Fascist Council has declared that it is composed of 200,000 under the first proclamation and 100,000 under the second; clearly without any selection but that of party. Ex-lieutenants of the army have been able to jump suddenly up to militia ranks equivalent to those of Colonel or General, with pay in proportion. 'fhe expenditure on the Militia in the first six months of 1923 was 47 million lire; and it made use of a large part of the barrack buildings and supplies belonging to the Guardia Regia. For 1923-24 25 millions has been provided. The Fascist Militia enjoys special reductions of railway fares. (Decree No. 816, March 18, 1923.) Unlimited provision is made for its equipment, and expenditure thereon does not require the assent of the Council of State. (Decree No. 467, February 25, 1923.) Decree No. 2146, S~ptember 26, 1923, lays down that officers and State employees permanently employed in the National Militia are to receive in addition to their ordinary pay a monthly allowance of 150 to 500 lire. 1\tlilitiamen are often employed in attendance on private companies, and in such cases they remain there even if called out for service (Decree No. 1880, .August 20, 1923); in various tramway and similar undertakings they also receive pay from the firm. All militiamen, that is all Fascists, may carry revolvers, even when off duty, and are exempt from payment for licence. (Decree No. 1881, August 20.) On the other hand, the Prefects have issued orders that all "subversives," that is all non-Fascists, are prohibited from carrying arms. The Militia serves purely political purposes; ''The Militia is a great political police force ; its duty is to render impossible any disturbance of the public order, any gesture or attempt at sedition against the Fascist 57 Biblioteca Gino Bianco
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