SITUATION IN ITALY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3430, 9 December 1919, Page 21

SITUATION IN ITALY.

(By Cable.)

LONDON, November 28. While a great proportion of men will go home, and discipline will collapse, the Socialist newspapers demand the mobilisation of the 3,000,000 peasants and workers who voted for the Socialists, .and tell the hot heads they should reflect where they are going. The Socialists, who hold 156 out of _ 550 seats, have formally endorsed Bolshevism, and demand the recognition of the Soviet in Russia. ROME, December 2. The King, accompanied bv the Queen," opened Parliament. They had an enthusiastic reception from the non-Socialists. When the senators and deputies were taking their seats the Socialists raised the cry, " Long live Socialism,", and all left the chamber.' After '. their departure a striking ovation was given to their Majesties ,who were frantically cheered. The demonstration was renewed in the streets when returning to the Quirinal, where the King appeared on the balcony thrice in response to the acclamations of the crowd. Several Socialist leaders were mobbed and had to be rescued by the police. December 3. Ex-Premier Orlando, a Government candidate, defeated a Socialist, Sig. Lazzari. b'y 251 votes to 143, for the Presidency of the Chamber. December 4. During the riots several people were killed in the streets.. There is a grave situation in other cities of Italy. A GENERAL STRIKE. ROME, December 2. In consequence of certain unexplained incidents a general strike ' has been declared in Rome, Milan, and '• Florence. The stoppage is complete. The strike occasioned patriotic demonstrations everywhere. ' There has been §no disturbance except at Milan, where two demonstrators were killed in a collision with the police. ■ s • December 3. Mobs tried to prevent the departure of trains. A policeman and a civilian were killed in the disturbances and many were wounded. Four persons, including a gendarme, were killed in Milan, and a Royalist colonel was stabbed to death in Turin. The strike ha 3 spread to Genoa, Alessandria, Bologna, and Civita Vecchia (a seaport 37 miles west of Rome), but generally the position is less acute and the newspapers are republishing. Despite a general strike having been proclaimed by the Socialists, all public services are working- normally. Elaborate military preparations have been made to maintain order, including machine guns in the streets. Cavalry and armoured cars are patrolling the principal thoroughfares. There have been frequent collisions between the strikers and the police in Rome, Milan, and Turin, six having been killed and many wounded. BOLSHEVISM EULOGISED. ROME, December 3. When the Chamber resumed its sittings after the strike proclamation the Socialists protested against the beatings they received during the street demonstrations. The city walls are nlacarded with manifestoes eulogising Bolshevism and imploring the workers to act witrfout delay in supporting their Russian brethren. The President invited the Socialists to take the oath. Thev conformed individually with the reservation, for instance, " I swear ' but falselv.' " Signor Nitti, replying to the Socialists' complaints, deplored the beatings they received in the streets and urged them to moderate their language if they did not wish to provoke disorders. -