"THE BLACK SHIRT."'

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17982, 28 January 1924, Page 14

"THE BLACK SHIRT."'

FASCISTI OFFICER IN MELBOURNE.

Wearing the black shirt of the Fascist!, Signor Erminio Pini, a young, thick-set Italian, arrived at Melbourne on R.M.S. Osterley on January 14th (says.the "Age"). Signor Pini, who is on a brief visit to an uncle who owns a station in Queensland, was formerly a captain of a Fascisti company under Signor Mussolini. Through'the aid of an interpreter, Signor Pini said he had served in the war, gaining several honours, including the Croea de Guerra (Italian war cross). On returning from the war he joined the Fascisti, because he realised that they had the true interests of the country at heart. It was only through the Fascisti that Italy could be saved from the Communistic chaos which threatened to plunge her into the horrors that Eussia was still experiencing. He rose to captain in the Fascisti, and took an active part in expelling extremists from Italy. Another Italian personage who arrived on K.M.S. Osterley was Prince Alfonso Del Dago, who is visiting friends in Sydney. _ The prince served in the war as captain in the Italian artillery. Conditions in Italy, he said, were now settled, and prospects for the future were very bright. There was no doubt Mussolini had been the saviour of Italy. The people realised this, and.Mussolini had their entire confidence. When he took charge of affairs recently and decided to form a Government, Mussolini found he had been left with a poor inheritance from the previous weak Prime Minister. But with that remarkable energy characteristic of the man, he settled down to work, and soon had something like order restored to the country, both politically and industrially.