RUSH TO COLOURS

Grey River Argus, 19 February 1935, Page 5

RUSH TO COLOURS

BY ITALIAN VOLUNTEERS Demurring General Retired (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, February 17. The British United Press correspondent at Naples says that 1000 Fascist Militia sailed for ’East Africa fully equipped in colonial warfare uniform. Crowds cheered them from the quayside. Troops reviewed by Mussolini at Rome are sailing later. (Received February 18 at 8.30 p.m.) MESSINA, February 18.

When thousands of young volunteers arrived here in response to the cal] to the colours, General Vacari, who is commanding at Messina, realised that the rations and clothing here were insufficient. He therefore telegraphed to the War Office, pointing out that it was unwise to be crowding t. seaport with troops before adequately preparing for them. Signor Mussolini’s reply, as War Minister, was to place General 1^* r ari on the retired list. Nevertheless the difficulty 'here has not been solved. There are youngsters flocking in without any uniforms, and they are not equipped except for small bundles that they have brought from home. The. r will be drafted to the Syracuse and Palermo, camps before sailing. General Boscardi replaces General Vacari here. VOLUNTEERS. FROM THE BLACK SHIRTS. ROME, February 18. There were scenes of tremendous enthusiasm throughout the day at Rome, when the 1911 class of the military were called up. Parents and friends accompanied each batch of the arrivals at the railway station. Signor Mussolini informed the Fascist Grand Council that seventy thousand of the Black Shirts have volunteered for service in Africa.

Signor Mussolini also revealed that a Black Shirt battalion sailed from Naples on February 10, and will reinforce the garrison in Eritrea.