MARCH OF DEPUTIES

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4951, 4 February 1937, Page 2

MARCH OF DEPUTIES

LED BY MUSSOLINI. Citizens in the crowded centre of Rome were astounded at the busiest hour of a recent afternoon to behold Signor Mussolini followed by 400 members of Parliament in military uniform march down the Corso, Rome's central street, at a great pace (says the Rome correspondent of the Morning Post). The surprise of the public, however, was nothing to that of the police. Traffic was cleared away with feverish speed so as to leave a free passage for the speeding Duce. At the pace known as the light infantry quickstep, which is as fast as a run of the Bersaglieri, Signor Mussolini covered the whole distance from the Chamber of Deputies to the Palazo Venezia a stretch of nearly half a mile. This astonishing spectacle followed the offer of the Deputies to escort Signor Mussolini in a body from the Chamber of Deputies, where the winter session of Parliament had been opened in triumph, back to his office at the Palazzo Venezia. Signor Mussolini accepted their offer, but he himself set the pace. It was some moments before the Deputies realised that he had started. Then quickly forming themselves into column of fours, they hastened after him and had the appearance of trying vainly to overtake him during the whole route. Alongside Signor Mussolini, however, keeping well up with him, were on one side Count Ciano, the President of the Chamber, and on the other side, Count Ciano, his son, the Foreign Minister, and son-in-law of Signor Mussolini. Signor Mussolini is known for his extraordinary activity as a pedestrian, and it is quite the thing for him to tire out all the entourage, who follow him round at the various tours of inspection which he makes. He never looks behind him, but when he gets to the end of the course he looks round to see who has been able to keep up with him. He did that in the march of the Deputies. He did not once pause in

his speed nor look behind him until he got to the door of the Palazzo Venezia. Then he wheeled and saw all his Deputies just behind him. They then gave him a final cheer before he disappeared into the Palace.