ITALY'S CHILDREN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17436, 7 April 1931, Page 12

ITALY'S CHILDREN

MOULDED INTO VAST ARMY 2,000,000 UNDER TRAINING LIKE LEGIONS OF ANCIENT ROME ROMI'], Feb. 7. Thousands of squads, platoons and companies of boys in Fascist uniform march in disciplined military formations every Sunday in Italy. Athletic youths in olive-green breeches, black shirts and fez-like caps with swinging tassels go through military drill to the commands of Fascist militia officers in hundreds of towns. Some drill with rifles, others without. From rifle ranges is heard the crack of target practice. This is an outward manifestation of one of the most notable ami significant institutions of the Fascist regime —the Opera Nazionalc Balilla—comprising some 2,083,240 boys and girls between 0 and. 18 years. Upon this voluntary organisation the Fascist State is placing ils greater reliance for the perpetuation of the regime and the moral, physical and military education of rising generations. Fascism is centring its hopes for the future in youth, physical fitness and guns. The institution is organised on the hnsis of the armies of ancient Borne and is composed of a squadron of 11 children.. Three squadrons form a platoon; three platoons form a company and so on to the legion, which comprises nine companies.

00,000 A YEAR BECOME FASCISTS Un<Mr present regulations only Aranguardisti can become new niombers of the Fascist party. About. 90.000 annually enter the party from their ranks as they pass their eighteenth year. The ceremony of entrance occurs each year throughout Italy on March 23 —the anniversary of the foundation of the "Fascist di Conibattimcnto" —and is called the "Fascist conscription." Entrance to the Fascist party is signalise,*! by the presentation of a rifle. Through the supervision of the cultural, physical and political education of 'millions of boys and girls during 10 years of their youth the Fascist hierarchy believes it has found the most effective means of perpetuating the Faacift state.