"Who Sings War"

Signor Filippo Tomaso Marinetti founded Futurism in Art with a famed manifesto on Feb. 20, 1909. In the name of Futurism he later urged letting canals run through art galleries-to blot out the pestilential past. Still later Signor Marinetti fought for Fascism, and became a close friend of II Duce. Down through the years he poured out Futurist manifestoes echoing Fascist policies.

When Fascist Italy was short of wheat, Futurist Marinetti cried out against spaghetti, warning that it was farinaceous, fattening and foolish-making, that in the next war "the most nimble people will win." In a campaign against conservative, bourgeois dress, he manifestoed in favor of aluminum neckties. In support of Fascist flag-waving, he manifestoed in favor of a national cocktail composed of red, white and green liquors. And when Italy went on the warpath for an Ethiopian Empire, he signed up and went to East Africa, busy with "ideas for Army headgear of celluloid and air-cooled aluminum to mitigate the Ethiopian desert." On foreign policy he has been no less articulate. Once, when England was in mild disfavor, he clarioned: "Down with roast beef and pudding in England!" Later, when Britain was temporarily being courted, "The English," he stated, "are a wonderful nation." Another time, when the British were being reviled for sanctions, he issued "A Futurist Manifesto to Liberate Ourselves From English Habits . . . tea-drinking, snobbery, golfing, pipe-smoking, bridge-playing and an inexplicable apathy toward women." Last week, as Benito Mussolini busily drafted his declaration of war, Signor Marinetti rallied round him his most formidable talents-which he currently calls aeropoetry, aeropainting and aero-music. Aeropainting has occasionally taken the form of a view of half an airplane; the other half, says the speed-loving Futurist, is going so fast it cannot be seen. Aero-music is usually recorded motor roars with interspersed backfires. It was to aeropoetry that Futurist Marinetti turned last week in Venice: My song of joy to Benito Mussolini, Guardian angel who has electrified Futurist poets of Italy. . . .

Italian pride, rejuvenator, Renovator and high-speeder.

Gay originality of Aero-painting-music-poetry Is created under enemy's fire.

"War, only hygienist of the world!" Was our cry thirty years ago when Theatres were full of Social-Communists.

Who sings war has in his pockets fecund love.

Who sings peace carries cowardice, treachery, death.

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