The Government was in no very strong position, for the Chamber was now
moribund and the many groups which had been formed, in the effort to
create a war Chamber out of one that was elected in the days of peace,
were now dissolving. An incident towards the end of November exhibited
not only the contrivances by which these groups hoped to preserve
themselves, but the eagerness with which the Government rushed to
placate the powerful. A young deputy called Centurione, a member of the
National Defence group (the Fascio), made a furious attack on Giolitti,
under cover of a personal explanation. He had been accused of being a
police spy. Well, after Caporetto, convinced that the defeat was partly
due to the work of Socialists and Giolittians, he had disguised himself
as a workman and taken part in Socialist meetings. He was proud to have
played the spy for the good of his country, and he finished by accusing
Giolitti and six others of treason. The whole Chamber--his own party not
being strongly represented--seems to have made for Centurione who,
amidst an indescribable uproar, continued to shout "Traitor!" to anyone
who approached him. Sciorati, one of the accused, was at last able to
make himself heard. He related how, at Turin, Centurione had made a fool
of himself. (But if Lewis Carroll had been with us still he might have
made himself immortal.) "I have seen him disguised," said Sciorati, "as
an out-porter at the door of my own house." Giolitti appeared and
demanded an immediate inquiry, with what was described as cold and
menacing emphasis. And Orlando, the Prime Minister, flew up to the
Chamber and parleyed with Giolitti in the most cordial fashion.
Centurione's documents were at once investigated and no proofs of
treason were found, no witnesses proposed by him being examined. He was
expelled from the National Defence group for "indiscipline," his
colleagues frustrating his attempts to sit next to them by repeatedly
changing their seats. The attitude of the Fascio was humble and
apologetic, and the other significant feature of the incident was the
haste with which Orlando reacted to Giolitti's demand for an inquiry.