Evening star., 1948-04-19
COURT FINDS lewis GUILTY OF CONTEMPT
Early Returns
From Italy Give
|Anti-Reds Lead
Christiun Democrats
Threaten leftist
Domination of North
by the Associoted Press


ROME, April 19.-Early returns
in Italy's momentous elections
gave anti-Communists a long
lead today for the new Senats
and threatened the leftist DOM
ination of the so-called Red
north"
Premier Alcide de Gasperi's
Christian Democrats were ahead OF
the Communist dominated Popular
Front even in Turin, Venice, and
Florence, which are under Com
munist municipal administrations.
The Vatican-backed Christian DEM
ocrats also led in Milan, in the heart
of the industrial north.
In Bologna, capital of a region
often called the italian Kremlin,"
the Christian Democrats trailed the
Popular Front by shade. However.
two minor parties associated with
the Christian Democrats picked up
enough votes to put the anti-Com-
munist total in Bologna well ahead
of the Communists.
De Gasperi Encouraged"
On the basis of these returns
too few to be decisive-Premier De
Gasperi described himself as very
encouraged" He avoided making
any predictions however.
Leaders were cautious about bas-
ing predictions on the Senate re-
turns, involving 237 elective seats,
because they felt the vote for the
Chamber of Deputies would be the
real barometer of the Nations feel
ing on communism. A trickle Of
returns on the deputies election Is
expected late tonight or early to-
morrow.
Unofficial returns from 200 Of Oil
sections in the Milan Senate con-
| tests gave the Christian Democrats
76,739; the Popular Front. 50,2ls:
the Communist Socialists, 49,
682, and the national bloc or rightist
parties, $40. aa.s.F-a -. .....,..
Voting Extremely Heavy.
The voting was extremely heavy
estimated at 80 per cent of those
eligible-and this was regarded as
good news for the anti Communists.
In Rome, two voting precincts a
block away from Mr.. De Gasperi's
home gave the Christian Democrats
8l7. the Popular Front ITS, and the
pro-Fascist Italian Social Movement
(MsD 76; Republican, 81 and Ma
tional Bloc, 81.
Minister Of Interior Mario Scelba
announced the voting tn this crucial
test between Russia and the western
democracies ended with tranquil
ity," He warned against "alarmist
news" being circulated by secret
radios and unnamed persons. He
said some arrests already had been
made.
Early returns from another Rome
senatorial district gave the Chris
tian Democrats 1883, the Popular
Front sos.
Ten precincts in the city of Bo-
logna, often called the Italian Krem.
lin, gave the popular front a lead
1851 to the Christian Democrats
2,089.
In Turin, under Communist NUM-
cipal government for three years,
54 precincts gave the Christian
Democrats 6,262, the Popular Front
2,557. These figures, representing
less than 10 per cent of the Turin
precincts, were announced by the
Interior Ministry.
Complete unofficial returns from
seventh of Florence precincts
gave the Christian Democrats .
3-to-2 lead.
The polls closed after 81 hours of
voting full of meaning for the fu-
ture of Europe and possibly for the
peace of the world.
Officials estimated 80 per cent Of
the 100000 eligibles cast ballots.
This may be a world record for .
free election.
Counting began Immediately. The
Senate vote is counted first. First
returns on STA seats in the Cham
Der Of Deputies are due tomorrow.
Campaign Often Violent.
The grim tug-of-war in Italy be-
tween Russia and the West, re-
f1ected in the bitter and often vio-
lent campaign in the last three
months, accounted for the heavy
(See ITALY, Page A-4J
klN AL