TERROR AT ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 May 1921, Page 5

TERROR AT ELECTIONS.

ITALY REJECTS COMMUNISTS.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn —Copyright-

London, May 16.

The Rome correspondent of the Daily Herald (Labor) says that blood and terror unparalleled in present history marked the election campaign just concluded. The working class parties enjoyed no liberty of propaganda. Armed Fascisti usually assisted the Government forces and broke up the meetings Which Socialists and Communists attempted. Hundreds of workers’ institutions were devastated. Socialist candidates were sfequestered and driven from their electorates, and Labor newspapers burned. Armed Fascisti invaded several Communist headquarters and destroyed the ballots, the elections going to the Nationalists by default. There is little doubt that the Parliament will be short-lived. The Socialists demand dissolution.

Other reports state that Gioletti assisted the Fascisti and that the Naiona lists are likely to have a working majority over the Catholics, Socialists and Communists, the last-named being practically extinguished. Received May 18, 8.40 p.m. Rome, May 17.

Though incomplete, the election returns show a general victory for the National-Liberal Coalition, except in Milan, where the Socialists polled more than the Liberals and Catholics together. Signors Giolitti, Nitti. Calandra, and Orlando have been re-elected. Germans won all the four Upper Adige seats. The Socialist s’ diminution is not as great a expected, but the Catholics did poorly. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.