ATTACK 01 MUSSOLINI

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1926, Page 7

ATTACK 01 MUSSOLINI

DEATH NARROWLY ESCAPED THE ASSAILANT LYNCHED DICTA TOR U ND] STU R BED By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Nov. I, 5,5 p.m. . Rome, Oct. 31. Another attempt to assassinate Signor Mussolini failed just before the Dictator opened the Scientific Congress at Bologna.. His motor had reached the entrance to the Jndipendcnza when a youth of 18 fired a shot. The crowd immediately seized and lynched him as Signor Mussolini drove on. He chatted calmly to the officials at the station and departed for Forli. He had a very narrow escape. The bullet severed the ribbon of his decoration and pierced the edge of his uniform breast high and the sleeve. The Mayor of Bologna Was seated alongside him at the time. Mussolini’s assailant was lynched and his body has not yet been identified'. During the confusion following on his attack Signor Mussolini, preserving his customary calmness, stopped his motorcar a few minutes afterwards and reviewed some sailors at the station. He also addressed a gathering of army officers prior to departing, accompanied by his family. He had previously opened a huge sports' stadium accommodating 50,000 people, and was wearing the uniform of a commander of the militia. Signor Mussolini rode on horseback into the vast arena and halted in the centre amid deafening cheering which lasted for several minutes. From the saddle he harangued the assembly, which punctuated his address with cheers, especially his references to the King as the supreme commander of the army and militia. Signor Mussolini added: “To-day’s ceremony is the. crowning feature of. the celebration of the Fascist march to Rome. It is unprecedented in character and significance because it signifies that a people under arms is enthusiastically acquiescing in the Fascist regime, and people willing to follow me everywhere. Fascism is now the civil religion of every Italian worthy of the name.” Then rising in his stirrups, he exclaimed: “Blackshirts, raise aloft your rifles; let the world see this forest of bayonets and feel the beating of your hearts, which are resolute and invincible.” Later he took the salute in the march past of the regular soldiers, militia and the Fascists. RUSH BY MADDENED MOB. Directly the shot was heard and the crowd realised that another attempt had been made to murder Signor Mussolini, a yell of horrified anger was raised, and before the detectives guarding the Dictator were able to intervene, the crowd threw themselves upon the boy using fists, sticks and even boots. The youth died within five minutes, and finally the maddened mob dragged his corpse into the middle of 1 the Street and left it lying there. The youth is still not identified. After the lynching fourteen knife wounds were found in the body. Signor Mussolini meanwhile coolly went to the station, and when addressing some soldiers on the platform he showed no trace of the experience he had just undergone, though he had actually stopped his car .and watched the crowd closing in upon the boy and the roar of the infuriated lynchers must have been ringing, in his ears while he was driving to the station. Received Nov. 1, 11.45 p.m. Rome, Oct. 31. The would-be assassin managed to get nerur the cordon of troops and police guarding the route before they were aware of his intention to fire at Signor Mussolini. The assassin was immediately seized by an officer and some Fascists before he was able to fire a second shot. The first bullet was found in Signor Mussolini's car. When his assailant's body was taken to the police station, nothing was found on the clothing to reveal his identity. Medical examination showed. traces of strangulation and fourteen deep knife wounds. The man must have been dead in little more than a minute from the time he fired the shot. When reviewing sonic sailors and militia, Signor Mussolini did not refer to the affair. He was accorded a great ovation in the evening when he arrived at Ferli.His Majesty the King of Italy immediately telegraphed to the Dictator expressing his horror and the congratulations of the Royal Family on his escape.