The life of the average Italian citizen has undergone such severe regulation of late that he scarcely dares kiss his wife or buy a shirt without consulting the latest edict on that subject issued by his benevolent government, now impersonated by Mussolini. But for a man with the capacity for government possessed by that dictator, human beings and their actions do not offer sufficient scope for action. From them be now turns to a lesser form of life and decrees the abolition of the common house-fly, a creature that infests Rome no less than any other city. Every citizen will be expected to co-operate and fines will be imposed on those who can report no progress made by them in the great campaign.

This war to end flies will not be won without overcoming stubborn resistance Travellers in Italy this summer may expect to witness at any time battles between great swarms of embattled flies and heroic groups of warriors, protected by a barricade of fly-paper and yielding swatters with deadly effect. But the chief danger is to the Premier himself. So far he has managed to protect himself from would-be assassins, but no defense can save the man for whose blood a whole face of flying avengers will soon be thirsting.