, 1865, a severe engagement was fought between the National troops and the Confederates, the former under the com- mand of General Sheridan, and the latter under that of General Lee. After sev- eral hours' heavy fighting, the Confed- erates retreated with a loss of a large number of killed and wounded, 5,000 prisoners, and several guns. The Na- tional loss was about 1,000 men, includ- ing General Winthrop, who was killed. FIVES, an English game at ball, in which the ball is struck against a wall. It is played either in close or in open courts, of various shapes and propor- tions. The game is known as hand-fives or bat-fives, according as the ball is struck by the open hand or a small wooden bat. Also the first, or hand, as having five fingers. Also a disease in horses, resembling the staggers, and con- sisting of an inflammation of the parotid glands; written also vives. FIXED STAR, in pyrotechnics, a com- position introduced into a rocket case and emitting fire at five holes, to repre- sent a star. The composition is niter, sulphur, gunpowder meal, and antimony. In astronomy, fixed stars are those which till lately were supposed absolute- ly to maintain their relative positions toward each other in the sky, and are still admitted to do so very nearly. They are contra-distinguished from planets or "wandering stars." The number of fixed stars is infinitely great, especially in the part of the heavens called the Milky Way (see Galaxy). From a remote period of antiquity they have been grouped into constellations (see Con- stellation). They shine by their own light, and probably are suns each one surrounded by planets of its own. Some stars are periodic, and vary in bright- ness, others disappear and come again. There are double and triple stars, grav- ity operating on their movements. FIXTURE, in law, a term applied to things of an accessory nature annexed to houses or lands, so as to become part of the realty. The annexation must be by the article being set into or united with the land, or with some substance previously connected therewith. Thus a shed built upon a frame not let into the earth, is not a fixture. Machines and other things erected for the purposes of trade are not fixtures, if they can be removed without material damage to the property. Fixtures may not be dis- trained upon. FLAG, an ensign or colors; a piece of cloth, either plain or colored, and hav- ing certain figures, lines, or marks painted or worked on it; a banner indi- cating nationality, occrpation, or intelli- gence. Flags of nationality are stand- ards, ensigns, pennants (pendants), jacks. Flags of occupation indicate serv-