EXCITING ADVENTURES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19722, 13 December 1926, Page 14

EXCITING ADVENTURES

WELLINGTON MAN’S TRAVELS MUSSOLINI BOMB OUTRAGE. | DISCONTENT IN ITALY. i To be less than 150yds. from Signor Mussolini on September 11 when a bomb was thrown at him while his car was •traversing the Piazza Porta Pia in Rome and within sight of Tombs Prison, New York, on November 5, when a battle was fought between prisoners and warders, were two exciting experiences which befel Air Charles Wilson, formerly Parliamentary librarian at Wellington, who has returned to the Dominion from a world tour. Describing what he saw of the Musso- i lini incident. Mr Wilson said that although less than 150yds. distant he did not hear the explosion of the bomb thrown by the young stonemason. Giovannini. but know that something was amiss owing to the sudden appearance of hundreds of Fascisti. They smashed hhe windows of the nearby Socialist co-operative store. “Troops with ma-lehine-guns then came on the scene and I thought it was time I got out.’’ Mr Wilson said. “Needless 1o say all the Socialists in the vicinity disappeared. Little Sympathy Displayed. i “The cabled reports to the effect that the crowds were incensed by the attack are entirely wrong. Outside the [Fascisti there was no manifestation of sympathy at all. On the night of the incident the people of Rome were sul- , ten. quiet and discontented. That evening I heard Mussolini address a crowd in the n’iazz.a Colonna. He made a strong speech and bitterly attacked France by implication. It is no exaggeration to say that Italy is muzzled by Mussolini. It seems to me his rule is changing from dictatorship to despotism. The latest advice was that he held seven .Ministerial portfolios and he is undoubtedly trying to run the whole country himself.” Mr Wilson said he believed the people were becoming tired of Mussolini’s j rule. One could not speak in Italy without fear of bringing the wroth of th dictator and his followers on one’s head. The I’aseisti themselves were very young ami irresponsible and it was a question whether Mussolini could keep them in order. There was no doubt I that industrially Italy was making won- ’ derful progress, Mussolini being re- | sponsible for much of it. On the other j hand, the cost of living was simply [ crushing. “There is no question that Mussolini has power, but I must confess I am afraid of the future. What will happen I cannot say. but lhe people seem discontented.” Lively Charabanc Drive. Speaking of the New York incident. Mr Wilson said he was out driving in a charabanc with his wife and when passing near Tombs prison they heard : shots. “At first I thought the people wore celebrating the victory of Al. I Smith for the New York mayoralty.” i he said. “Suddenly dozens of police appeared from nowhere. We heard more shots and then our charabanc took another route. We later heard the light was brought about by an attempt to escape made by three prisoners. Three were killed and two other mortally injured.” Mr Wilson has returned fully restored to health. With Mrs Wilson he visited Australia. France, Holland, the j United Kingdom. Italy. the United j States and Canada. While in Paris he I renewed many acquaintances made during his stay there many years ago.