The Washington herald., 1913-07-27
GUARDS MUTINY
IS DUE TO FAT
Men Growing Corpulent, Re-
sented Military Duty
In Vatican.
FAITHFUL FOR CENTURIES
Privileges Revoked, Corps Became
Sullen, and Then Broke Out
in Open Rebellion.
pecial Cable to The Washington Herald.

Special Cable to The Washington Herald.
Rome, July .6-Ead feeling, which for
some time has existed among the rank
and file of the Swiss Guards CT the Vat
lean, reached a climax the other day in
open rebellion that. although quickly
quashed, affords further proof that the
movement begun some time ago, which
threatened to disrupt the little army IN
trusted with the defense of the sacred
palaces, still exists and that even His
Holiness failed to restore the cordial re-
lations which formerly existed between
the soldiers and their superiors.
The Swiss Guards reputation for faith
fulness to the Holy See dates back sew
cral centuries. The first mutiny know II
took place during the early reign of
Pope Leo NH. when some privileges the
guard had enjoyed since time imn,c
mortal were taken away by order OF the.
Pontin himself
Fought to save Tips.
These privileges consisted mainly Of
certain tips which the curia Cardinals IS
well as those from foreign countries and
visiting prelates Were required TO be-
stow en- the defenders of the church, hut
iE recent times the custom had grown
TO such nuisance as to discourage prei-
ates of moderate means from visiting the
Vatican
That mutiny was ended by the Pope.
who on the very day the guards diso-
beyed their officers sent word to them
through his private secretary that those
who were not pleased with the new or
der of things could leave at once for
Switzerland. The result was only the
ringleaders went and the remainder of
the small force of men resigned them
selves to the loss of the tins
Like Supers in Theater.
For many years things went smoothly
The guards. though deprived of SUBJ
stantial addition to their pay. were. on
the other hand. required to do but little
work. merely mounting guard at the sew
eral entrances of the Vatican and parad-
ing before the Pope once or twice
year.
During the last few years of the reign
of Leo XIII. the Swiss Guards led
quiet. sedentary life devoid of all ex-
element. although the then commander,
Baron Mayer Won Schanensee. often en-
deavored to make them a presentable
body of soldiers. At his death the guards
resembled more a lot of corpulent the
atrical supers than the twentieth century
embodiment of a once brilliant corps.
Cause of Recent Trouble.
ne trouble WnlCn Int OlIeF udN Cul-
minated in an assault on Sergeant Pra-
long by the soldiers and four days later
in open rebellion TO the orders of Capt.
Gassou began two years ago when Col.
Rewoud was appointed commander of
the Swiss Guards.
Col Rewoud, a strict disciplinariaR.
tried to reform the corps and to restore
the discipline of which there was no
trace lett.
The old rusty muskets of 1870 model
were Immediately discarded and the
pa ade grounds were visited once more.
The men were required to don fatigue
uniforms and devote long hours to target
practice as well as other military duties
under the vigilant eye of the colonel
he men protested. but the colonel
threatened to resign unless he was al
lowed a free hand. In time. the old
riotous element was weeded out and new