ITALY IN THE GRIP OF THE FASCISTI.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3149, 25 December 1922, Page 2

ITALY IN THE GRIP OF THE FASCISTI.

Benito Mussolini, a black-haired, hard-featured man with dark, flashing eyes and a chin that looks as if it were chiselled in granite, has become the Prime Minister of Italy. That is an event likely to have an enormously important effect far beyond tho bounds of the country in which lie has so rapidly sprung to the position almost of a dictator. Less than two years ago Mussolini called to the youth of Italy to band themselves together into an organisation' called the Fascisti, a title derived from the Latin word "fasces"—a bundle of sticks—which is the historic symbol of the unity that makes for strength. The avowed object of the movement was to fight the Bolshevism and Communism which was eating into Italy. An eye for an eye was its guiding principle. Force was the weapon. A few weeks of organisation and recruiting brought the membership to a few hundreds. To-day it has swollen to a million. Manv thousands of them were armed. The'"Black Shirts," as they became known from their uniform, spread throughout Italy. Methods of violence were resorted to. The conflict of Fascisti versus Communists began to menace the entire internal economy of Italy. Before long the Fascisti dominated and terrorised whole provinces. At a word from Mussolini a Government fell three months ago. Events marched quickly. Mussolini preached Nationalism and loyalty to the monarchy, but it became plain that he and his followers were determined to take the law into their own hands should their programme be interfered with. Their power grew. Their party, which is really a military and disciplined organisation, became dominant. And now it holds the reins of Government. The Fascisti are strongly Conservative, strongly National, anti-foreigner in general and anti-British in particular. Months ago Mussolini said he would govern Italy. He is now to do it.