The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-17
ANTI-PAPAL MOBS In ROME.
.iTTiCk on THE VATICAN Pre-.
VENTED BY TROOPS.

Special Gable Dsspatche, % THk sun.

Special Cable Dsspaiches 10 THE sun.
ROME, Dec. lo.-The feeling Of the p
lace here is so strong against the Vatican
In connection with the dispute with France
that the authorities judged it necessary
10 employ the whole police force and had the
entire military garrison under arms to
prevent a demonstration arranged for this
afternoon for the purpose Of acclaiming
the republic outside the French Embassy.
Experience has taught that political
demonstrations with apparently disin-
terested objects often lead here to unfore-
seen and undesirable results. Hence strong
measures were taken to repress q possible
dangerous outbreak Of anti clerioalisn.
Although the demonstration was fixed for
4 o'clock in the afternoon, the police and
soldiery took possession Of the neighboring
streets hours before that time The Vatican
was surrounded by cavalry, the horses
being unshod to enable the troops il neces-
ssry to charge over the cobblestones Tn
streets and bridges leading to the Vatican
were occupied by the troops inc traffic
was stopped.
Troops were stationed in the Piazza
Farness, where the French Embassy is
located. Large crowds, composed mostly
OF students, loafers and the dregs of the
city, gathered early in the afternoon. They
tried at first to reach the Vatican but
found everywhere a line OF bayonets OPP
posing them. Several rushes occurred, and
there were shouts of Death TO the priests
Down with the Pope!" and Long live
France!"
/. The soldiers stood their ground firmly,
and none Of the crowd passed them. Some
of the more demonstrative were arrested.
Then the mob tried to reach the embassy,
but troops cordoned the streets leading to
the Piazza Fsrnese and prevented them.
Several charges were made. The Grove
was never allowed TO gather strength.
The trouble was practically over by
nightfall, but the city continues 10 a
the appearance of being in a state OF siege.
Armed soldiers protect the Vatican, Parlis-
ment buildings Inc embassies and also
hold the streets and squares, while num-
hers of others are held ready in houses
and c~ourtyards for Use in case OF emer-
gency.
The correspondent OF THK sur learns that
the commander of the Papsl gendarmes
called on Cardinal Merry del Val this morn
ing and asked for orders. The Cardinal
replied that he was to take no precautions.
He was to leave the doors of 81. Peters
open, az the Government would keep
order.
In an interview with a Spanish oorre-
spondent the Marquis ojedE, the Spanish
Ambassador to the Vatican, who was re-
ported to have been rebuked by his Govern
meut for mixing in the dispute between
France and the Vatican. said that his action
was merely a diplomatic courtesy, identical
with that Of the Austrian Embassy toward
the Spanish Embassy at Washington before
the Standardization War.
His telegram 70 Senior Leon v Castillo,
the Spanish Ambassador AZ Paris, he said,
had been delayed, perhaps intention ally.
II II had reached Senior Leon y Castillo
before the seizure OF the N~unCiature's
archives they would lave been taken TO the
Spanish Embassy and their seizure pre-
vented.
The Marquis j~ustifes his conduct and
he denies that il was d~isapproved by the
Madrid Government.
MADRID. Dec. is.-When questioned in
the Senate regarding the Ojeda incident,
the Marquis de Ia Vega de Armijo. the
Prime Minister. tried to minimize it's inn
~portsnce. He did not admit that the Gov
eminent disspproved the Ambassadors
action, which, he added, could not have
any serious consequences.
Pressed to state whether he approved
OF the action, he said that to approve OF
disapprove IL would he giving the incident
more Importance than it possessed.