People's Army

The Government of Premier Ivanoe Bonomi called for the creation of Italy's own volunteer army.

The idea was first suggested by popular, doughty General Arnaldo Azzi. He urged that the Royal Italian Army should be reformed, drop its oath of allegiance to the House of Savoy, change its name to Esercito Nazionale (National Army). For his pains the General was retired.

Then the Communist Party announced that it would promote a people's army. The Socialist and Action Parties, both of the left opposition, added their cordial endorsement. Palmiro Togliatti, who is both Italy's Vice Premier and Communist Party secretary, presumably took the plan to the Cabinet. Last week the Government added its official blessing.

Tired, aging Premier Bonomi was not seeking to add to his burdens. A volunteer army, functioning side by side with Italy's regular Army, would undoubtedly be a burden of major proportions. But the Government's demand might goad the unwilling Allies into giving Italy the enhanced military and political status it had been vainly seeking for months. For Premier Bonomi, as for the leftists, the volunteer army was a political weapon.

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