Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-11-16
Italian Reds SET
Price for Peace
AsRiotsSpre'a'd
Demand Suppression
Of Neo-Fuscism' If
Calm Is Restored
by the Assoeioted Press

ROME, Nov. 15.--F1ve persons
were reported killed and many
wounded in Cerignola tonight as
Leftist riots spread in Italy, but
Communicated labor promised
"moderating action for the re-
turn of calm" If the non Com
munist government would sup
press "neo-FasciSm."
Demonstrators in Cerignola. In
southeastern italy near Foggia,
were said to have seized the main
square. Reinforcements of armored
cars, police and troops were rushed
there. Transport workers struck for
II hours in Rome. !
The Communist dominated Cen
eral Confederation of Labor sent
Alcfde de Casper, Christian Demo-
cratic (Catholic) premier, a letter
processing a desire to avoid any
peril of civil war" The letter said
the confederation could act to re-
store tranquility only on these con-
ditions:
ID Dissolution Of what the fed
Grafton called ''neo-Fascist organi-
zations," chief among them the
Italian Social Movement.
(2) Adequate provisions" for re-
preston of "neo-Fascism" in gen.
eral.
90. Suppression of ''the more
openly Fascist and antidemocratic
publications.
Party Offices Raided.
Given those conditions, said the
letter, the confederation could
with greater efficiency take mod
Grating action for the return of
calm"
In the last few days, demon
strators in many italian cities have
raided headquarters Of the Italian
Social Movement, Uomo Qualunque
Common Nam movement, Liberal
(rightisD party and even the
Christian Democrats, often wreck
ing the premises.
These incidents have been In
terpreted in many quarters as
Communist efforts to embarrass
Mr.. De Gasperi's government and
force it's reorganization with the
inclusion of Communist ministers.
The Interior Ministry said it had
received word that the Cerignola
mob had attacked the police bar
racks there with machinegun iiie
and hand grenades. The assistant
police chief was wouaded gravely
and three carabinieri end a police
agent were wounded slightly.
Roads Blocked, Lines Cut.
There are numerous dead" in the
city, the Rome newspaper Momento
Sera reported 1t added that the
roads into Cerignola were blocked
and telegraph and telephone lines
were cut. A general strike also
gripped Cerignola, where many
members of the United States 18th
Air Force lived during the war.
Dispatches from the city said the
milling demonstrators attacked the
headquarters Of the Christian
Democratic Party and wrecked the
Offices of the Democracy of Labor
and of the University association.
The disorders began last night.
II Giornale d'Italia said there
were five known dead in Cerignola.
bringing to at least 10 the number
of persons killed in italian political
disorders during the past week.
BY nightfall the reinforced police
were reported making some head
way toward restoring order. II
Giornale d'Italia said that at noon
the only vehicle allowed to circulate
freely in the city was a truck flying
a white flag which picked up "a
harvest of dead and wounded" The
newspaper said the entire region
of Puglia, in which Cerignola is
situated, was lin tumult."
The province of Lecce, south of
Puglia in the heel of the italian
boot, also was experiencing strike
of peasants, diggers and tobacco
workers. The Interior Ministry said
that in some areas the strikers had
cut down telephone polls. Several
arrests were made.
Rome faces a possible general
strike Only taxis and ancient
"damionette," privately owned
converted pickup trucks, were avail
able during the strike to transport
Romans who lined the sides Of these
(See ITALY, Page A-5.)