MISSOLINI

Evening Star, Issue 19521, 31 March 1927, Page 4

MISSOLINI

“GREATEST RULER OF MODERN TIMES " BY BRIGADIER-GENERAL RUDKIN Fascism Las many enthusiastic ad miners amongst '■he members of the Officers’ Club, judging by the rapturous applause that was showered upon Brigadier-general Rudkin. D. 5.0., at the conclusion of his highly eulogistic address on Mussolini at the club rooms last evening. According to the speaker, who has seen sen ice in South Africa, France, and Italy, and has many honors and decorations, Mussolini is “ one of the greatest and most successful tulers of modern times, who not only saved Italy from the fate of Russia, but probably also saved Europe as well.’’ General Rudkin pointed out that his information had not been gleaned irom newspapers or magazines, many of the articles in which were contributed by *' disgruntled and dissatisfied Italians,” cut had been obtained either from his own investigation or from personal friends in the country, many ol whom were “fairly reliable.” The lecturer painted a very gloomy picture of the Italy before II Dnce put in an appearance with his “ Black Shirts ” and castor oil, and then contrasted it with the “happy, prosperous, and contented” country of to-day. His statement that there were no strikes in Italy, and that when a man talked about striking a “Black Shirt” soon put the idea out of his head, was received with a volley of applause, which was renewed vociferously when he added with emotion; “ I wish to goodness we had a Mussolini in England to help us ” The chair was taken by Colonel G. W C. Macdonald, who apologised for the absence of Colonel O’Neill, the president of the club.

General Rudkin dealt somewhat lengthily with the fighting in France and in Italy, stating that ho had been ordered to proceed to Italy to stiffen the Piave front. The fighting on the Piavo. averred the speaker, “was not so serious as it was in France,” but he admitted that it had been rather serious for him, ns he found himself blown up by a 17m shell, and was in hospital for eighteen month-’. “There seems to be an impression,!’ lie said, “ that the Italian does not make a good soldier. Well, I want to contradict that, and 1 want to add mv testimony to their bravery.” He much regretted that more had* not been written about them in England He also paid a tribute to the “ extraordinary celerity ” of a number of Italian engineers who had done some smart work in connection with the installation of an electric light plant for a searchlight that ho wanted.

Before dealing with Italy of to-day the general briefly discussed the influence of Count Cavour and Giuseppe Garibaldi, the patriot and liberator. Contrasting Count Cavour with Mussolini, the speaker stated that the former came of a very old noble family, and had had every advantage, whilst Mussolini had had no advantages whatever. Cavour was a patriot, who said “ I am the son of Liberty; to her I owe all I have.” He didn’t like the idea ol being a page to the King, and went : nto the army. He didn’t like the army, and became a politician. After touching on Cavour’s alliance with Napoleon HI. and the campaign of Magenta and evil ferine and the agreement of Villafranca. he went on to speak of Garibaldi’s part in the liberation movement He was of opinion that Garibaldi’s military feats/‘are the greatest in history.” Garibaldi, with (.000 badly-armed vo!untecrs v defeated the immensely superior Neapolitan forces* and then walked through Sicily. Eventually he allowed King Emmanuel to “carry on,” though the oatriot, who ‘ looked like a rag bag,’’ was heartbroken at the prospect. Garibaldi was offered rnauv honors, but he refused t> cm all except that he agreed to be called “general.” an honor he had earned on the field of battle. Mussolini was born in 1883, and imbibed socialistic teachings from his father. He could not read at 15, but later he was found editing a Socialist paper, ‘ Avanti.’ He was a “tempestuous writer,” and was compelled to leave his country for a time, but returned to Italy and to ‘ Avanti.’ When the war broke out he offered his services, though as an editor he was not compelled to do so. He was “blown up ” in the war. and in hospital discovered the shortcomings of his political philosophy, so he “cut himself free.” and be prepared himself to meet tne Bolshevists, who held a big meeting in Milan on February 18, 1919 Mussolini’s “ answer to the Socialists ” also took the form of a meeting in Milan, though it was a small affair compared to the Red one. The Communists began a campaign of terrorism and “ followed the example of Russia, being subsidised and assisted by foreign mercenaries.” Nitti. the Italian Prime Minister. was “supine as to what was going on.” Officers had their decorations torn off them, and when a protest was made to Nitti “all he could say was that officers should not wear decorations in public.” “The Fascists,” he added, “dealt out punishment with rifles and castor oil, particularly the latter.’’ At first they had no rifles or ammunition, but thanks to their friends amongst the commandants of the arsenals, they were able to “ prepare for the great day.” The Socialists in the meantime had set up soviets in several centres, and on August 14, 1922, there was a big railway strike. The Fascists “ jumped on the strike ” and ran the railways. On August 27 Mussolini was in a position to state that either the Government would be handed oyer to the Fascists or thev would seize it. On October 29 the King ordered him to form a Cabinet, and after 200.000 soldiers had marched on Home this was done. “ Thus was obtained,” said the speaker, “ one of the greatest bloodless victories in history.” Fascism had its origin in the resentment of the soldiers, who had fought in the greatest war in history, at the fact that “the fruits of victory had been torn from them.” _ They found the country in a revolutionary ferment aud a surprise Government in power. He quoted a number of figures to show how Mussolini had been successful in running the country For the first time for fifteen years there had been a surplus in 1924-25, whilst the railways, which had shown a big deficit during the “Socialistic administrathn.” were now a payable preposition. There were three million Fascists in Italy, and they formed the largest political party in the State. Only those whose antecedents would stand investigation could become members. “There were millions of satisfied people in Italy who always supported Mussolini at every election,” the general claimed. He criticised some of the statements that had appeared m English papers about Mussolini and his party, and claimed that they emanated from dissatisfied and disgruntled people. Ho had never seen a beggar or a drunken man in Italy. “ Mussolini is not a tyrant or a dictator,” he repeated. “People who say these things don’t understand the conditions he has had to face.” , ■ The lecturer contended that Mussolini bad been justified in suppressing newspapers, owing to the unfair libel laws.* The libel laws were being “brought into line with those of other countries,” and the “liberty of the Press, to some extent, was being restored,” I The speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, on the motion of Lieu-tenant-colonel Barrowclougk.