THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1947.
At 'last-from the men who were there-comes the full dramatic story of
“Na sottage
small in the mountain hamlet of Glulino
· Mezzerge, Benito Musso-. lini paced the floor nervously. He looked old and drawn in his gray Fascist uniform,
42
He was
Outside the rain felt in the darkness. The room was cold
and damp. Mussolini paused in front of the table wherd Peter Bellini, the Partisan comman der. ant smoking a cigarette. He placed his left hand on his stomach. in the old familiar Duce
and leaned for- ward.
"You played a big hand," he told Belini sarcastically. The. order was to. defend me."
Bellini smiled and winked' at his lieutenant, George Buffeli, who stood guard at the door. "This makes the second time you have been captured," Bellini said.
"My dear fellow." Mussolini said. "from dust to altar, altar to dust.",
Betrayed By Hitler
Wcome of your asked THAT do you think will
Bellini.
The LAST HOURS
of MUSSOLINI
There has just been made public in New York the story of Mussolini's last night before his execution.
found Mussolini hidden under ö' blanket in one of the trucks. With him was Clara Potacci, his 25-year-old mistress.
Their captors took them away, put them on trial, sentenced them to death, and shot them next day.
Mussolini was captured by anti-Fascist Italian partisans whila ho was trying to escape across the frontier into Switzerland on April 27, 1945. He was travelling in a German road convoy of 13 trucks fed by o tank. The Italians held up the convoy in the village of Dongo, near Lake Como; and they $156.2008 DECOMING A FURTADAN
A
Two Italians guarded Mussolini throughout the night; and here is their story—as they told it lator to Sergeant Dan Polier, of. the United States Army.
"My dear fellow," Mussolini "Bu, why do you arrest me?"
"What can said, "you must know that Hit- 80 strong Museolini asked. you accuse me of? The people ler's Gestapo was wanted the war. In 1943. around me I could' be alone only everybody usked me why Italy in bed." was so late in declaring war. I
didn't declare war. The king signed the declaration of war."
"Why didn't you put the
to
"know my desting." Massa ames of all the people in Italy lini answered. "I shall be in one bag and draw out one. if Italy man
war? gone taken to San Donino prison in and ask that Como, and then to San Vittore should have prison in Milan." (Mussolini Buffeli suggested. "Any Italian served time in both prisons 30 would have said 'No.'"
a political pri- years ago as soner.) "I shall be given a trial, and I will tell the world I have been betrayed nine times
the last time by Hitler.
Mussolini laughed. "You are a very clever young man."
"Why did you tell the people
"Do you realise now," Buffeli continued, "that you were allied with a madman?"
"Hitler was a foolish man."
Mussolini answered. "He should
have known that it was impos- sible for one man to become Every A human force has a limit. master of the world. tree cannot grow to the sky," "Those Cruel Gormans'
RE you
convinced
now
Germany would win the war" "Athritis impossible for
"Candidus"
99 Says Treat The Empire As A Business Concern
SPEAKING before the Trades Union Congress at Stockport on Wednesday, Mr Ernest Bevin had the temerity to suggest that he is in favour of an He hastened to add, of Empire Customs Union. course, that he was merely expressing his own opinion, and not that of the Cabinet!
It is tragically ironic that the present Government in its ex- tremity should remember that there is something to be said for the old adage "United we stand; divided we fall."
the Italian people ever to live with the Germans?"
"Yes," Mussolini said, "The Germans, unfortunately, are too
cruel."
Mussolini walked to the table in the centre of the room and sat down. He shivered slightly. The room had become colder
Bellini offered him the Luft. affe overcoat which he wore at the time of his capture,
"Basta Tedeschi," Mussolini growled and pushed the coat
away.
Bellini then asked Mussolini if he wanted something to cat. "It is not important that I "But I eat," Mussolini said.. would like to have a few vege- tables and hot coffee."
more."
tea.
THE WOMAN WHO
DIED WITH HIM
CLARA PETACC)
"I am you, you are me.*
"Yes, just a bluff."
"Do you think Italy will ever go to war again?"
"For 50 years, surely not. But after that we cannot be "The sure," Mussolini said. Anglo-Americans will help to bring rebirth to Europe; they will make a barrier against Communism."
