TERROR OF THE “REDS.”

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 23 November 1927, Page 9

TERROR OF THE “REDS.”

AUSTRALIAN IN FASCIST!

OUTRAGES AND REPRISALS

Ex-Squadron Prince E. H. Paster, the only Australian to have served with the Australian Fascists, arrived in Melborune recently a.s welfare officer. He is a native of West Australia. Mr. Pfister served practically from the inception of the Fascist! movement. He arrived in Italy in 1922. when the “Reds” were terrorising far and wide. At Naples, where he worked, lie struck up a close friendship with Dino Berfjorelli. who was employed at a factory, and with Mr. C. A. Young, an F.nglishman. At the height- of the “Red” terror. Bertorelli was thrown alive by the “Red” workmen into the factory furnace. This callous brutality so stirred Pfister and his friend Young, that they joined the local Fascist squadristi. bands of young patriots, who saved their country from the Bolshevik menace. His exploits in the squadristi soon earned him the rank of squadron prince, and made him the leader of the young men. who gave him implicit obedience. Jind to -whom he was both friend and counsellor. Clad in their black shirts, black trousers, red handkerchiefs round their necks, and a knotted black handkerchief on their vrrists, his squadristi were the terror of the Reds. Mr Pfister’s job was to look for anything that was Red, and within a few years-the squadristi had cleared Naples of the pestilent colour. Armed with n. long knife, the serra-rtianieo. which if used or thrown dexterously is an ugly weapon in a fight, bombs, and a plentiful supply of caster oil squadron prince Pfister held himself veady at anv time for a Red extermination expedition. If he received an order to attack a Red club, with his armed Fascists, he would creep along the narrow streets and surround the club. Then there would he a sudden rush, the Fascists running the gauntlet of rifle fire from the upper windows to smash in the door. It a Red resisted he was lucky to survive with his life. , . Then a search would he made tor compromising documents. THE DEATH OF MATTEOTTI. If such documents were found, all his furniture would be smashed up as a reprisal and a warning to others, in attacking a Red meeting, the squadristi would use the phalanx attack of the Roman legions. The Fascists, ho said did not deny that they were responsible for the death of Matteoti, the Socialist leader. They had originally intended to take his papers from him. beat him and keep him in bed for a fortnight; but, unfortunately, m the scuffle he was killed. Many more Fascists had lost their lives in encounters, than the Reds, Mr. Pfister explained. After the last attempt on Mussolini’s life, at Bologna , there was a general round-up of aif awti-Fascist organisations. As many as 30 Fascists were kil.ed ami onlv eight anit-Fnscists. "Whenever a Fascist was caught by tlie Rteds ho was generally handed over by them to \their, women folk, who committed the most- inhuman tortures. Some of his own squadristi had been maimed foi life in this way “Is it any wonder that there should he reprisals for such inhuman cruelty?” he said. MUSSOLINI AND PROFITEERS. Mussolini, Air. Pfister said, gave short shrift to profiteers. When the value of the lira went up, shopkeepers were ordered to reduce their prices, and, if this were not done, they were heavily fined. Jewellery merchants at Naples were ordered to reduce their prices 30 per cent. Their representative, a certain Perez, went to Rome to have an interview with Mussolini to protest. When he arrived. Mussolini kept him wait- ’ ing* four hours to get into touch with Naples by telephone and find out his antecedents. He discovered that "this man kept three motor-cars. He told him one car was enough for any man, and promptly dismissed him. Mr. Pfister says he is convinced that Fascism will stay It has taken hole! firmly of the imagination of the children and youths of Italy. ..? r ' or young boys there is the Balilla, hoy scout*organisation, and for the youths the Abanguardista, the advance guard, and then they can join the Fascist militia. Although thousands of Italians continually nnplv to join the militia, not all are allowed to do so. There are similar organisations for women and girls. Air. Pfister is going to Sydney to settle down.