The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-07
FEVER OF UNREST
GROWS in ITALY
Strike Off at Florence, Calm
Restored-Lo ooting Goes
on in Milan.
ANARCHISM ENE RAL
Edicts Issued Lowering Prices
Of Foodstuffs-Socialists
Disclaim Responsibility.

Florence, July THE strike was
declared of ut midnight Saturday
All Is calm in the city. .f
One Killed. Several Wounded.
London, July Tone person has
been killed and several wounded in
rioting in Brescia, said a news
agency dispatch from Rome today.
Order has now peen restored al
Florence. but looting continues in
Milan.
Socialists are desclaiming respon-
sibility for the disturbances.
Spreads From Towns to Cities.
Rome, July T. the anarchist
movement in italy Is spreading from
the small towns TO the cities.
In Bologna province anarchist and
socialist committees have usurped
administration powers in Munich.
Edicts have been issued lowering the
prices of foodstufs.
Further lootlng Is reported from
Forli in the seat of the original out
break last week. Medola and Cas-
tocaro. Not single shop has been
spared in Florence. General strikes
have been proclaimed at Prato, one
the most important manufacture
ing centers in northern Italy, and
also at Grosseto.
Government ~.osed Its Eyes.
Rome, July 7.--"Salus Publica Su-
premg Lex" (the public welfare Is
the supreme law, the ancient motto
of the Romans, Is being applied by
the Italian government at this crit
ical moment of the national life of
Italy.
"The government closed one eye.
indeed, in some cases both, for so
long that the people took the law in
their own hands," said leading Ital-
ian statesman today. "They were
aiming at giving a harsh but de-
served lesson to profiteers. II was
right that the people should punish
those who made millions through the
suffering of the entire population,
which for over four years strained
every nerve in the face of the great
est struggle of its history, With pitt
less energy, however, as pitiless as its
ileniencys heretofore, the government
now intends to repress any attempt
to transform a'just protest into some
thing more serious"
Florence has been occupied by mill :
tary forces and the machine guns of
the troops, 1t has been shown the
mobs and robbers, were not taken
there merely for show. The same
thing has happened at other most re-
bellious centers, especially at Ancona
and Brecia, where many persons were
wounded.
In Genoa, where the uprising
against the cost of living took a most
orderly FORM the people imposed a
reduction in all prices, watched the
carrying out of this order and pre-
vented any violence against shop
keepers They intervened whenever
attempts were made to ransack
shops. putting down the disorderly
elements with much greater energy
than the people ever used. At Milan
the people presented an ultimatum,
demanding that the prices of all ne
cessities be materially reduced by
Tuesday.
Troops Called Too Late.
A mob ransacked nearly all the
shops at Palermo, the troops being
called out too late to prevent pillag-
ing. When they appeared they were
received with applause, the crowd
shouting to the soldiers: mo firing,
boys; we are not at the front Here
we are all brothers and all are
against the vampires who have
starved U.S."
From all towns where disorders
have occurred the same report is
coming. A week ago everything could
be bought at high prices, but now
the shops are closed, goods are lack
ing and nothing can be found. En-
tire families in many places are in
despair at finding something to eat.
Count Olgiati, prefect of Florence,
has been removed from office. He
was transferred to that city from
Milan during the war after he had
been unable to prevent a general
strike in Milan.