"Will you do mo a great favour?" "Mussolini asked haltingly. "Take respects to the Madame. Tell her I am well."
.. my
"Who Is the Madane?"--anked- Bellini,
Mussolini was slient for a moment. "She Is Signorina Petacel," he said -reluctantly.
When Bellini had gone, Musso- Uni asked if he could lie down and rest. My feet are cold." be sald, looking down at his muddy boots. "I would like to warm them."
As Mussolini walked toward the bedroom. Buffell became auspielous of a black object. In the Duro's trouer pocket. He felt to see if it' wan a gun, but Mussolini smiled and pulled out a black leather glass- |
сове.
In another few minutes íússo. Mini dropped off to sleep.
Clara-From Ben
I
N the city hall at Danzo. Clara Lin Petacci, nat back, her
legs crossed, Aling a finger- rail
broken she hnd
during the excitement of the capture. Slic and asked the Partisans for manicurb but they laughed her.
A
at
She was wearing a blue woollen suit under her beaver cont, a green scarf was died in a turban around her brown bair.
Was
ת
On her breast
dellcate gold locket. In the lower right corner it bore the inscription:
sci "Clara-lo sono to tu
Clara- am you, you are me)." It was signed "Ben" and was dated April 4, 1939 (when Mussolini met Ciara) and April 4, 1941 (when he gave her the locket).
when
Clara stood up smiling Commander Bellini approached her. "Mussolini asked me to bring bis respects," Bellini told her "He is feeling well."
"But why should Mussolini greet "I me?" Clara naked innocently. do not know Mumolini."
"Don't play with me," Bellini said impatiently. "I know who you are."
"You will not kill me,"
"I have done nothing." pleaded.
Bellini didn't answer.
to
She
"All right. Since you know who 1 Buffeli then asked Mussolini am one paid, "please do me one to explain two statements made favour. Let me be with him during at the time of Roosevelt's death his last moments of life."
that Hitler's remark
the The contaiander turned world's biggest criminal had guard and told him to take Clara
10 get Mussolini. died and the Japanese radio to nearby cottage while he went comment that a great states-
The Duce гля sleeping when man had died.
Bellini went to his rooni. Bellini "Which wins correct?" Buffeli shook him.
"Get up. I'm taking you asked,
Petneri,"
"Do you consider Stalin great man?"
to
If the plea for Imperial Pre- It must become, not merely a but the actuating ference, made many years ago suggestion, by men of vision, had been force which can yet galvanise heeded, Great Britain would British interests into one cohe-
"Hitler was wrong," Musso- sorry sive whole throughout the re- not be in her present
"The world lost a Mussolin sat up, rubbing his Bellini smiled. "You forget. lini said. plight, which is causing want, maining realms of the Empire.
At the present moment, the we do not have coffee any great statesman when Roose- eyes. misery and chaos today.
velt died."
"I was waiting for this," he said. Clard was at the cottage when sinister gleam of gold dollars is
The dictator's last full meal
Mussolini arrived. They looked at apt to cloud the vision-to rise
necessary evil which consisted of vegetables, one
each other as though they Avere up as a
Raid. It can be egg, spaghetti, butter and warm
strangers, Then Mussolini tunnot be controlled.
do you choose to "Yes," answered Mussolini. "Why, madame, After dinner he talked
nement with controlled and mastered it we
man. share this terrible unite as an Empire against it.
He recalled his last "Stalin is a very great again. What
reasonable than
Only a great man could take me?" meeting with Hitler. that the United States should
"Hitler asked me what I in- such a big country tended to do. I told him I many, different people and ac- join the British Commonwealth of Nations insofar as free and wanted to be a politician, not a complish so much.
militarist. Hitler became Commander Bellini turned the with difficulties unrestricted trade is concerned? have all the
conversation to
Duce's the Amerien may never before even visualised.
1 do, family. He asked Mussolini if
know The tremendous sucrifices which world's goki today, but of what
where his wife, saved the world seem to have use is it if the peoples who he said. "This is the war of the he been rain, and the profes- speak the same tongue--who party. Then he said, 'Remem- Rachele, and the two youngest Mussolini said sional tub-thumping politicians have so much in common-reber, Benito, 1 have lead for my children were.
slowly
he thought they were probably bodies enemies and gas for traitors!" " are now recolling against the to
somewhere between Milan and fruits of their own crass stupid- strangled economically?
