RED AND BLACK SHIRTS

Evening Star, Issue 18157, 23 December 1922, Page 1

RED AND BLACK SHIRTS

Mussolini and his fcUow-Mmistcra have cast off their black shirts and, now go about in the toga of ceremony. The black shirt of the Faedsti has been a bodge from the beginning (eaye a London writer). It was nob so with the red shirt of the Garibafdians, which was an accident—at least an improvisation. The Italian Legion which he led on behalf of the Montevideans In 1846 adopted as uniform a consignment of shirts for slaughtermen which had been dyed red to hide the stain# ot blood. When, three years Garibaldi joined the insurrectionary forces in Italy the tradition of the red shirt was continued. In one respect, at least, the Fascist! make no concessions to tns clemencies. “Wo are super-patriots,” says the new Premier. “Wo nave but one love; her name is Italia,. Woe unto them who seek to harm her. The Bible expounds the doctrine of an ‘oyo for an eyoj a tooth for a tooth.’ We go that dictum one better by proclaiming two eyes'for an eye; two teeth for a tooth.’ ” That does nob seem the way to the millennium, for Italy or anyone eke.