SHOTS AT MUSSOLINI.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 9 April 1926, Page 9

SHOTS AT MUSSOLINI.

Italian Premier’s Close Call. FOREIGN WOMAN FIRES POINT BLANK. ALL ITALY REJOICES AT DELIVERANCE. A first class sensation was caused in Rome on Thursday, by the attempted assassination of Signor Mussolini. A woman fired point blank at the Italian Premier, but her aim was diverted by a professor accompanying the Premier. The lucky escape of Signor Mussolini was enthusiastically celebrated throughout Italy, and the Premier was wildly acclaimed wherever he made his appearance.

ONLY SLIGHT WOUNDS. WOMAN SAVED FROM ANGRY CROWD. By Cable—Press Association —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. ROME, April 7. While Signor Mussolini was leaving the International Congress surgery, an elderly woman fired a _ revolver almost point blank, wounding him slightly in the nose. Signor Mussolini was quite calm, and immediately gave directions with a view to preventing a disturbance. Tlie woman was with difficulty rescued from tho incensed crowd, and taken to prison. She is an Englishwoman, Violet Albina Gibson. The news of the attempt on Signor Mussolini’s life spread rapidiy throughout tile city, and caused profound indignation among all sections of the populace, especially in the Central District, where feelings ran high, and a number of young people 111a relied to the offices of the Opposition newspaper, “Mondo,” where they violently protested, and damaged tho plant. Tho authorities immediately issued strict orders to suppress excesses.

walking towards a motor car from the capital, after opening tho Surgery' Congress, when a white-haired woman, rather shabbily dressed in black, fired a pistol at close range. Aiming-at'tho temple, she hit tho top of his nose. Signor Mussolini stepped back, but instantly recovered, and had his hand over his face. His nose bled profusely over his shirt and morning coat. Populace Remains Calm. Signor Mussolini calmly returned to tlie capital, where he was bandaged, and appeared very shortly and signed to tho crowd. He spoke a few words commanding calmness and no reprisals. Signor Mussolini went home in a motor car. In the meantime, the woman had dropped a small French automatic pistol. The crowd were dragging her away by the "hair, when the police rescued her and took her to the courtyard, and afterwards to an adjacent loom, whore she was questioned. Woman’s Inexplicable Act. The woman was unable to speak. She was overcome by weakness, but presently she indicated she wanted to write. Paper and pencil were given her; whereupon she wrote two addresses, but both proved false. Then she was motored to tlie woman’s prison at Mantellas, where the Polico Prefect questioned her. The woman, replying in broken Italian, said sho is aged sixty-two, and her name is Violet Gibson, and she is of Irish nationality. She added she did not know why she wanted to kill Mussolini. She had never seen him before. She recognised him by means of photographs. She did not express regret at her action, or seem to realise her position. It is reported she had two phials of poison in a handbag.

Woman’s Strange Acts. It is officially stated that _ the wound perforated Signor Mussolini s nostrils, but is not serious. , Tho woman Gibson, aged_so -years, was the central figure in a Holy Year drama at Rome in February, 1920. one is a devout Catholic. She attended'.the ecclesiastical ceremonies, and Liter, whilo under "the influence of a fit cf religious exaltation, shot herself in the chest in her bedroom at a private hotel. Her father was the first Lord Ashbourne, prominent in Irish politic?,. Signor Mussolini, holding a handkerchief to his bleeding nose, ordered the polico to protect Gibson from the crowd’s fury. A member of the family states that Gibson has been residing at Romo for eighteen months. After the attempted suicide she was discharged from hospital, under the caro of friends. She lias no political sympathies in any direction, but is moody arid deeply religious. Hei mother died a fortnight ago.

Despite his experience Signor Mussolini, in tho afternoon, attended the inaugural meeting in tho Fascist Council at Dittorio Palace. • Ho appeared slightly pale. In the course of an address Signor Mussolini said: “Italy must win a difficult battle abroad.” Italy’s High Destiny. A great crowd lined the routo and gave Signor Mussolini an ovation when he drove off, and again during the evening outside tho Palazzo when Signor Mussolini, with his face heavily patched from cheek to cheek, looking, according to the “Morning Post’s” correspondent, like a victorious boxer, addressed the crowd from the balcony, declaring that despite incidents like to-day’s, Fascismo would continue tho march to lead Italy to a high destiny. In conclusion he gave the Homan salute to a delirious assemblage.

All Italy Rejoices. Flags are flying throughout tile city in celebration of the Premier’s escape. V • An enormous throng is stationed m front of Signor Mussolini’s residence. Signor Mussolini telegraphed to the King reassuring His Majesty with regard to his health. MUSSOLINI’S CLOSE CALL. STIRRING APPEAL TO FASCISTS. By Cable—Press Association —Copyright. Sydney “Sun" Service. (Received April 8, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 7. The Rome correspondent of the “Daily News” states that Signoi Mussolini probably owes his life to the fact that his companion, Professor Giordani, pushed Gibson, who was holding out a paper. What Professor Giordani thought was a petition, was actually a paper in which was concealed a sinall pistol, which Gibson fired at point blank range, the * very moment Professor Giordani thrust her aside. Addressing the Fascist leaders after the attack, Signor Mussolini said: “\Ve will inarch onwards; If I advance, follow; If I retire, kill me; If I die, avenge mo.” ANGER OF FASCIST CROWDS. OPPOSITION PAPERS INVADED. By Cable—Press Association —Copyright. Sydney " Sun “ Servico. (Received April 8, 7.30 p.m.) ROME, April 7. In addition to the attack on the newspaper “Mondo,” the ofiices of the Opposition newspapers, “H lliorgimento” and “Voce Repiililica,” were invaded.

ANOTHER MUSSOLINI OUTBURST.

BATTLE TO BE WAGED ABROAD

By Cable—Presi Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received April 9, 12.10 a.m.) ROME, April 7. Signor Mussolini, addressing the Fascist Directory, said he rejoiced that tlie battle had been woii in Italy. The old parties had been routed, but the battle had yet to be fought abroad. He recalled the dictum of tlie historian Sismondi that the people who seize the initiative at a given moment, keep the initiative for two centuries. He pointed out that tlie French people kept the initiative for 150 years. Italy had taken the initiative with the spoken world. Tho light was becoming fierce and decisive. Scattering tlie remains of the old parties in Italy had been a thankless task, but they were victoriously enforcing the new principle, and the world will blazen tlie name i the people on the scroll of history.

The crowds, in defiance of tho police and carbineers, smashed the furniture which, with quantities of papers thrown out of the windows, they made a. bonfire in tho streets. SENSATIONAL HAPPENINGS DESCRIBED. MUSSOLINI’S UNFLINCHING COURAGE. By Cable —Proas Association —Copyright. Australia!! and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received April 8, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 8. The circumstances in connection with the attempted assassination of Signor Mussolini, from the most reliable tiourcas are as follows: He was