CALL TO ARMS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1935, Page 7

CALL TO ARMS

ITALIANS’ RESPONSE TREMENDOUS ENTHUSIASM BLACKSHIRT VOLUNTEERS SHORTAGE OF EQUIPMENT COMPLAINT BY GENERAL By Telegraph—Press Assn.-Copyright Rec. 10 p.m. Rome, Feb. 18. Scenes of tremendous enthusiasm throughout to-day were witnessed at Rome, when recruits of the 1911 class were called up for service in Abyssinia. Parents and friends accompanied each batch of arrivals to the railway station. Signor Mussolini informed the Fascist Grand Council to-day that 70,000 Blackshirts had volunteered for service in Africa. He also revealed that a Blackshirt battalion sailed from Naples, on February 10 to reinforce the garrison at Eritrea. A Messina 'message says that when thousands of young volunteers arrived in response to the call to the colours General Vacari, commanding Messina, realised that rations and clothing were insufficient and telegraphed to the War Office pointing out the unwisdom of crowding the seaport with troops before adequately preparing for them. Signor Mussolini’s reply as War Minister was to place General Vacari on the retired list. Nevertheless the difficulty is not solved. Youngsters are flocking in. .without . uniforms and are unequipped, except for small bundles brought from home. They will be drafted to Syracuse and Palermo before sailing. General Boscardi replaces General Vacari.