FASCIST ANNIVERSARY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 15, 30 October 1935, Page 6

FASCIST ANNIVERSARY

THE WHOLE COUNTRY EN FETE.

POPE DENOUNCES SUNDAY PROFANATION. (United Press Association— Copyright) ROME, October 28. In an atmosphere of fervid devotion, stimulated by patriotic speeches and music, the anniversary of the Fascist march on Rome was celebrated by the populace, attired in black shirts and gala, clothing, while bands, flags, reviews, and parades betokened that Italy was en fete. This necessitated a public holiday throughout the country, which entailed the openiing of banks and -shops in Sunday. This is unprecedented in Italian history.

Consequently the Pope, addressing the Council General of Catholic Action Organisation, deplored the profanation of the Sabbath. He emphasised that Holy Scripture regarded this as a great crime. The profaner of Sunday would once have been regarded as a man who denied God, but now such denial was made openly, amounting almost to proclamation of public atheism. Such profanation was one pf the sins Avhicli most provoked Divine wrath. The celebrations were impressively launched by mounting a guard from dawn to midnight in honour of the Fascist victims of the revolution. lSignor Mussolini was cheered to the echo when declaimed from the Palazzo Venezia: “We begin our fourteenth year with the same courage as the preceding one.” Mussolini observed tradition by devoting the remainder of the day to the inauguration of important public works, and subsequently attended the enrolment of his youngest children— Romano, aged. 7, and Anna, Maria, aged 6, in “The Children of the Wolf” 'branch of Ballilla League.