ITALIAN SENSATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 110, 9 April 1926, Page 7

ITALIAN SENSATION

ATTACK ON MUSSOLINI. ADDITIONAL DETAILS. OWES LIFE TO COMPANION,

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, April 7.

The circumstances in connection with the attempted assassination by tho Hon. Violet Gibsoii of Signor Mussolini, according to reports from most reliable sources, are an follow: —Signor Mussolini was walking towards a motorcar from the capitol, after opening a Surgery Congress, wljcn a whitehaired woman, rather shabbily dressed in black, fired a pistol at close range. Aiming at his temple, the bullet hit the tip of his nose. Signor Mussolini stepped back/but instantly recovered, and held his hand over his face. His nose bled profusely over his shirt and morning coat.

Signor Mussolini calmly returned to the capitol, where the wound was bandaged. He reappeared very shortly, signed to tho crowd, and spoke a few words, commanding calmess and no reprisals. He then went home in the motor-car.

In tho meantime the woman had dropped a small French automatic pistol. Tho crowd was dragging her away by tho hair, when the police rescued her, and took her to the courtyard, and afterwards to an adjacent room, where she was questioned. Tho woman was unablo to speak, being overcome with weakness, but presently indicated that she wanted to write. Paper and pencil were given her, whereupon she wrote two addresses. Both proved false. She was then motored to tho women’s prison at Mantellub, where the police prefect questioned her. The woman, replying in broken Italian, said she was aged sixty-two, her name waS V lolet Gibson and sho was of Irish nationality. Sho added that she did not know why sho wanted to kill Signor Mussolini. She had never seen Signor Mussolini before, but recognised him by means of photographs. She did not express regret at lier action or seem to realise her position.

It is reported that tho woman had two phials of poison in a handbag. Despite his experience, Signor iuussolim in tho afternoon attended tho inaugural meeting of the new Fascist Council in the Littorio Palace. He appeared slightly pale. In the course ot an adress, Signor Mussolini said Italy must win the difficult battle abroad.

A great crowd lined the route, and gave Signor Mussolini an ovation when he drove off, and again during tho evening, outside the Palazzo Chigi when, with his face heavily patched from check to cheek, and looking, according to the Morning Post’s correspondent, like a victorious boxer, lie addressed a crowd from the balcony, declaring that, despite incidents like today’s, Fascismo would continue to march and lead Italy to a high destiny. In tho conclusion ho gave the Roman salute to the delirious assemblage. The Daily New’s Rome correspondent states that Signor Mussolini probably owes liis life to the fact that his companion, Professor Giordani, pushed Miss Gibson, who was holding out a paper which Professor Giordani thought was a petition. Actually the paper concealod a small pistol, which Miss Gibson fired at point-blank range at the very moment that Professor Giordani thrust her aside.

Addressing' tho Fascist leaders after the attack, Signor Mussolini said: “Wo march onwards. If I advance, follow me. If I retire, kill me. ]f 1 die, avenge me.”—A. and N.Z. cable.

MISS GIBSON’S STORY

LOFTY MISSION ENTRUSTED

TO HER

ltoceived April 9, 10.15 a.m. ROME, April 8. Miss Violet Gibson, when interrogated, said that, considering herself to bo guided by a supernatural force, sho accomplished what she believed to bo the lofty mission entrusted to her. This statement is contradicted by the army doctor, Signor Tavani, with whom Miss Gibson will accordingly, be confronted. Dr. Tavani declared that on the 28th March, tho anniversary of Fascismo, ho saw a whitehaired, elderly woman resembling Miss Gibson, try to approach Signor Mussolini, who was addressing a crowd. She was holding a bouquet in her left hand, wliilo her right hand was concealed in her pocket. Dr. Tavani prevented her approaching nearer.—A. and N.Z. cable.

REGRET AT INCIDENT. INDIGNATION IN IRELAND. Received April 9, 10.15 a.m. LONDON, April 8. Lord Ashbourne has telegraphed to Signor Mussolini from Dublin that Miss Gibson’s family regret the incident and express their profound sympathy. Mr Cosgrove has also telegraphed to Signor Mussolini, on behalf of the Government of the Irish Free State, congratulating Signor Mussolini and tho Italian people on the former’s escape from an odious attempt on his person and hoping for his speedy recovery, adding that the infamous attempt has caused much indignation here.—Reuter.

PREMIER’S ADMIRERS

WONDERFUL ENTHUSIASM

Received April 9, 10.15 a.m. ROME, April 8. At Fiumicino there were indescribable scenes of enthusiasm in tiie morning on the arrival of Signor Mussolini to embark for Tripoli. Salvos wore fired and the ships used their sirens. There were cries ever}-where of “Viva Mussolini.” The populace was so excited that the Carabiniere had difficulty in protecting the Premier from his ardent admirers. Bugles rang out as Signor Mussolini boarded the Cavour. The whole of tho decks, masts and rigging were lined with cheering sailors. —Reuter.

ADDRESS TO FASCISTS. BATTLE WON IN ITALY. ROME, April 7. Signor Mussolini addressing the Fascist directory, said he rejoiced that the

battle had been won in Italy. The old parties had been routed. But a battle had yet to be fought abroad. He recalled the dictum of the historian Sis--mondi that people who seize the initiative at a given moment keep the initiative for two centuries. He pointed out that the French people had kept the initiative for 150 years. Italy had taken the initiative and spoken to the world. The fight was becoming fierce and decisive, scattering the remains of the old parties in Italy. It had been a thankless task, but by their victoriously enforcing the new principle, the world would blazen tho name of the people on the scroll of history. In addition to the attack .on the newspaper II Mondo, the offices of the Opposition newspapers 11 Aisorgimento and Voce Repubiica were invaded. Crowds, in defiance of the police and carabiners, smashed the furniture, which, with papers, was thrown out of the windows, and made into a bonfire in the streets.—A. and N.Z. cable.