Page:Giuseppe Bianchini - The Work of the Fascist Government and the Economic Reconstruction of Italy - tr. Luigi Villari.pdf/25

 November 1922, as a revolution or otherwise—the terminology does not matter—it was certainly a fact wholly outside normal and legal lines, a fact which was only possible owing to the support of the overwhelming majority of the nation, which, at least at that moment, was, as all agreed, absolute and unquestioned.

But while this event, fortunately for our country, took place almost without bloodshed, the stream overflowing the crater inevitably left rubbish poling if; and even the magic art of a more than human wizard could not suddenly calm the stormy sea. It was fortunate indeed that the Chief, as soon as he had assumed the government of the country at once set to work to discipline these forces and turn them into legally constituted bodies which were to be gradually absorbed by the regular organs of the State. Squadrismo was enrolled into the Milizia: the Milizia was given a military formation in order to discipline it, its casually selected leaders were replaced by officers, preferably, in the great majority of cases, ex-Army officers; the Government undertook to make the whole force swear allegiance to the King, and