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TM, 1910-1920: MAFIA ACTIVITY CONTINUED DURING THE WAR YEARS “AND INCREASED AFTER THE WAR 2A. Mafia Activity Persisted during World War I “33 During the period of the First World War, large numbers of the 1 Hiouncer Mofioel are said to have eerved in the ranks of the Italian Armed 15 OO 16orces. : 17 | | 9 Meanwhile, Mafia activities continued in Sicily, sustained in large eSart by the older Maftoei, and those who had deserted from the Armed Forces. 22 2zater prosecutions were to reveal that extortion, murder, and other crimes 24 (75) mo. catributed to the Moafiosi had persisted during the War years. 2 $8. «= Postwar Crimes Reached a Striking Figure _— 29 The return home of Sicilian troops after the War brought back to l 30 31 32Icily a mumber of the youncer Mafiosi, and would-be Mafiosi, now practiced 33 3ty the ects of war, 35 36 uring their absence, it is said, the older Mafiosi and the deserters — . shad established 9 manoprly jn Mefia operations that they were unwilling to Lo 4relinguish. Perhaps in part due to thin factor, and in part to the probability 42 hat mony families had awaited the retura of their menfolk to effect vengeance cow meee, igor offenses suffered during the “ar yeara, unsolved murderg* are sald to have 47 4g 50ltalian euthoritivs have veed the high incidence of unsolved murders as an 2pindex of Mafia octivity in certain areos. 53 - . ' 54 42 155 ! : 56 57 58 | 59 60 CC 62 , .