“Inkpot Battle” Decided Duce’s Fate
LONDON, September 26,
An inkpot battle decided Mussolini’s fate at the last meeting of the Fascist Grand Council, says Reuter’s correspondent with the Fifth Army. The inside story of his downfall was told by an Italian general who commanded the Carabinier who arrested Mussolini. He said Mussolini went to the council meeting at which he announced Hitler’s decision not to defend Southern Italy. Pandemonium broke out in the Council Chamber. Members shouted and threatened each other and threw inkpots. Mussolini tried high-handed tactics and went home saying: “Well, we had the meeting. Let us get on with the war.”
Ciano, whom the Italians now call Judas, went with Grandi and asked the King to intervene. The King insisted that Mussolini should make a request constitutionally. Mussolini reluctantly visited the King and acknowledged that the situation was serious, but refused to resign “until I have seen it through one way or the other.”
The King dismissed Mussolini, who was arrested outside the Palace • and driven off protesting in a closed car. The Swiss Telegraph Agency denied Berlin radio’s statement that the Queen and the Crown Prince of Italy had arrived in Switaerland and added that they were probably in Sicily.
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Northern Advocate, 27 September 1943, Page 3
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204“Inkpot Battle” Decided Duce’s Fate Northern Advocate, 27 September 1943, Page 3
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