WITHOUT HANDS OR SIGHT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16662, 16 February 1925, Page 6

WITHOUT HANDS OR SIGHT.

DEPUTY’S ORATORY THRILLS ALL. EVEN MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY SPRING TO FEET IN APPLAUSE. OPPOSITION HEAD AS .WORDS ‘ ‘ DR.OAVNED BY ROAR OF RIVER OF BLOOD.” ROME, Nov. 22.—What probably will rank in the annals of the Italian Parliament as one of the greatest personal successes ever achieved was scored in the Chamber by Deputy Carlo Delcroix, leader of the ‘‘mutilated” .section of the ex-combatants, in a strong and fiery speech in defence of Mussolini’s Government, The effect of his words of praise of the Faseisti was heightened by the fact that they came as a complete surprise to everyone, as the opposition press, after his conditional support of the Government in the vote of confidence last Saturday, had loudly proclaimed that he had definitely taken a stand against- Mussolini. For over an hoqr Delcroix, who lost both his hands and the sight of both eyes in the war, stood before the Chamber, which was packed to capacity with eager listeners, and poured out a- Rood of oratory in defence of the Fascismo’s achievements and all that it stands for, and uttered a fierce denunciation of the opposition.

SUCH AS POLITICIANS DIIEAM OF.

AVhen he was forced to pause by wild outbursts of cheering which punctuated his speech throughout, attentive friends wiped the perspiration from his face and held a glass of iced water to his lips, as, being 'luimlless, he could not do these things for himself. As soon as Delcroix sat down at the end of his speech, the Chamber accorded him an ovation such as most political men dream of in vain all their lives. Everybody present, including the Cabinet, Opposition, visitors and members of the royal family in the royal box sprang to their feet, cheering and hand clapping' enthusiastically, while deputies crowded round Delcroix, embracing him. Then, while the deputies approved, by acclamation, a motion to have Delcroix’s speech printed and affixed in every municipality in Italy, Delcroix was led to -the Minister’s bench, where first Mussel)ui and then each Minister in turn embraced and kissed, him. DROWNED YiV RIVER OF BLOOD. Address ex-Premier Giolitli, who voted against tho Government at the last vote of confidence, Delcroix continued: — ‘‘AVhen you spoke the other night, 1 was filled with admiration at your returning to the active struggle of political life, despite your eighty years. But T did not understand your words, which seemed indistinct and far away, to mo. Perhaps they were drowned by the roar of the. river of blood which separates your generation from mine. For you the fall of Signor Mussolini would represent a mere change of Government, for us it would represent, the end of a dream, Ihe dying out of hope, the defeat of youth and tho destruction of the very reason for our existence.”