The New York herald., 1922-11-26
Special Correspondence TO THE NEW YoHx
HERALp.
New York Herald Buree1.
Rome, Nov. IL.

| Special Correspondence TO THE NEW Yoxx
| HExALp.
Now York Herald Bureau
| Rome, Nov. IL.
I% JNDRIDGE BALDWIN has
III written diary Of his observa-
- tions in Rome during the Fas-
cisti uprising that gives q vivid PIC
ture Of conditions ana has permitted
THE New YORK Herald to print the
| following extracts:
| During the last few days the main
| streets of the Eternal City have been
| tempestuous torrents of pent-up ex-
| element. Since dawn to-day martial
| law has been in force with the in
| evitable result that the metropolis has
| been In a fever of expectation. One
| has the sensation of living ovor a VOL
cano whose subterranean grumbling is
| an eloquent warning to those who heed
| the sound. 1t seems that no one does.
| So far there has been no actual erup-
| ton in the city. but from the assures
| issue forth hot blasts that bewilder
| rather than intimidate the stranger
within the walls. In the end the tur-
! moil may subside without external de-
structive' manifestations. Time will tell.
| Rome followed with relatively calm
| interest the Fascist demonstration few
! days ago in Naples. but 1t WAS not long
before the fever spread to the capital.
Groups Of the "black ehirts," which
are the Fascist, began appearing In
ever increasing numbers throughout the
| city, They passed among the crowds
causing little marked attention, for they
were orderly and law abiding.
Members of the organization wear as
| H. III IoN1
a tassel, or else a metal helmet painted
| black. Their shirts are of the same
color, while some are clad in an entire
uniform of the dark material. Others
have olive green trousers. Most of them
carry no firearms-in all events they
are concealed--but they are supplied
with stout canes or sticks loaded with
lead at one end. These are very effec-
tive against unarmed citizens. but what
could be done in the face or Govern
ment troops with machine guns ana
full equipment is difficult for the lay
man to understand.
An idea Of what is occurring In some
quarters of the city may be had from
the following incident witnessed oy
Americans in Rome. Yesterday In front
of the famous Fountain Of Trevi a
small band of Fascist severely pun
ished two youthful Italians for some
cause unknown to the observer. The
offenders were held by both arms while
members of the band struck them sew
eral times over the head with their
loaded canes Needless to say the VIC
Tins fell to the ground unconscious.
The group of Fascist ran up SIDE
street and were at safe distance when
the police reached the spot. This incl
dent occurred in broad daylight. but no
effort was made on the part or the IN
habitants standing by to prevent the
doleing out of such Justice" 1t must
be realized that a large portion or the
population favor the Fascist. although
hot participating actively in the organ
| ization as yet.
| During the day groups of the Fascist
| passed from one news stand TO another
| destroying all papers unfavorable to
their cause. IL Monde, an Italian
! paper whose offices in Naples were
raided by the demonstrators recently,
| was banned by their followers In Rome.
| Carriers OF this daily We're mobbed in
| the street and their supplies taken
away from them. Most of the news
dealers were wise enough TO surrender
| without resistance. One man reading
marked" paper in one Of the big cafes
was roughly handled.
1t was a unique experience to con-
template Rome on Saturday night when
SNtl llilli6 SHOuld idfc ptth VI anu
gay. Not a shop window was lighted
and the steel shutters were drawn
carefully down over the plate glass
panes. Practically speaking, all traffic
was at a complete standstill. No tram
ways were in operation and the auto
buses had long since been concentrated
in an imposing line in the Piazza Vene-
zia directly in front OF the stupendous
monument to Victor Emmanuel III. Oc-
aefA ao1l anh yntt1d olA
over the cobblestones or a motor car
would dash past into the night on an
unknown mission.
Only officials were able to get about
other than by foot. Incidentally very
few foreigners were noticed in the CEN
! ter of the town. Most of the Americans
kept to their hotels in the Ludovisi or
Pincio quarter, where perfect calm
relgned.
In the Piazza Barbarinln. however.
considerable excitement was going on
as this place seemed to have been Sc
lected by the Facisti for their general
headquarters.
Any American passing that way was
afforded a good look at the virie young
manhood OF Italy now testing its
strength against that of the present
Government. Some of the members of
the order were mere boys and they
throw all the enthusiasm and indomi-
table spirit they possess into the proceed
ing. 1t is a striking contract to watch
staid old Romans reviewing the work
OF some youngsters still in their teens.
Not all the Facisti are lads by any
means. and II is not an uncommon
sight to see a man of fifty marching
alongside of n youth OF twenty. They
are all Joined together In the common
cause OF which they think so mucn.
Americans here on the very crest OF
the giant wave breaking over Italy are
totally at n loss to comprehend the
grave situation. They are too near TO
get clear perspective. Most of them
have to rely upon English papers