REVOLT IN ITALY.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 October 1922, Page 5

REVOLT IN ITALY.

VICTORY FOR PATRIOTS. GRAVE OUTBREAK AVERTED. CHANGE OF MINISTRY. By Telegraph.—Press Asst. —Copyright. London, Oct. 29. Telegrams -from Borne indicate that only the King’a action in refusing to approve martial law saved the country from a grave outbreak approaching a state of civil war. After Signor Mussolini had refused to co-operate with the Ministry on thfe ground that the Fascisti alone must govern, the King recalled him and invitM him to form a Ministry. The Daily Express correspondent states that the Fascisti are practically masters of Rome, and their influence is supreme throughout Italy. The army enthusiastically supports the Fascist!. The Fascisti carried out plans swiftly. They intiihated thfit local prefects must transfer to theth their powers, and in a few hours they were mastetS of the situation in central Italy. Everywhere officers and the fttmy treated the Fascisti in the most friendly spirit. Signor Mussdlini issued a proclamation that the Government must be fully composed of Fasrieti. Besides the Premiership he intends reserving to himself the portfolios of Home and Foreign Affairs.

LIBERTY FOR ITALY. AIM OF THE FASCISTI. Paris, Oct. 28. A telegram from Rome states that the situation is serious. The retiring Cabinet, which is still functioning, sat throughout the night receiving reports from the provinces regarding the Fas?ist risings in several leading cities. The storm centre is Tuscany, where if Med Fascisti are occupying the public buildings in such places as Florence, Pisa, and Leghorn, despite the Carabineers’ resistance. The Fascisti also threaten to march tipbfi Rome in ordet to gife Italy full liberty, and to make the King of Italy Kling indeed. The Cabinet first decreed Martial law throughout Italy, but later revoked it ipon reports that the situation was improving. All the members have signed an appeal to the Italian people. The appeal jtates that seditious movements have manifested themselves in certain provinces. having as their object the interruption of the normal functions of :he powers of the State, and calculated to plunge the country into grave trouble. The Government has thus far tried every possible means of conciliation. with the hope of reaching -a peaceful solution. In the face of inmrrectionary atteMpts it is the duty af the retiring Government at whatever cost to maintain law and order, and this was a duty it would carry out to the full, in order to safeguard the citizens and free constitutional institutions. Rome. Oct. 28. -Sigiior Facta has withheld his resignation pending an interview with Mussolini. It is Believed Signor Facta will negotiate for a re-organisation of Cabinet in order to inelude one or fro Fascisti. PROGRAMME OF FASCISTI. “WE MARCH ON ROME.” . London, Oct. 28. “We march on Rome in order to give Italy her full liberty,” deciares the text of a bill being distributed by the Fascisti in Pisa and other cities among officers, soldiers and citizens. It continues: “The Fascisti movement is neither against the country nor the King. We want his Majesty to tte really King of Italy, and desire that he should not submit himself to State reason?; which were imposed upon him in a cowardly manner by the present weak Ministers. We march on to Rome to give the Italian people such an Italy as was dreamed of by the 500,000 dead In the Great War, and by our own dead who have continued the war durig peace. We are marching with a sincere desire for peace and love. Our greatest shout shall always be ‘Long Jive Army, King and Italy!’” It U officially announced that Signor Facta waited on the King and presented the resignation of Cabinet.

NO DISTURBANCE IN ROME. THE POSITION IMPROVING. Rome, Oct. 28. An explanation of the recession of martial law was afforded by a newspaper statement that the King refused to sigh the decide. Cabinet is still sitAll was quiet here at dusk, but the authorities stopped the trams as a precautionary measure, though other traffic Was running. A number of Fascists made a demonstration before the Qmrjnal and acclaimed hfe Majesty.. All was reported quiet in the provinces, except in a few places where the Fascisti are occupying the public offices. Bloodshed occurred only at Cremona*

THE NEW PREMIER. FORMER ARDENT SOCIALIST. CONVERTED BY THE WAR. Received Oct. 30, 7.40 p.m. Rome, Oct. 29. The Fascisti set fire to the premises of the newspaper Paese, belonging to Signor Nitti. . The hew Premier. who is aged 39. is a son of a Socialist blacksmith, who was thrice imprisoned for preaching Socialism. The son became an ardent Socialist and went to Switzerland, whence he was expelled as a most dangerous criminal. Afterwards he became leader of the Italian Socialists and edited the newspaper Avanti. The war converted him into an equally ardent patriot. He joined the army and was wounded. He returned and established the newspaper Popula Ditaha, Ift which he ruthlessly attacked his former Socialist friends and denounced the weakness of the Government in yielding to the Communist?. A proininent plaflk in the Fascist i platform is the restoration of Malta and the Italian Swiss .provinces. Muteolini’a advent to power means the re moulding of Italy on lines pf vary intense nationalism.