The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-04

down. in order to allow the extension of inc gardens and the construction of an- other tract of wall encircling completely the Vaticans territory
 There are rumors that d kind of pro tected tower is going to be constructed by the Italian government Tn close proximity to the mint, thus empowering any body of sentries to command With their rifles or quick firing gun the whole of the papal territory. Such tower, being protected by the gigantic dome of St Peter. would undoubtedly be of considerable advantage to an army whose plans were to resist an entry into tine vatican domains, but how far this case might have been con sidered is kept secret.
 A recent and personal experience has made me aware that new spirit Is abroad at the vatican, as several injune- tions have been made to prevent any photograph being taken of the places where the new works will be carried on. Never has a permit been neces- sary to enable one-to wander around the vatican with an innocent camera yet | have been asked 10 apply at a special office in the vatican and wait couple of weeks before a permit was granted for taking this photo of the disappearing mint. It was only on con- d.tion that if would be used for jour nalistic purposes only that l was finally allowed to direct my camera at that peculiar building whose fate no one is yet able to foretell.
 But 1t is not only at the vatican it. self that the Pope is enlarging his ter titory By order of Plus x a great building also has been bought in the very center of Rome. not far from the Quirinsl, which henceforth will provide residence for the "cardnal vicarro,"
 r 4l.. ls,.. ar building has been bought at a short distance, and an immense theological school is now being erected on papal ground in the northern part of Rome.
 All these buildings and lands having been bought in the name of the Pope himself, as an occupier of the Holy See, it is understood that the Italian government will be compelled to con- slider them as territories belonging to foreign nations, like embassies or con sulates which cannot be taxed, nor searched or seized without the authority of the occupiers.
 This facr is so significant that it IS believed some members of parliament aIe likely to bring before the house the question or the legitimacy of the sales. The whole action Of the pope is to be @ sutionary measure against any danger, should the present war in Tripoli end m a revefse and consequently in unpcp- ularity fos the present government. At any rate, there is in the new policy Of the vatican good grcGnd to believe that work of defensive nature is being car ried out quietly. Not only is the vatican enlarging ana streng thening it's territory Lut, by radical change in it's army, the Pope has surrounded himself by a body of strong and well equipped soldiers whose modern rifles and ammunitions leave no doubt of their ntentiep of be- ing an effective defense for the. Holy See
 If it were not that history makes itself so quickly nowadays. especially in tie Latin nations, these strange movements in the vatican would seem uncalled for indeed. The recent great consistory at which r cardinals received their hats demonstrated one reason why Rome would make heavy sacrifices rather than lose the pope The ceremonies brought such crowds to the city as could not be tion the vatican governmeht might get ca his head on Trojans column, he could not enrich :he thrifty Roman merchants and hotelkcepers half so much IS the announcement of any unusual ceremony at St Peers. Without the vatican, Rome would be financially worse off than if deprived of the ruins of the Forum. so though the business Roman of today is often lax in his religious views he could be counted upon to defend Rome s gi eatest asset vigorously from any rev. ciutionary outbreak.
 ERNESTo MORELLIl