Como. Secret Weapon Bluff
evn-
The specious promises and grandiose schemes have porated into thin air, and that tiny little Island Home of our
raee is beset
ity. And out of it all comes
the
a little voice crying in wildernes, faintly bleating that perhaps an Empire Customa Union would help.
IN rosy times, there was but little practical guidance in welding the Empire together. Indeed, it is not an exaggern- tion to say that because of that lack of guidance, the Empire to- day is being shaken to its very foundations.
be
more
but
surely
Campaign Against Kala-azar
The American Friends Service Committee said recently it would
Would any properly run intensify its campaign in Honan commercial concern, with head-Province against kala-azar, a quarters, for example, in Lon-disease which kills 96 percent of don, and possessing branches its victims.
throughout the world, fail to
do all in its power to assist The Committee sold that an ex- : those branches to prosper?perimental mission working in the Would its very existence not province for the past year reported depend upon the interchange of that more than 20 percent of the
$3.000 victims trented had ideas and, materials between the cared. parent body and the branches?
been
the
The disease, which attacks chief- The very fundamentals of co-y children between six and '12 operation have been ignored, years old, is transmitted by almost to the extent of na-bite of a sandy, and has one of the China, tional suicide, and, today we highest mortality rates in
1 emaciates its victims rapidly.
see the disconnected members produces skin and intestine weers of what should be a cohesive and catges cancer in the advanced whole endeavouring to extricate stages.
themselves from the moruss Dr Charles K. McDonald, end of which they themselves have mission, reported that 12
created.
преп
working in four mobile units were Before the war, even Hong-working alone the Yellow River, to kong had some modest form of clear the area of the discaso. The Imperial Proferonce, but that victims are given a daily intravenous has all gone by the board. Injection of a drug called "meostom"
for a 12-day period.-- Why?
"Considerable progress was made, The people of Great Britain have for centuries been fond of though the campaign will have to be continued for some time before the received," Dr sald.
McDonald's
the words spunk and guts.fali dividends of the work can be report Today they seem to lack either. Pity is useless, and there does, and always has existed, n very curious.complex-a self-pitying
complex.
BEVIN'S suggestion about an
The Commitice announced that on the basis of the report It had de- with on its work carry kata-azar In the hope that it can bring the disease under control in
cided to
certain areas, so that: the hospitals
Empiro Customs Union. In those areas, will be able to hold
the disease In check themselves. the first little ray of hope, but United Press.
angry.
You must fight
"WH
ax
with
"Why didn't you send them to Switzerland ?"
Mussolini shrugged his shoul- ders.
"I want it no." Clars answered, And walked Into the bedroom. closed Mussohn followed her and the door behind-them.
(This is an extract from the book, Yank-the GI Story of the wear.)
a
EPILOGUE-Alter, execution the Chara of Mussolini and
furniture Petacel were taken in van to Milan and dumped in the Piazza Loreto there. For eight hours they lay on the ground while raging, rejoleing mob of 25,000
on pat
them, stabbed them, and fired bullets into them. Then they were suspended by the fect from the roof of a petrol station
JL
XHY did you say in your
people last speech that Germany would win the war with new secret weapons?" asked Buffeli. "Germany has no new secret weapons," Mussolini confessed. "Only the Vi and V2."
"You mean it was just a
"Respects To Madame"
It
in the plazza.
Mussolini was Inter buried in a
pauper's grave In Milan, The BELLINI looked at his watch.
was 11 o'clock. He put on his body has since vanished; unknown cap and started to leave; Mussolini men opened the grave by night and
took Mussolini away. stopped him at the door.
Back
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FOREIGNERS' UNIVERSITY
Students
30 nationa studying at the "Foreigners" versity of Perugia" In Italy this year.
are), Last year the summer university Uni-had only 120 students, but this year
6421 has leapt to 'enrolment
of their order
numbers, leading student groups aro Hungarian, American, English, Czechoslovakian, The 600-year-old university cach Swiss and Danish. year throws open its facilities- dur-
The university ing the summer to foreigners who
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Press.
does outside its congeritrate Italy's the university for -Associated
from