In the Chamber

Premier Benito Mussolini's first appearance in the Chamber of Deputies since his brief illness (TIME, Mar. 2, 30) was greeted with a Fascist cataclysm of exuberance, somewhat marred by the Communists, who staged a counter-demonstration.

The entire Chamber, excepting the Communists, sang Giovinnezza, Fascist war song; and, as the final words became an echo, the Communists yelled: "Long live Communism!" The Fascisti smiled, cheered and clapped .the appreciative Mussolini. Once again rang out the provocative cry: "Long live Communism!" A Fascist became unnerved, sprang into the midst of the 15 Communist Deputies, lashing out with both fists. It was the signal for a free fight and the Chamber became a mad mass of sprawling men, jumbled arms and legs.

Premier Mussolini sat in his seat behind his desk which was decorated by flowers presented by admiring Fascisti, head on hand, watching the progress of the fray. Not a muscle moved in his tense body, not a smile parted his compressed lips, not a twinkle appeared in his staring eyes, not a flush suffused his pale face.

Meantime, Deputy Farinacci, leader of the '"Savage" or reactionary wing of the Fascist Party, extricated himself from the welter of fists and feet, dragging Communist Deputy Damen by the scruff of his neck. Backing his victim up against the wall, the Fascist proceeded to inflict "scientific punishment" in true Italian style, after which he ejected the Communist violently out of a door into a cold, stone corridor. Farinacci, complacent, stalked back to his seat with the air of a man who had nobly performed a noble deed. The remaining Fascisti, taking their cue from Farinacci and totally oblivious of the entreaties of their more moderate comrades, flung 14 wriggling Communists from the Chamber.

The Chamber then became orderly. The Communists reentered, escorted to their seats by stalwart sergeants-at-arms, who remained as a bodyguard. The Fascisti once more broke into raucous approval of their hero-leader and debate began on the Government's foreign policy.

The following day, amid more cheering, the Premier made his first speech. Referring to the "yellow press" for having circulated false news about his illness, said he:

"That section of the press which is ready to stop at nothing to increase its circulation and to make more money, is a beast of prey let loose upon long-suffering humanity. It is the duty of all Governments to devise means to check its activities.

"It is most deplorable that the yellow press should spread catastrophe news about Italy. But it is more deplorable still that some of this news has its origin in the plottings of renegade Italians."

Amid laughter, he continued:

"Such is their imbecile perversity that, after inventing illnesses which I never suffered, they are now quite capable of inventing the story that during the last few weeks I was merely shamming sick."

The Premier then turned to the subject of the debate: the foreign policy of his Government. He confined himself to the general European situation and, beyond saying that he was carefully watching Italian interests, did little more than classify the defunct League Protocol as "a machine which, in the interests of peace, was preparing to unleash war."

Minister of Finance De Stefani made a statement on the note circulation. He showed that, last December, the note circulation was 20,514,000,000 lire; while on Feb. 28, it was 19,871,000,000 lire, a decrease of 643,000,000 lire. He predicted that, by Apr. 30, the circulation would be reduced to 18,700,000,000 lire. All this, he? pointed out, increased the purchasing power of the lira.

Deputy Andrea Torre, Budget Reporter, announced that Italy had, on June 30 last, 60 air force squadrons with 1,500 airplanes; and that, by next summer, she will have 90 squadrons with 2,000 machines. This makes Italy second only to France in aerial armaments.*

*According to the same authority, France has 138 squadrons, Britain 54.