Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/275

 1899.] Italy. — Army Reforms. 267

between two carabinieri to the prison of Bologna. Another deputy, De Felice, was lucky enough to avoid by flight similar treatment.

The vacation time accorded to Parliament was employed by the members of the Opposition in organising their party. The Government replied by repressive measures, some of which were of doubtful legality or even expediency. For instance, at Milan, where the Socialists had succeeded in securing nearly all the seats in the municipal council, that body was summarily dis- solved, and the administration of the city placed in the hands of a royal commissioner.

The parliamentary recess was marked by two incidents which were of a nature to arouse the attention of the Government. The autumn manoeuvres showed only too clearly the need of infusing fresh blood into the higher ranks of the Army. A considerable number of generals and colonels were proved to be equally wanting in physical vigour and mental activity. As might have been anticipated those most subject to criticism were the most supported in high quarters. On this occasion, however, the public good was allowed to prevail over private interests, and the Minister of War, General Mirri, was allowed to make a clean sweep of the inefficient of all ranks, and by this means a third of the staff of divisional generals and superior officers was renewed. Such a sweeping reform, however, could not be effected without arousing much bitterness and disappoint- ment, of which the minister was to pay the penalty.

The opportunity for revenge was not long in coming. The criminal associations, which had obtained so formidable an ascendency in Sicily, carried their pretensions so far that at length public opinion revolted. The assassination of the deputy, Notarbartolo of Palermo, forced the Government to institute an inquiry, which from the first revealed a state of affairs which called for prompt and decisive action. It was decided by the authorities that the assassins who had hitherto escaped punishment should be arrested ; and, in order to protect as far as possible the witnesses from the terrorism of the Maffia, that the trial should take place at Milan. Delays more or less inevitable intervened, and it was not until towards the close of the year that the case was ready for trial, and the remarkable disclosures which it provoked disturbed the usual apathy of the public.

Another incident of the recess was the attempt, more than once renewed, on the part of the Government to come to an understanding with the more reasonable leaders of the Opposi- tion. With this view General Pelloux, accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, managed to bring about an interview with the Marquis Rudini. No details were given of the pro- ceedings, but the fact that advances had been made in the direction of a more conservative line of policy was so generally admitted that the leaders of the Left, notably Sgri. Zanardelli