English Translation

- 6 - and that, re-establishing the reputation of the front soldier, was the reason for the king's rejection of the state of siege: this simplified Mussolini's action during the march to Rome very substantially. Thus, the march on Rome itself did not become a canopy in the sense of bloodshed, nor did it result in a mass march from a particular base. It is wise to draw together the men, who were armed to the teeth and who were determined to the extreme, mostly young, in three huge camps, Santa Marinella in the West, Monterotondo in the North and Tivoli in the East of the capital, which was enclosed in this way from three sides and closed in a wide arc towards the North. These three points of collection had been designated to the fascists and they now sought to reach every fascist on normal or extra- ordinary means of transport. With some cunning, this was done in front of the police without any substantial resistance. More loo.ooo gathered in Feligno as a reserve. The greatest blood sacrifices had been made in the years 1919-1922, especially the year 192l was a year of fierce fighting, in which the best mussolini left their lives - the Merseh on Rome cost relatively few dead. In these three general camps the decision was now awaited. In the capital besieged in this way one had become quite headless. At first it was sought to carry through lying discord into the ranks of the fascists and their leaders. However, the energy It a l o Bal b os, the military organizer, succeeded in crushing all plans of the government and individual prefects. Before, Mussolini had been tried to win alone to separate him from his attachments: he was carried by an insignificant ministry in a newly formed ministry.