28 JANUARY 1928, Page 2

One of the best sides of Signor Mussolini's rule by

force is that he knows how to apply force boldly where only force can avail. Other rulers have tried to destroy the - Mafia conspiracy, which has long-been'the curse of Sicily, but nobody else has gone about the business with anything like- Signor Mussolini's precision and thoroughness. He has secured the conviction of 140 members of this brigand society, and it is reported that 300 other members have since been arrested. The most remarkable fact- of all is that the trial was held in Sicily. Previews" trials have been held as far away front Sicily as possible because it was known that no Sicilian jury would dare to convict, and that Sicilian influences extended into Southern Italy.

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