MUSSOLINI’S MOTORING

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1931, Page 5

MUSSOLINI’S MOTORING

VANDERBILT’S ALLEGATION STARTLING STORIES HINTED THREAT TO EIXPOSE BUTLER “GENERAL MISQUOTED ME”. By Telegraph—Press Asan. —Copyright. Los Angeles, Feb. 13. Cornelius Vanderbilt juu. to-day told his version of the Mussolini “hit anorun” story, asserting that Major Gen-; oral Smedley Butler’* anecdote would have proved merely a squib compared with the issues which the testimony; taken would have made public had the. Butler court-martial not been called off. Mr. Vanderbilt said: “General Butler told a story of mine and twisted it round to score a point for himself. He made me a goat. The testimony 1 would have given at the court-martial would have brought out statements made by the general at a gathering of members of the American Affiliated Lecture Bureau last November. These statements concerned the failure of a foreign Power to live up to the terms of the naval pact entered into last year between the United States, Britain and Japan.”

Mr. Vanderbilt said the third speaker at the November meeting, at which hi and General,Butler spoke, was an official of a foreign Government. Mr. Van;, derbilt’* story of the Mussolini incident 1 was; “I was riding with Signor Mu*sdlini when he drove. A small child ran in front of the machine at a sharp turn and wa* bit. I looked back to see-if the child was hurt. Signor Mussolini placed his hand on my knee and said. ’Never look back, Mr. Vanderbilt; always look ahead in life.' General Butler heard the story in u confidential meeting. “If I had been caE.'d to stand,” .’swdeibilt continued, "I should, have been prepared with 40 affidavits from per-, sons bearing me out that General Butler misquoted me. I should have boeii forced to tell what the other two speakers, including General Butler, said. One overt act on .the part of General Butler will result in my filing n 'egal action that will bring all these facts to light.” General Butler could not be reached to-day, but his counsel, Major . tenry Leonard, said; “So far as 1 know. General Butler to th!* day never said anything about who told him of the Mussolini incident,” MUSSOLINI MADE DENIAL. a • _■ '■ ACCUSATIONS IN U.S.A. SENATE. Following strong protests late In January by the Italian Ambassador and the institution of an investigation by the Secretary ‘of- the’Navy, Mr. C, FAdams, Signor Demartino . received a cable from Signor Mussolini denying statements alleged to have been made by General Butler, who was reported td have told a group in an address at ■ Philadelphia that Signor Mussolini was “a niad dog of war” and a “hit end run’’ autoinobillst. General Bijtler was alleged to have, stated lie. had a friend who toured Italy with Signor Mussolini and saw the Prime Mijifater* motor kill a child anti drive off without giving aid. General Butler was also said to have discussed the Italian. Dictator’s warlike proclivities, accusing him of desiring to start wars.

Signor Mussolini said he never ran over anyone ail 4 he never took an American on a tour of Italy. In the Senate Senator Heflin delivered a sharp condemnation of Signor Miwsolini. calling him ! ‘a mad monarch and a red-handed tyrant,” and accusing him of murdering' 137 Italians in a single night. -