The Washington times., 1923-01-04
WAR DECLARED
ON ITALIAN
CA|VI0RRA
Mussolini, New Fascist Pre-
mier, GrappIes With Fa-
nous Secret Order.

ROME, Jan. 4.--Can even Benito
Mussolini, strong man OF Italy"
crush the power of the ood.thirsty
Camorra?
who will win--when the seeming
" invincible power of the man
who led the 'bloodless revolution
to successful conclusion Is pitted
against the strength of q secret
order that once saved Naples from
revolution, that strikes terror into
the hearts Of all who are not
counted in their ranks?
If Mussolini can execute his
ayowed purpose OF crushing the
Camorra he will not only have
proved himself one Of the greatest
Italians Of all time, but. great
benefactor to many other countries,
into which the murderous thrusts
of the band strike with fatal &C.
curacy.
The Camorra is the most ro-
mantle and most dangerous secret
criminal organization in the world;
1t yields enormous political influ-
ence and is virtually above the law
IAN association OF murderers.
thieves, blackmailers ana smugglers
and the greatest riddle ever set for
the police of the United States and
Great Britain.
Sources Of Income.
The Camorra today collects por.
ton of every cab fare in italy,
shares the tip given to walters;
levies toll on religious orders. IN
return It protects all these patrons.
Its principal tax collectors, as wen
as spies, are the hortlea OF "Iazza-
roni," or beggars, which il1fest
Italian cities and are now being
dispersed by Signor Mussolini's de.
cree.
The Italian who desires to b.
come Camorrista presents him.
self to the Camorristi In his dis.
trict. These test his Qualificati tons
most vigorously and narrowly cross
examine him on his reasons for
offering himself as 'giovinotta
onorato, or novice
He Is now taught how to use the
knife and how successfully to steal
He Is also told that hts domestic
morristi is his family; that he must
unhesttatinglY obey HIS superiors
in all things.
Period Of Probation.
Probably after three years of pro-
bationership he becomes a young
member" and If he distinguishes
himself he may. at the end Of two
years. become q full.blown Canon
rista.
He IS liable to death. following
trial, for:
Betraying secret, or a fellow
members wife, defraudtng this Ca
mora, killing without permission,
thieving, extorting or swindling for
his own private gain. disobedlencel
and eoWardice.
For minor offences ne may be
suspended for year or more, or
permanently disfigured by the sire
gio. He in turn can inflict the 81
regio on an unfaithful wife, mis-.
tress or sweetheart. Some OF the
Camorrists place this mark-a ST.
Andrews erosion the faces of
their women to protect them from
the attentions of other men, and
the women are proud Of this badge.
Once Saved Naples.
That the Canorristi can main.
tain order is proved by the fact
that they once saved Naples from
a revolution. A few months before
Garibaldi entrusted the police work
to the Camorra. Naples has never
been so well governed at any
period Of its history.
The desire on the part of many
an italian youth to become
flower of evil" and to strut and
sWagger has grown beyond com
prehension, and the outcome now
is that Italy has swarms of s,Ie.
cessful Camorristi, each of whom is
a repulsive combination OF usurer.
blackmailer, souteneur and muir.
derer.
And these are the people whom
the Fascist Premier of Italy is out
to fight.