City of Split Heritage Journal, No. 34, 2007.
Original scientific paper
MILITARY SHIPS IN THE SPLIT HARBOR FROM 1918 TO 1924
Karmen Hrvatić
Abstract
From 1918 until 1924 many allied ships arrived to Split even for longer periods. However, the citizens had a different attitude towards certain allied crews. American ship crews distinguished themselves as the most cooperative ones and were the most favorably received in town. They took part in all municipal issues and celebrations alike. Next were the
French whose ships arrived to Split harbor in a somewhat lesser number, but were however always warmly received. The English were noted for their quality football matches between their crews and "Hajduk”. Although the Italian minority in town only partly cooperated with Italian military ships in the harbor, they were coldly received by the citizens of Split. In other words, their presence always caused fear of Italian occupation and their claims against the city
which is why the citizens of Split often resented the behavior of Italian crews in town. On the other hand, Italian seamen were very often involved in incidents in town, hence the cold reception of the majority of citizens. For this very reason, the American presence in the area
of Split had a double character; although they acted within the interallied plan, they tried to restrict Italian ambitions in the Split zone. A prominent role in this was played by American admirals Niblack and Andrews who tried to improve the economic situation in the zone.
Navy officers helped to keep order in town but Andrews assigned the police authority ashore to the local bodies, gaining thus their even greater preference. Although Italian military ships left Split in 1922, the year of 1924 is referred to as the year when the allied navies left Split
harbor because representatives of the English and American navies, that along with the Italian, were the most widely present in the entire postwar period, also came for a farewell visit.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
66601
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2007.
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