Evening star., 1925-04-03
ITALIAN DEPUTIES
0. K. WAR BUDGET.
MussoIini Saves Defense Bill
in Senate-Fist Fight En-
broiIs Chamber.
Ry the Associated Press.

Ry the Associated Press.
ROME, April 3.-The Chamber OF
Deputies today adopted without dis
cussion the budget of the ministry of
war The bill Of War Minister Gen.
di Giorgio providing for army re-
forms did not figure in the vote. The
fact that Signor di Giorgio was not
present during the process of adopt
ing his ministry's budget was taken
as confirmation of the reports OF his
resignation, although no official an
nouncement of it had been made up
TO an early hour this afternoon.
Important events developed almost
simultaneously in both houses of the
Parliament yesterday-a pueilistic
incident in the chamber eliminating
in challenge to duel and post
ponement by the Senate of the vote
on War Minister Gen. di Giorgio's
army reform bill. The passage of the
army bill appeared threatened by
strong criticisms from 1taly's most
prominent military leaders and the
vote was postponed on request OF
Premier Mussolni.
In the chamber the charge made by
Deputy Viola that the government
had concentrated black shirts on the
occasion of the recent election in the
CaSerta Commune to intimidate
voters opposed to Fascist candidates,
led to an exchange of blows between
Viola and the Fascist Deputy Bottai,
and Bottai thereupon challenged
Viola to a duel.
Demands Adequate Defenses.
While this scene was being enacted
in the Chamber Mussolini appeared
before the Senate and requested post
ponement of the vote on the war
minister's bill. He explained that the
government intended to continue Its
study of the whole question of the
defense Of the nation, with view to
co-ordinating the army, navy and air
forces. A revised measure, he prom
ised, would be presented later.
The premier said that national de-
Tense must be studied from a techni-
cal not political viewpoint. There
fore, as this measure threatened to
become political measure, the gov
ernment preferred to postpone action.
More Wars Certain.
The old-age adage, I'm time Of peace
prepare for war, was the giSt of
MussolinTs stirring speech. He ex-
more wars to come, and asked the
Senators if they really thought that
the great war, which drenched Eu-
rope in blood for four years, was the
last one. The response was "No"
az note that you all seem to be of
the same opinion" continued the
premier. This much is certain-the e
war through which we lived was not
the last. And even since then we
have had in Europe other small wars,
AS the conflicts between Russia and
Poland and the Greeks and Turks.
You must not dream that the
eventual war in Europe of tomorrow
will keep us exempt from sacrifices.
We must prepare now because war
comes usually with such suddenness
that it gives no time for prepara-
tion. We must therefore prepare in
time, the present time, and for that
purpose increase, to the limit of
human possibility that which l call
the war-like efficiency of the nation
Hinges on seesrity Pact.
Tie premier said the delay would
give hinf6ienT opportunity to watch
the Development IS In. the security pact
negotiatfo5las kslnce Ii is evident that II
an Understanding Is reached with Ger
many, Herewith be- assured a period Of
peaeeItx Otherwise" Mussolini add
ed, I've may have TO- make a different
decisfobs because l acknowledge that
in that case, l would be extremely
pessimistic regarding the immediate
ly ensuing years.