ITALY’S NEW REGIME.

Since Saturday last the new Fascisti police have assumed duty in many important centres of Italy. They immediately began clearing out subversive Communist and Anarchist elements. In Leghorn on Saturday night, the police, with the help of Fascisti detachments, arrested a number of suspects, including several former Municipal Councillors and the former Communist Deputy, Russardo Capocchi. All were enrolled in the subversive organisation of “Arditi del Popolo,” and are accused of seditious propaganda against the security of the State. In Milan a similar police raid was made with the help of a Fascisti force, and resulted in the temporary arrest of several hundred persons, including many suspects who were wearing black shirts and pretending to be Fascisti. Those who really were Fascisti, but unauthorised to go about on alleged service, were sent home with a severe admonition, but those who were not Fascisti, and wore black shirts under false pretences, were kept under arrest, to the number of over sixty. Hereafter, by the regulations establishing the National Fascisti Militia, only those regularly inscribed and on duty are allowed to wear black shirts.

In a speech to a deputation of seamen and port workers at Genoa, Signor Mussolini explained that if the Fascisti revolution had not taken place two months ago Italy would now be in a state of chaos. It was for this reason that order must be restored everywhere, and severe police measures taken. He said: You certainly know all my sympathy for Genoa, dating back to 1915, when Genoa with Milan and Rome started the national reaction. For the revolution which culminated in bringing the Fascisti into power was started in May, 1915, and was continued in October, 1922. I must assure you that the Government over which I have the honour to preside never intended following an anti-labour policy. I, on the contrary, wish to express my esteem for labourers who create no embarrassment for Governments and who have abolished strikes. Our labourers have redeemed themselves and no longer believe in Asiatic Utopias imported from Russia. They believe in themselves and their work. They believe in the possibility, which I consider a certainty, of a great, prosperous, and free Italian nation. I am not speaking without careful reflection. After two months of government I tell you that if the Fascisti revolution had been delayed for another few months, nay, perhaps another few weeks, Italy would to-day be in chaos. What we are now doing is trying to make up for blunders of the past. We are delivering citizens from the burden of laws which were the fruit of an insipid demagogy. We are delivering our State from superstructures that suffocate it, and from economic undertakings for which it is unfitted. We are labouring to balance our State Budget, which signifies restoring the value of our lire and occupying a position deserving respect and esteem among the nations, and in reconstituted Italy it is Labour, manual labour as well as intellectual labour, that will have the first place.

An article is published to-day, written by Signor Mussolini for the new political review “Gerarchia”, in which he repeats similar ideas, adding that he has come “to replace old drivers like Giolitti and oust somewhat violently from their post. The Russians carried out their revolution by smashing the State machine. We shall try to save it.”