SIGNOR MUSSOLINI

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19759, 9 April 1926, Page 9

SIGNOR MUSSOLINI

ATTEMPT ON HIS LIFE. FIRED AT BY ENGLISHWOMAN. SLIGHT WOUND INFLICTED. GREAT INDIGNATION AROUSED. (Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright.) ROME, April 7. While Signor Mussolini was leaving the International Congress of Surgery, an elderly woman fired a revolver almost point-blank, wounding him slightly in the nose. Signor Mussolini was quite calm, and immediately gave directions with a view to preventing a disturbance. The woman was with difficulty rescued from the incensed crowd and taken to prison. She is an English woman named Violet Albina Gibson. The news of the attempt on Signor Mussolini's life spread rapidly throughout the city, and caused profound indignation among all sections of the populace, especially in the central disrict. Feeling ran high, and a number of young people marched to the offices of the Opposition newspaper Mon do where they violently protested and damaged the . plant. The authorities immediately issued strict orders to suppress excesses. It is officially stated that the wound ■which perforated Signor .Mussolini s nostrils is not serious. Miss Gibson, aged 50, was the central figure in the Hciy Year drama at Rome in February 1925. She is a devout Roman Catholic. She attended ecclesiastical ceremonies, and later, while under the influence of a fit of religious exaltation, shot herself in the chest in her bedroom in a private hotel. Her father was the first Lord Ashbourne, who was prominent in Irish politics. Signor Mussolini, holding his handkerchief to his bleeding nose, ordered the police to protect Miss Gibson from the fury of the crowds. A member of the family states that Miss Gibson resided at Rome for 18 months after her attempted suicide. She was disharged from hospital under the care of friends. She had no political sympathies in any direction, but was moody and deeply religious. Her mother died a fortnight ago. Flags are flying throughout the city in celebration of the Prime Minister’s escape. An enormous throng is stationed in front of Signor Mussolini’s residence. Signor Mussolini telegraphed to King Victor Emmanuel reassuring his Majesty in regard to his and Sydney Sun Cable. A FORTUNATE ESCAPE. PISTOL CONCEALED IN PAPER. ASSAILANT RECEIVES TIMELY PUSH. LONDON, April 7. (Received April 8, at 5.5 p.m.) The Rome correspondent of the Daily News states that Signor Mussolini probably owes his life to the fact that his companion. Professor Giordani, pushed Miss Gibson who was holding ,oua a tper. What Professor Giordani thought was a petition was actually a paper concealing a small pistol which Miss Gibson fired at point blank range at the very moment that Profes-or Giordani thrust her aside. Addressing the Fascist leaders after the attack, Signor Mussolini said: “We will march onwards. If I advance, follow men. If I retire, kill me. If I die, avenge me.” —Sydney Sun Cable. i DETAILS OF THE AFFAIR WOMAN RESCUED FROM CROWD A PURPOSELESS CRIME. MUSSOLINI A NATIONAL IDOL. LONDON, April 8. (Received April 8, at 9.20 p.m.) The circumstances in connection with the attempted assassination of Signor Mussolini so far as they can be gathered from the most reliable sources as as follows: —- He was walking towards a motor car from the Capitol after opening the Surgery Congress, when a white-haired woman, rather shabbily dressed in black, fired a pistol „t close range, aiming at the temple but hitting the tip of the nose. Signor Mussolini stepped back, but instantly recovered and held his hand over his face. His nose bled profusely over nis shiit and morning coat. Siarna Mussolini calmly returned to the Capitol where he was bandaged and appeared very shortly. He signed to the crowd and spoke a few words, commanding calmness and no reprissals. He went home in a motorcar In the meantime the, woman dropped a small French automatic pistol. The crowd were dragging her away by the hair when the police rescued her and took her to the courtyard and afterwards to an adjacent room where she was questioned. The woman was unable to speak being overcome with weakness, but she presently indicated that she wanted iO write A paper and pencil were given her, and she wrote down two addresses. Both proved to be false. She was then motored to the women's prison at Mantellab, where the Police Pre feet questioned her. The woman, who replied in broken Italian, said she was aged 50, her name was Violet Gibson. She was of Irish nationality. She added that she did not know why she wanted to kill Signor Mussolini She had never seen him before, but she recognised him by means of photographs. She did not expres regret at Her action or seem to realise her position. It is reported that she had two phials of poison in her handbag Despite his experience, Signor Mussolini in the afternoon attended the inaugural meeting of the Fascist Council at Dittorio Palace. He appeared to be slightly pale. In the course of his address Signor Mussolini said: “Italy must win a difficult battle abroad.” A great crowd lined the route and gave him an oration. During the evening Signor Mussolini ■with his face heavily patched from cheek to cheek, and looking, according to the Morning Post’s correspondent, like * victorious boxer, addressed a crowd from the balcony of the Palazzo Cbici. He declared that despite incidents, like that day’s Fascimo would continue to march forward and lead Italy to her hiM He tinv. In conclusion, he gave the Roman salute to the delirious assemblage.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

NEWSPAPER OFFICES ATTACKED. |

BONFIRE OF FURNITURE. ROME, April 7. (Received April 8, at 8.20 p.m.) In addition to the attack on the newspaper I] Monde the offices of the Opposition newspapers II Ricrgimento and Voce Republica were invaded. The crowds in defiance of the police and the carabineers smashed the furniture and threw it with the papers out of the windows, making a bonfire in the streets.—Reuter. ACHIEVEMENTS OF FASCISM. INITIATIVE AND THE PEOPLE. ROME, April 8. (Received April 9, at 0.20 a.m.) Signor Mussolini, addressing the Fascist Directory, said he rejoiced that, the battle had been won in Italy where the old parties had been routed, but the battle had yet to be feugh! abroad, j-i,; He recalled the dictum of the historian Sis mondi that the people who seize the in itiative at a given moment keep the imti ative for two centuries. He pointed out that the French people had kept the initiative for 150 years. Italy had taken the Ihitirt’ve and had spoken to the world. The fight was becoming fierce and decisive. Scattering the remains of the old parties in Italy had been a thankless task - , but they were victoriously enforcing new principles. The world would blazen the name of the people on the scroll of history.—A. and N.Z. Cable. ANTI-FASCIST LEADER. DEATH FOLLOWS BEATINGS. CANNES, April 7. (Received April 8, at 5.5 p.m.) The death-is reported of Signor Amendola, formerly leader of the anti-Fascists in Italy, from injuries due to Fascist beatings administered in .Tulv.—A. and N.Z. Cable.