Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-08
DENIES STATUE REMOVAL.
MussOIini Launches Drive for MOnu-
ment to Battistini in HyrOl.

ROME. February P).-Premier
Mussolini during his speech in the
cha mber Saturday. in which he
warned Germany against the alleged
antiItalian campaign carried on IN
the Reich, denied allegations that the
Italians had removed the monument
of the German poet. Walter, at Boil
zano. formerly BotZen. in Tyrol. lie
created much laughter by declaring
that, although Herr Walters poetry
was quite mediocre. his monument
was still standing.
The premier then made susges-
ton that the Italian people by public
subscription erect monument at
BolZano to CeSare BattlStlnl, an
Italian patriot who was executed by
the Austrians during the World War.
The suggestion has spread quickly
throughout the nation, spurred on
by the premier's. statement that he
would be one of the hrSt SUBSCRIBERS
10 a national fund.
Signing his name on the newspaper
mems list submitted to him by Capt.
F,zio Caribaldi, son of Gen. Ricclou
Garibaldi. the premier said: m
still a newspaper man All the
Fascist deputies subscribed, giving
10 lire each. The intention is to keep
the subscriptions within the reach of
the poorest citizen. The members OF
the chamber sent Mussolini 1880 lire.
while Signor CremOnesi, governor or
Rome, sent him $4,000 lire and let
ter saying that the premler.s speech
had touched the hearts of the en-
tire people.
The CONSERVATION of the Sunday
newspapers upon receipt of excerpts
from Mussolini's speech finds rein
forced echo in the Monday morning
editions which publish the full text.
The MontagspoSt says the delay in
receipt of the speech here was due TO
the fact that Mussolini personally cor
rected the stenographic reports so that
the published text does not represent a
spontaneous oratorical outburst, but "a
n-emeditated demonstration in re-
| .ponSe to a pre- arranged 1nterpella-
tons" The paper demands that For
eign Minister Stresemann reply with
dignited determination"
Der Montag, pointing out that even
Poincare never adopted such a tone,
says: "Mussolini's megalomania is evil
IDENTIFY greater than all political con-
SiderationS.
Official quarters continue to hope
that the Italian text of the speech
will not be as harsh as the German
translation.
~
Mussolini's speech in the chamber
Saturday, warning Germany against
an anti-Italian campaign. must not
be interpreted as a bugle call to
new war, declares II essaggero, but
as the language of a race which will
tolerate no offenSeS.
The new Italy desires peace in
Europe, as was shown at Locarno,
where she willingly guaranteed the
Rhine frontier" the paper continues.
but the situation of Locarno does
not place her under the necessity
of enduring provocations without
protest or tolerating offenses without
reaction"
On the other hand II Tevere. ex-
IRENE Fascist organ, under the head
ing: "A Word to the Wise is Suf-
ticient." says that the pan-German
lists would do we'll to keep in mind
that Mussolini's speech was followed
by the singing in the chamber of
the Fascist song. the refrain of which
is: ITO arms"
The Giornale DItalia says the
premiers utterances represent exactly
the thought of all Italians, no op-
position existing on this ground. The
territory as far as Brennero is doubly
sacred because it was conquered
through sacrifices Of blood and be-
cause it is the strategic bulwark of
the northern frontier.
Italy fought Austria willingly, in
order to achieve uniflcation of the
mother county, it adds. Now that