IL DUCE ADDRESSES HIS BLACK SHIRTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 72, 27 March 1939, Page 9

IL DUCE ADDRESSES HIS BLACK SHIRTS.

10000 PARADE

"Fascist Revolution Has

Just Begun. ,,

DEMANDS ON FRANCE

United Press Association.—Copyright.

(Received 11.30 a.m.)

ROME, March 26

Addressing 100,000 Black Shirts, Signor Mussolini, i n the Forum, >;nd: "Thousands of comrades have fallen like heroes in Italy, Africa and Spain. Their memory is for ever present in our hearts. Some, meanwhile, may have grown slack, but men of the old battalions are ready In level their rifles even as in the old days.

"The Fascist revolution is not finished. On the contrary, in many respects, it has just begun. What we have done will remain for centuries.

"It pays to remember how often triumphant democratic-plutocratic liars have announced to their flocks the imminent ruin of Fascist Italy, because Italy had been bled in Africa and Spain, .ind is urgently in need of a loan which naturally could not ß be other than Hritish.

''What we have done is important, hut what we will do is yet more important. We will do it because my will knows no obstacles.

"We are meeting a troubled moment in European history, but we must not let ourselves be a prey to war psychosis, which is a mixture of hysteria and fear. Our course is set. The principles are clear.

"Despite the fact that the word peace has been worn through use, and rings untrue like a spurious coin, and despite Italy's belief that permanent peace would be a catastrophe for-civilisation, Italy considers a long peace necessary for the development of European civilisation, but despite urgings Italy will not take the initiative to preserve peace until her sacred rights have been recognised and satisfied.

"All attempts to undermine the axis are puerile. The axis is not merely a relation between two States, but a relationship between two revolutions, which are completely antithetic to all other contemporary civilisations.

"What happened in Central Europe was inevitable. If the great democracies wept over the premature and rather shameful end of what they considered their most cherished creature, that is an excellent reason for Italy not to associate herself with their tears. If they hope for a coalition created against authoritarians they will accept the challenge and will pass from defence and counter-attack throughout the world.

"In my Genoa speech I spoke about a barricade separating Italy and France. This can be considered fairly demolished ■within days, maybe hours. The magnificent infantry of Spain will give the last stroke.

"I want the world to know that the Italian Note to France on December 17 last set out such problems as Tunis, Jibouti and the Suez Canal. France is perfectly free to refuse even to discuss the problems as she has done so far with perhaps over-categorical 'nevers,' but France will have itself to blame if the ditch now dividing Italy and France becomes so wide that it will be hard or impossible to bridge. "The Mediterranean is vital for Italy geoTaphically, militarily, politically and economically. When we say the Mediterranean, we include the Adriatic, where permanent, but not exclusive Italian interests are recognised by Yugo-. slavia. "It is necessary to arm. The watchword is more guns, ships and aeroplanes regardless of cost and by whatever methods, even if it entails a complete change of so-called civilised life. I ask vou do you want honour or the rewards of an easy life? Is anything impossible to you?" ' The concourse answered with a thunderous "No."

Thousands of Fascist troops demonstrated at the Piazza Venezia, shouting, •Tunisia, Nice, Savoy." Signor Mussolini appeared four times on the balcony smiling and saluting.

ITALY'S CAMPAIGN. ' REPATRIATING COUNTRYMEN. (Received 12 noon.) EOME, March 26. Six hundred families have returned from Tunisia, ostensibly owing to the French Administration's persecution. Othere will follow as part of an Italian campaign aiming at the repatriation ol 10,000 a month from abroad.