THE BOMB OUTRAGE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 157, 14 April 1928, Page 5

THE BOMB OUTRAGE

TWENTY-THREE KILLED. A WIDESPREAD PLOT. DIRECTED AGAINST MUSSOLINI. (United Press Association—Copyright). ROME, April 12. There were 23 killed in the bomb outrage at Milan. King Victor Emanuel owed his life to a slight hitch in the programme causing him to be ten minutes late. Fragments of the lamp-post dented the walls of neighbouring houses to the third floors. The explosion shattered every nearby window. A woman on a balcony above the scene of the explosion, maddened at the sight of the dead and dying, jumped down and killed one of the injured. She died as King Victor reached her bedside in the hospital. The sufferers are largely women and children, who constituted the majority of the crowd. A Boy Scout was blown to pieces, and a little girl decapitated. A soldier was completely disembowelled. A policeman was found ini a pool of bloody surrounded by three children, aU terribly wounded. A little girl who climbed a flagpole was torn to bits, her right hand being the only limb intact. Meanwhile, in conformity with Italy’s new tradition, Hi si Majesty carried out the ceremony. He then visited the hospital, stepping at each bed, and promising the sufferers care from the State for their families. The authorities believe that the outrage was part of a widespread plot to assassinate Signor Mussolini during the course of festivities. Milan was the scene of Signor Mussolini’s first political triumph. The authorities have sent a huge force of detectives to Milan from Rome. The Queen heard of the attempt on her husband’s life while staying at a castle at Porziano, on the outskirts of Rome. She immediately telephoned Milan and held an endearing conversation with the King. The excitement at Rome had not subsided when it was reported that a gelignite bomb had been founa on the railway over which Signor Mussolini’s train would pass.—Australian Press Association. SAVED BY A WARNING. NUMBER OF SUSPECTS ARRESTED (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) ROME, April 13. The “ Gioraale d’ltalia” asserts that an anonymous warning the previous day that Anarchists planned the plot at Milan accounted for the change in the King’s plans. Careful vigil did not prevent the secretion of the bomb. The police have rounded up a number of suspects and also arrested a woman who they believe will reyeal an important plot. Signor Mussolini has ordered that flowers be laid on the grave of “the victims of bestial criminality and impotent barbaric anti-Faseism.” He added: “But the enemy shall not prevail.” A number of those injured are reported to be dying. The original victims included six soldiers, four children and* two nuns. Already a million lire has been subscribed on behalf of the dependents of the victims. —Australian Press Association.