The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-11-10
ITALY'S ARDITI
BACK D'ANUNZIO
TROUBLESOME ELEMENT AMONG
RETURNED SOLDIERS FOLLOW
ANY COURSE THAT PROMISES
"DEvILTRY."

Milan. Nov. The Fiume incident
is only the most celebrated and Sc
rious of the pranks that Italy's re-
turned soldiers have been cutting up
since the armistice. Particulars have
just been announced of an effort of the
Arditi last July to overthrow the Nitti
ministry, from it's extent and in view
of the disturbances at that time,
might have proved as perplexing as the
adventure of D'AnnunZio.
The conspiracy, in connection with
which many arrests were made dur
ing September, conferred in regi-
ment of Arditi holding the forts Of
Pietralata near Rome. The plan was
to make raid on the government
buildings with a force of four hundred
Arditi. who would gain entrance to the
city in government motor trucks.
Bombs were to be thrown in the pub
lie squares frightening the citizens to
cover. 1t was hoped that with the
rebels in charge of the public build
ings, the cry Down with the govern
ment' would bring out all the dis
affected populace in support of the
rebellion.
The plot was directed from the head
quarters of the National Association
s OIL ArQlll III rome, a CiuD HodSC iiidlh-
tanned by charitable contributions for
the entertainment of the decorated
heroes of the army. Propaganda
among the soldiers was conducted
through tobacco service to the
troops still in garrison. Exactly
what funds were employed in this at
tempt is known to the government but
the facts have not yet been published.
The authorities content themselves
selves with the statement that the
contemplated revolution depended on
various 'anarchical elements in the
capital. The yelled suggestion is
made however that the movement was
aimed simply at a ministerial change.
When the Nitti government took
power, it was bitterly charged with
being supported by all the defeatist
elements in the country. This propa-
ganda against Premier Nitti was
largely in the hands of the same ma
tionalistic elements that were behind
the Fiume adventure.
The Arditi, who have preserved an
Independent organization, among the
returned soldiers, represent the pa
triotic spirit of the army in its most
concentrated form. They are the
class Of soldiers most readily respon-
SlV6 10 Two types OIL pTOpdBdAuds LI0
one against the government, which is
charged by the nationalists with hav-
ing wasted Italy's opportunities in
the war; the other against the officer
class, which is charged with the dis
aster of Caporetto, and with sacrifice
ing the soldiers at the front. Both the
social revolutionists and the national
lists are making bids for the support of
the Arditi using much the same argu-
ments. The Arditi thus constitute an
unstable element in the country, ex-
pressing the most reckless and ro-
mantle energy of the fighters in the
Italian army.
The term Arditi "dare-devils" was
applied to the "storm-troops" at the
front, regiments made up of the SOL
diers who had distinguished them
and who had been specially trained to
lead the way over the top. The most
adventurous men in the army gradual
ly found their, way to these regiments.
which covered themselves with glory
in many memorable encounters. To
swell the numbers of the shock troops,
however, the Italian generals also sent
to these brigades all kinds of people
willing to cancel some offense by TAX
ing the additional risk of this branch
of the service, criminals serving long
terms, deserters under sentence of
death. On. men facing severe disciplin-
airy measures. Many such soldiers in