TODAY (MONDAY) IS THE 23RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC AND, TO CELEBRATE THE OCCASION, MORE THAN 9,000 SOLDIERS MARCHED OR RODE DOWN THE FAMOUS VIA DEI FORI IMPERIALI FROM THE COLOSSEUM TO THE PIAZZA VENEZIA WHERE PRESIDENT GIUSSEPE SARAGAT WAITED TO TAKE THE SALUTE.

ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND CHEERING ITALIANS WATCHED THE PARADE WHICH SHOWED EVERY ASPECT OF THE ARMED FORCES FROM THE VERY LATEST IN AIR FORCE F-104 AND G-91 JETS SCREAMING OVERHEAD TO THE TRADITIONAL BERSAGLIERI.

ACCOMPANYING PRESIDENT SARAGAT ON THE OFFICIAL STANDS WERE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT, MILITARY LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS IN ROME.

THE MODERN TANKS THAT RUMBLED DOWN THE VIA DEI FORI IMPERIALI TRAVELLED THE SAME ROUTE THAT 2,000 YEARS AGO CARRIED THE TRIUMPHANT ROMAN TROOPS ON THEIR WAY TO THE COLOSSEUM FOR VICTORY CELEBRATIONS.

AMONG THE MISSILES ON DISPLAY WERE AMERICAN-BUILT HAWKS, HONEST JOHNS AND NIKE-HERCULES.

THE CELEBRATIONS MARK THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE DAY IN 1946 WHEN THE COUNTRY VOTED IN A REFERENDUM TO ABOLISH THE MONARCHY AND ELECT ITS FIRST POST-WAR REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT. VOTING WAS COMPULSORY TO ALL MEN AND WOMEN OVER 21 AND 54% OF THE VOTES INDICATED THE PREFERENCE FOR A REPUBLIC.