ANTHEMS AND GRACE FOR ITALIANS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22305, 20 January 1938, Page 7

ANTHEMS AND GRACE FOR ITALIANS

MEALS ISSUED FOB SCHOOL

CHILDREN

LONDON. January 18.

The Rome correspondent of "The Times” says that free meals to elementary school children throughout the country, hitherto given only to the very poor, will now be supplied to all pupils, although parents in suitable positions will be required to contribute to the meals nevertheless. Pupils at each meal will be required to recite the following Grace for Mussolini: “Duce, I thank thee for what thou givest me to make , t me healthy and strong. May the Lord protect II Duce, so that he may be long preserved for Fascist Italy.” The Milan correspondent of “The Times” states that Italy has Fascist anthems, but is seeking an Imperial anthem, for which a competition was held. Three selected entries were broadcast, but the public was not impressed. Signor Farinacci, a member of the Grand Council, writing in the “Regime Fascista,” said that none of the anthems had “the warmth of African battles,” all seemed to him far removed “from the grandeur of events,” and none interpreted “the heroic march which sings in the heart of the people.” He expresses the opinion that the composers must have been the victims of winter cold, and he hopes for better efforts in the spring.