242 THE RISE OF ITALIAN FASCISM
action, though well planned and commanded, was a failure '.
Chiurco gives no other details and blames the under-
prefect of the town for his c hostility' to the fascists, which
only amounts to saying that he did not help the squadristi by
every means in his power, as was usually the case. About
four hundred of them had arrived and occupied the station,
after firing a grand fusillade, before leaving the train, to
frighten and disperse the railway workers. The troops,
who should have opposed the entry of the fascists into the
town, did nothing, and the colonel commanding the local
military college put himself at the head of the fascists and
with them forced the cordons of police. The alarm was
given and the workers in the port and in the working-class
districts rushed to the centre of the town to meet the fascists.
The carabinieri tried to disarm them, but had to give way
before the firm attitude of the crowd. Thus the fight began,
and the invaders, for once unsupported by troops and
demoralized at being attacked, gave way, and began to
escape down side-streets. Their leaders5 appeals, insults
and blows were in vain. Finally the troops appeared and
the squads left the city under their protection, leaving behind
them one dead and six wounded. This had to be avenged ;
and at the beginning of September the fascists arrived in
greater strength from Maremma, Rome, Pisa, the Roman
Campagna, Orvieto and all over Umbria. Though the
workers resisted the fascists entered the town on September 4,
the socialist council resigned, and the port authority
accepted the terms laid down by the victors.
The fascists continued to crush the few centres of working-
class resistance and to impose their will generally. On
September 7, for instance, when eight fascists were arrested
at Massa : c The fascists of the area/ Ghiurco relates,
c assembled In the town. The affair was organized by
Renato Ricci and Edmondo Rossoni, members of the party
executive. Over six thousand blackshirts paraded in full
war equipment through the town. The ultimatum to the
authorities demanding the release of the fascists expired the
same evening. The fascist mobilization covered all Luni-
giana, and on the morning of the 8th there was a further
demonstration: an endless column, headed by fascist