Evening star., 1937-10-05
BRUNO MUSSOL|N|
LEADING ITALIANS
FLYING FOR REBELS
Crack Italian Squadron In
CIudeS Veterans of BaIbo
Flight to U. S.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ROME, October 5.-Fascist aviation
circles disclosed today that Bruno
Mussolini, 20-year-old son of Premier
Benito Mussolini, accompanied by the
flower Of Italy's bombardment avia-
tion, was in active service as a pilot
for the insurgent armies in Spain.
The Italian premier's son and the
crack squadron of % bombers which
accompanied him to Spain was be-
lleved to have made their first raid on
the capital of the Spanish government
at Valencia.
The squadron is made up of Savoia
Marchetti 79-type fast bombers-the
pest that Italy has-and the pilots in
clude veterans of Marshal Italo Balbo's
mass flight to the Chicago Century of
Progress and the winners OF the recent
Paris-to-Damascus- Paris air race.
I'm London operations of the
Italian squadron was viewed as
grave new factor into the problem
OF European peace. Authoritative
sources regarded the disclosure of
the aerial expedition as a very seri-
Gus turn in an international situa-
ton made more critical by a new
outbreak of piracy on the Western
Mediterranean
Left Monticello Airport.
Tho nlonnc ~F
Airport near Rome. halted at the Is
land OF SARDINIA and then went on to
Spain to serve in the armies of Insur-
gent Generalissimo Francisco Franco,
who is recognized by Mussolini as head
OF the true government of Spain.
Reports from Sicily indicated that
another detachment of Fascist volun-
teers had left for Spain to aid Franco.
This, coupled with the departure of
the crack bombing squadron including
ii Duce's own son, was taken by diplo-
matte circles to mean one of two
things:
l. Mussolini has determined to make
big effort to settle the Spanish Civil
War in favor Of the insurgents before
Winter sets in.
z. He has sent in more men in
order to be in better bargaining
position with England and France
If he finds it expedient to negotiate
withdrawal of volunteers.
Considers AngIo-French Note.
II Duce has under consideration a
acknowledgements Anglo French
note virtually demanding a confer
ence to end volunteer aid to both
Spanish factions under threat of hav-
ing the French frontier opened to
arms and munitions for the Valencia
government.
Fascist circles in Rome heard re-
ports of large scale offensive to be
unleashed by Franco October 18. an
offensive that would be measurably
strengthened by the new Italian aid.
The squadron which went with
young Mussolini normally includes "a
planes, but one was left behind at the
Milan aerOnautic show.
MuSsOlini was learned to have sent
20-year-old Bruno to the Spanish civil
war with his blessing. Bruno gener-
ally is pointed out as one of the fore
most exponents of his fathers motto,
e"Live dangerously"
's In connection with q recent exploit
OF Bruno's, II Duce declared:
Bruno is an idealist and let him
do what he wants. In fact. I approve
of it,"
The crack Italian squadron is un-
derstood to have been stationed at q
flying field near Seville, Spain, which
brings them within easy bombing
range Of both Madrid and Valencia.
The Savoia Marchetti 79-type
bombers are claimed by the Italians
to be perhaps the fastest in all Europe.
They have a cruising radius of 625
miles and make nearly 300 miles per
hour with a load of two tons of
bombs.
Young MuSsolini is a veteran of the
Ethiopian War and was awarded
q medal for his work as a pilot in
the drive against Adds Ababa. He
was hailed as hero by the Italians
for his part in q raid that claimed
1000 Ethiopian lives.
Insurgents Move Up.
HENDAYE, Franco-Spanish From
tier, October S (R.-Spanish insurgent
columns, moving through rain and
mist on the Asturian front. occupied 4
hill and lake region near Covadonga
today. consolidating their bases for
the push on Gijon, some 80 air miles
to the northwest
The daily communique from nsur-
gent headquarters said the troops took
the entire Sierra Covadonga. a chain
OF peaks ringing the mountain town,
and occupied the shores of Lake Enol
directly to its south.
The government forces on the Ara
gon front. of Northeast Spain, rushed
work on Notifications to meet =
threatened insureent offensive while
government AirYnen honahed }nulpaent