ITALY UNDER “DORA"

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12611, 23 November 1926, Page 3

ITALY UNDER “DORA"

FASCISTS TAKE FIRMER GRIP HOSTAGES FOR MUSSOLINI NAMED WILL DIE IF HE DIES By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received November 22, 6.50 p.m.) LONDON, November 22. The “Daily Chronicle’s” special correspondent, lately in Italy, states that the country is being placed under the most diabolical “Dora’’ (Defence of the Realm Act, in force in Britain in wartime) it is possible to conceive. All political parties, except the Fascist, are being abolished. Only Fascist newspapers are allowed to exist, and. unofficially, lists of hostages and of people who will be summarily executed if anything happens to Signor Mussolini are being drawn up throughout the country. “What justice,” the correspondent asks, “will a political prisoner receive from an officer of the army and five members of the Fascist militia? The whole procedure will be that of a court-martial in wartime. No one will dare to give evidence for the defence before such a packed tribunal. “A system of espionage is being built up through concierges which will reach every household.” "INDIFFERENT” TO ATTACKS MUSSOLINI TELLS SENATE EMERGENCY BILL PASSED. Australian and N7< Cable Association. ROME, November 21. Tlie Senate, by 183 votes to 49, passed the Defence of tho State Bill. Signor Mussolini declared: “The Bill is not due to the outrages, which leave me profoundly indifferent, and if those making me the object of their tenacious ‘ballistic’ attentions think they are employing intimidation, they are completely and ridiculously mistaken. Nevertheless, these episodes disturb the nation’s life, and cause spiritual unoajyhess. The people’s demonstrations have definitely proved their demand for extraordinary measures, and 1 shall personally select the special tribunals, which will not perform vengeance, but justice.”