Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-13
FASCIST GROUPS
THREATEN BRITAIN
lax Heard of ''lmpending
English Revolution" |ncIud.
+, ing "March on London"
BY JOHN GUNTHER,

BY JOHN GUNTHER,
correspondence Cf Tho Star and the Chicago
Daily News.
LONDON, England, November 90
Even the conservative organization
known as the British Fascist owes its
existence and directs its plans to what
1t calls the impending English revolu.
uon. Such a revolution. according to
most reasonable people who know the
British mind, is as unthinkable as a
war with Mars. but the Fascist are
certain that it is coming, and are
preparing to combat it.
There are two Fascist organizations
IN London, each furiously contemptu-
Gus of the other. One is the British
Fascist. The other is the National
F'ascists. who advocate violence and
perform it,
The British Fascists organization
came into being in 1922. The founder
was a woman-MiSs Linton-Orman n.
She still yields considerable power in
Fascist ranks as head of the woman :
branch. The active president now IS
q former brigidier general in the
british army-R. +. -. Blakeney. &.
II. c.. ID. :. q.
Large Membership Gained.
1t is Gen. Blakeney to whom the
British F'ascists point as their Primo
de Rivera, their Mussolini. Around
him the general has a staff d mill
tary organization, and tso he says
500 Fascist posts throughout Great
Britain, armed and equipped and with
an enrolment $50 he SayS) of from ! so
to 5000 members each. An average
estimate, then, from figures from
Fascist sources would put the number
of British FasCists at about 500 900.
This is almost certainly an eXaggera-
ton.
A glimpse into Gen. Blakeney's
ideas may be had from the following
excerpts from one of his recent
speeches:
If the ideals and spirit OF fascism
were to permeate England there would
be an end to industrial disputes"
Britain for the Britons-throw out
ell alienS-every one"
THE real power in the world is in
the hands of a gang of interna tional
supermillionaireS and industrial list s.
mostly Russian and German. We are
out to wipe them out
People who intend to use force
must be met by force"
In other words, beginning with an
honest deteStation Of communism. the
British Fascists have reached a Mus
solini program and a Mussolini spirit
and are looking for a chance to eX-
press ii.
There is no doubt that the British
Fascists have a considerable organi-
Zation. But thus far they have no
funds. They publish weekly the Fas-
cist Bulletin, and beg for contributions
from members.
Organized for Immediate Action.
or;t iel,
form. Their only insignia is a button
for the coat lapel, marked For King
and Country" round a large letter
"F
Maj. Arnott, executive secretary, in
sists that each OF the 500 Fascist posts
In England is organized for 'immedi-
ate action" including troops on drill,
motor cyclists and automobiles with
their cars, and even women ready as
ambulance units
1t is-difficuit for Maj. Arnott TO ex-
plain just why such activity is neces
sary, since both he and Gen. Blakeney
have insisted repeatedly that British
faSctsm was and always would be
loyal to the crown, and that its only
function, far from being political. was
ito preserve order
But isn't England orderly now?''
the major was asked.
He admitted that il was. but added
that in the opinion OF most F'aScistS Sc
rlous trouble with the communists was
only a question of time. When that
time came, he said, the Fascist troops
would offer their services to the gov
eminent. If there Is a general strike
In the Spring, he went on, the same
tender of assistance will be made.
Yes. there may be a Fascist march
on London some day-who can tell?'
These are the words of Commander
> L 4. '
Fascist of England second of the
Fascist groups. The national Fascists
broke away from the original body.
the British Fascists, about a year ago
because they were too mild. There
upon a few hundred young insurgents
got together and since that time have
been filling the police courts for vari-
Gus offenSeS. from rioting to disturb
ance of the peace.
Indulge i'm Red Batting"
The national Fascists have been in
trouble ever since their organization.
The avowed reason for their existence
is red batting They have given the
Communists much publicity in a few
months. They are undiscriminating in
their definition of communism. AL
most any person or doctrine mildly
liberal is apt to make them surly
On three occasions in the last few
months they have caused riots in
Hyde Park by endeavoring to snatch
down socialist placards such as for
three decades at the Socialist open
forum have synbolized free speech in
England.
Whereas the parent British Fascists
insist that they have no connection
with fascism III Italy, the national
FasclstS make a strong point of imi-
tatfng Italian violence and pictures of
MuSSoiini decorate their headuua rters
Their latest adventure was the
seizure Of an automobile van contain
ing 5000 copies of the Daily Herald
the Socialist newspaper. and attempt
ing TO destroy it -Four OF their mem
berS were arrested for this offense,
but were discharged subsequently.
The National Fascists. like the pa
rent body, are a military organization
but 1t is doubtful if they have thou
sand men in all London. Most of them
are young eX-soldiers out of employ
ment. They wear black shirts, an
esoteric Fascist emblem, and carry
short swords.
Copyright. 1925. by Chicago Daily News Co..