CONTROL BY MUSSOLINI

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 7 November 1933, Page 7

CONTROL BY MUSSOLINI

UNIFIED DEFENCE SCHEME ARMY, NAVY AND AIR FORCE. GENERAL BALBO RESIGNS. •ITALY’S SECOND STRONG MAN. (UtiiUKl b'reat jnesoctatlon—By Electric Telegraph <-56pyngI\t.j Received 12.45 p.m. to-dav. ROME, Nov. 6. ' The King of Italy lias accepted the resignations of the Minister _of Air, General Balbo and the Minister of Marine, Admiral Sirianni. Signor Mussolini will take over both portfolios. General Balbo replaces Marshal Bodoglio as Governor of Libya and the latter is being mentioned as Signor Mussolini’s chief of staff. It is understood the resignations are a prelude to the formation of a Ministry of National Defence with unified control of the army,. navy and aii force under Signor Mussolini. The under-secretaries for air and marine have also resigned. General Balbo, who is intensely ambitious, is the strongest and most vivid personality in Italy after Signor Mussolini and woiild reputedly be the next dictator if anything happened to the Duce, but now he has lost his place in the Ministry. The people applauded when Signor Mussolini removed previous Ministers, calling it a change of guard, but it was thought that General Balbo was permanently appointed. Adriiiral Sirianni has been appointed as vice-president of a subsidised steel corporation. Admiral Cavagnari becomes naval under secretary and General Valle chief of the air staff and under secretary for ,air.