NEW ERA OPENS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1922, Page 5

NEW ERA OPENS.

BETTER DAYS FOR ITALY. DEFEAT OF EXTREMISTS, JVHAT THE REVOLT MEANS. NEW PREMIER’S IDEALS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Oct. 31, 7.20 pan. London, October 30. The Daily Chronicle’s special correspondent at Milan, explaining the situation in Italy, says the Fascist coup is not a revolution, but rather an energetic assertion of the State. If the Fascist! remain true to their programme, not a single organic institution will be challenged, or a single function of the State abrogated, and there will not be a Government official who cannot openly side with them, as most have already done. The Fascisti and the Crown forces both aim at safeguarding Italy. When Signor Mussolini (the new Premier) called the Fascisti into being to smash the Communist movement and take the place of the Government, which was too timid to face the red peril, he found the terror-struck middle classes, financiers and industrialists solidly behind him. He drilled and disciplined his men as never before in Italy, and taught them almost religious fervor for renascent Italy. He gave them a Roman insignia for a banner and a Roman lift of the right arm of a salute, and he taught them that the Government must be decentralised, finance ■ reformed, education extended, Italy’s foreign influence more decisively felt, and mealy-mouthed internationalism and class war purged for ever. The Fascisti cleared the Communists out of the factories, harried them on the streets, repaid murder by murder, and smashed and burned their clubs and newspapers. ' The Fascist! represent the best elements in Italy. Whatever use vested interests make of them, they have now decided to accept the full responsibility of Government and to end political plots and coun-ter-plots under which Italy is withering. What is all so baffling is that there is no real public opinion in Italy. Political moves are games played over the heads of the people. Signor Mussolini, after the leaving the Quirinal after a long audience with the King, addressed crow’ds outside the Palace. H said:—“Fellow-countrymen: In a few days you will not have a Ministry, but a Government. Long live the King! Long live Italy! Long live Fascimo!” Later Signor Mussolini announced his Cabinet. In addition to himself, there are: Minister of War, General Diaz; Minister of Marine, Admiral Revel; Minister of Industry, Signor Rossi; Minister to the Treasury, Signor Inaddi; Minister of Finance, Signor Stefani; Minister for Colonies, Signor Federzoni; Minister of Justice, Signor Oviglio; Minister of Liberated Territories, Signor Guirati; Minister of Public Instruction, Signor Gentilo: Minister of Agriculture, Signor Gavitani. In addition to the Premiership, Signor Mussolini also takes the portfolios of Foreign Affairs and the Interior. Squadrons from Abruzzi, numbering several thousand Fascist!, surrounded San Lorenzo, a quarter of Rome which has been a stronghold of the extremist and lawless elements for many years. When armed communists attempted resistance a fight began, in which two were killed and several wounded. Ultimately the communists surrendered and delivered up their arms. During the crisis the Government adopted very minute precautions to protect the Pope, surrounding the Vatican with loyalist troops, and Papal troops were concentrated within. The Pope displayed the keenest interest in the progress of events and was constantly posted with every detail, meanwhile continuing his ordinary routine. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE CAPITAL QUIET. NEW PREMIER SEES THE KING. FASCIST VICTORY DEVELOPS. Received Oct. 31, 7.20 p.m. Rome, Oct. 30. Large forces of unarmed Fascisti held frequent demonstrations before the Quirinal, shouting “Long live the King.” The city is absolutely quiet, the Fascisti activity being confined to burning copies of anti-Faacist newspapers. Signor Mussolini has arrived at Rome. He immediately had an audience with the King- The troops at Genoa prevented the occupation of the Prefecture, wounding four Fascisti. Various conflicts occurred at Bologna, but the Fasciati carried out no occupations. News that the King had called on Signor Mussolini to form a Ministry aroused enthusiasm in Northern Italy. The Fascist victory in Lombardy, Piedmont and Tuscany is complete. The Socialist leaders are in hiding.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CHANGE OF MINISTRY. ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIOS. Rome, Oct. 30. Signor Mussolini has reached an agreement with the General Federation of Labor and the Seamen’s Federation. He has allotted himself the portfolios of Internal and Foreign Affairs, the latter temporarily. Other Ministers include General Diaz, Minister of War; Signor Thaonderevel, Marine; Signor Paratore, Finance. A REPUBLIC POSSIBLE. CONDITIONAL ALLEGIANCE. London, Oct. 30. The Rome correspondent of the Daily Mail says that Rome regards Signor Mussolini as the first President of the Republic, though he has given conditional allegiance to the King. ’Hie Fascist! now number over a million | active members, of whom 700.000 are workmen, who for love of their country. have seceded from the extreme trade unions. COMMUNIST PARTY. TO CEASE OPERATIONS. Rome, Oct. 30. The newspaper Azione says all .member? of the Communist Party have been informed that the party is seating operations, and that all members have been released from P art V iiscipline and duties. It is believed that, aa the result of this decision, the Communist deputies will resign their