ITALY: Shootings

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Skulking behind the pillars of a public building on the main square of Ravenna was one Loopoldo Missiroli, Communist, eying the passersby. It was night, but through the gloom Communist Missiroli descried the forms of Ettore Mury, Commander of the 81st Legion of the Fascist Militia, and Renzo Morigi, Secretary of the local Fascisti. As they strolled by, conversing earnestly, Communist Missiroli drew a gun, fired, wound- ing Signer Mury in the stomach, Signer Morigi in the leg.

Anguished but cool, the Fascist Commander whipped out his revolver, took careful aim, fired. A bullet sped, clipping a fragment out of the stone column behind which Communist Missiroli was hiding. Again the Fascist Commander took a careful bead, pulled the trigger. Communist Missiroli, with a cry of pain and rage, dropped dead.

Wired Premier Benito Mussolini to Commander Mury: "Accept my fraternal greetings and most fervent good wishes. The blood shed by you makes you sacred to the cause of the revolution."

Wired II Duce to Signer Morigi: "I send you my good wishes. Through your sacrifice the Fascist of Ravenna will become ever stronger."

Commented the Giornale d' Italia, Mussolini newspaper: "Criminal waves . . . will pass, while the beauty and strength of Fascism remains, ensuring to Italians a great, tranquil, industrious and powerful mother country."