COMMUNISTS IN ITALY.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17127, 23 April 1921, Page 9

COMMUNISTS IN ITALY.

. 'renewed GONrucrra WITH PASOISTJ. n. Ctth-Kia A«ociatlon—dtJopyrigit.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Aseocaatian.) BX)ME,/pril 21., There b#s been renewed fighting between tielTascisti and t)he in vorious parts bi the country; Nine persons wfcre killed in one conflict. [The organisatioa of the "law and. order parties" into a national body, the Fdscisti, which is of recent growth in .Italy, vas the result of the violent methods adopted during the last two years by tie extreme Communists.- The provinces of Ferrara, Modena, and Bologna have been the storm-centres or their activity. .. The Communists had attempted to establish a,-system _of terrorism, especially in the rural districts, where- the .great bulk of the agricultural population has .been victimised by the destruction of their crops and cattle and by similar outrages, ae reprisals punishment for their stont opposition to the importation of Bolsoevist methods ! into Italy; After two years of patient suffering the victims rose against the terrorists, in these circumstances the policy of the Italian Government was directed to the prompt repression of all forms of violence by either side, Fascisti and Communists being disarmed alike with tho strictest impartiality. And the end of the conflicts, said the "Morning Post" a few weeks . ago. marks.the success of this policy, reaffirming the authority of the Btate above ell parties. These conflicts mark probably the final failure of Bolshevism in Italy, following the spontaneous reaction of the overwhelming majority of the peaceful.and patriotic population. This. reaction first asserted itself last October, when the Socialist candidates to the local and provincial councils were defeated throughout Italy, except in a few scattered towns, where their authority since has. been vanisfling rapidly. The next effect of the mobilisation of the . moderate and peaceful elements in all parties against the Communist groups was seen in the result of the recent Socialist Congress at Leghorn, where tihe'Communists were compelled -to secede from che Socialists, forming a separate party with no more than 60L00O members and 19 spokesmen . only in Parliament, as against 120 deputies representing tho more moderate ttend or Socialist thought.J '