Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-07-26
.BddogIio Once
Most Bitter Foe
Of BIdckshirts
BY j. L. PEARLMAN
international News Service
stan Correspondent


Marshal Pietro Badoglio, new
head ef the Italian government,
for years was a bitter foe OF fas-
cism and Of the man he succeeds
as premier.
The 71-year-old marshal, 1taly's
foremost military hero, once Of
fered to wipe out the Fascist
movement when bands Of MusSo-
lini's BlackshirtS roved the land
prior to the march on Rome that
put MusSolini in the saddle.
Badoglio is reported 10 have
gone 10 King Victor Emmanuel
in 1922 with the appeal:
"Give me a battalion OF royal
carabinieri and will sweep
away these blackshirted up
starts. At the first shot fired,
all fascism will crumble."
The king, however, failed 10
heed Badoglio's plea and per-
mitted MusSolini to come TO Rome
and form a cabinet.
For several years after Musso-
lini had set up his dictatorship,
Badogfio was absent from Rome.
He had been sent into honorable
exile" as ambassador TO Brazil
and didn't return TO Italy until
1925, after things cooled off.
1t was not until Badoglio re-
turned from his conquest of
Ethiopia in 1850 victory later
turned into an Italian defeat by
the British with restoration of
Halle Selassie TO the throne-that
the aging marshal became men,
Der of the Fascist Party.
AS late As this year, 8adoglio
was rumored TO be behind the
scenes of a plot TO GUST the Fas-
cists from his homeland and get
Italy out of the war.
BUSTED BY DUCE
The marshal was accused OF
"half-heartedness' when the Ital-
ians were fighting a losing battle
against the Greeks in 1910. until
the Germans swept down the pen
insula. The famous soldier. who
had been chief Of the general staff
for Is years, was ouSted from that
post as result of the Italian
setbacks and was succeeded by
Gen. Ugo Cavalerro at the end
of 1910
Badoglio was only a fledgline
lieutenant when he fought against
the AbyssianianS in 1896, the war
that was to be renewed, some &C
years later.
In 1915. he entered the World
War 1 as a lieutenant-colone He
commanded the 18th infantry
regiment OF the Second Army
Corps in 1916 and helped carve
out a brilliant victory in the Bat
tie of the Sabotino.
In 1917. however. disaster again
marred his record when the Ital-
ian army was routed by the
Austrians at Caporetto. He made
up for the defeat. a year later,
when the Austro-Hungarian army
was smashed at Vittorio Veneto.
MADE FULL MARSHAL
His outstanding performance at
Vittorio Veneto, which made him
revered in his homeland, led 10
his rise to commander in chief OF
the army and chief of staff.
After participating in the peace
conferences after the war. Badog-
lilo was raised TO field marshal in
1926.
Then came his return 10 the
war in Libya, where the natives
had rebelled. After pacifying the
area in 1928. Badoglio was named
governor of Libya. A post he held
until 1894. when he was recalled
10 Italy TO help plan the cam
paign against Halle Selassie's en-
pire. He was placed at the head
Of The entire Italian army.
Cen Emilio de Bono. however,
was -esae' lN@y tSrAds the, sKtaI isu
Jlegiofs IN Lftift3 SaFd. afea~ 90
Bono's assault against Abyssinia
was threatened. with disaster,
Badoglio was called in by Musso-
lini TO save the day.