(iv) Instead of taking advantage of normal wastage, large numbers of young men have been discharged, representing a heavy pension charge on the State for many years to come. Anyone, on the other hand, who wants to keep his post or to win rapid promotion or increase of salary, has only to declare himself a Fascist. · A. typical case is that of Chiarini, a secretary in 1920, and at that time a candidate for membership of the "subvetsive" railwaymen's union. Becoming instead adviser to the Fascist Commissioner, he is now well on the road to appointment as Director-General ! Fascist Militia. vVhile the non-Fascist personnel is being discharged or persecuted, there has been instituted on the railways a Fascist railway police, unique in the whole of the modern civilised world. On its first institution it worked so well that it had to be broken up. (Official communication of May 9, r923.) Now a second force has been instituted, seconded from the National Militia ; its function was stated in the press on the same date, May 9, as follows : "There will be constituted special detachments of railway militia, for the purpose . of establishing among the great mass of railwaymen nuclei of proved veterans to irradiate Fascist propaganda" ! The chronicle of facts in Part IV. gives instances of injurious treatment of non-Fasdst railwaymen (searches, invasion of dubs, punishments for political reasons), and even of railway passengers obnoxious to the Fascists. The numbers of this militia and their conditions of service are not yet clear. They are said to number 10,000 to 15,000, distributed in twelve legions; and from decree No. 2158 of September 27, 1923, it would appear that they receive railwaymen's pay, plus a 44 BibliotecaGino Bianco
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