A UNIQUE PERSONALITY.

Shannon News, 23 December 1927, Page 3

A UNIQUE PERSONALITY.

IMPRESSIONS OF MUSSOLINI. '"No remarks with regard to Italy would be complete without some reference to Benito Mussolini," said Mr A. W. Hutchings, in his 'address to the Levin Chamber of Commerce Lunch Club on Friday. "He is looked on by the vast majority there as the saviour of Italy." Mr Hutchings went on to say that Mussolini was born in 1883, being the son of a blacksmith; he had a rough time as a child, at-the'age of 20 he was the editor of a Socialist paper, he got into trouble, with the auth- , orities was expelled from Austria, and '.mprisoncd in Italy. Mussolini fought through the War with undoubted courage and was badly wounded. After the War there was a very bad reaction in Italy and a state of anarchy prevailed, the government of the day being very weak. In 1919 Mussolini was in Milan, and, seeing that the country was going to rack and ruin, he formed a little force of followers; and these. to.the number of 149, were the nucleus of the present Fascist society. In 1922 this, became such a power, and Mussolini such a menace, that Signor . Nitti, then Premier, had him imprisoned. Owing to the popular outcry, however, Mussolini was released after a short incarceration, and then the Premier offered him positions, such as Minister without portfolio. These Benito refused, and as a result of the famous march to Rome he became Dictatorand practically ruled the country. The Fascist movement was a revolutionary movement against the alleged inactivity of the post-war statesmen who would not tackle Italy's problems. The emblem of the Fascisti was a black shirt; and their motto, which was prominently displayed in public places, was ' ' Mv country, labour, and discipline." 'There was no question that tliis society had a tremendous hold on Italy-, and'a stranger had considerable . difficulty in arriving at any definite •onelusion about it. The speaker and Mrs Hutchings had had to follow the ulv ce of an old Italian fisherman whose attention they called to a snake - * on a Avail; he said, "You leave him alone; do nothing." That was their experience in regard to Mussolini. Unless one said everything in favour of him, it was really dangerous to say any. thing about him. Mr and Mrs Hutchings were in Rome when the Englishwoman, Miss Gibson, shot the Duee in the nose/and immediately there was a marvellous revelation of the poAver of the society. Within an hour business, was suspended, and notices were issued stating that there Avould be a service of thanksgiving next morning for Mussolini's deliverance. The Black Shirts commandeered cars and lorries and ' went through the city singing their ' national songs and waving flags, and it Avas woe to the man avlio did not give the Roman sign. - "■' : Features which were particularly noticed by Mr Hutchings were notices.,, in the papers that tlie membership of the society %vas closed and that undesirables were being Aveedcd out of it. Any man Avho; did anything against the '■ W was promptly expelled and his name was advertised in the papers. y