The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-08-21
Court Gossip of Interesting
Epents on THO Continents

Il
| etIs,i..,i. 1913. by A. D. Jacobsoa,,
| The ihutihy of the Swiss Vatican Guard
1.-The third in three months-caused such
trepidaton in the papal household that
the Pope, in order to avert threatened
bioodshed. ordered the disarmament OF
the guard. Plus KS orders were exc
cuted by a surprise movement on the
part of the Pontifical Gendsrmerie while
the Swiss Guards were In barracks. The
few on duty had stacked all the rifles.
| bayonets, and halberds These. together
| with all ammunition. were seized.
The revolt of the Swiss Guards Is due
to the severe military regime introduced
by the new commander. Col. Repond.
who insists on the drill practice common
TO the great armies OF Europe, although
the Swiss number only eighty. They
We're formerly $50 strong. Discomfort ex-
lists also In the ranks Of the Pope's Noble
Guard, because of recent innovation.
whereby the pontiff extended the recruit
ing to all noble families, whereas 1t was
formerly restricted to Italy.
| 1t Is declared that at one moment the
possibility OF an armed conflict WAS SO
great that the aged Pope was ON the
point Of telephoning to the Italian Court.
requesting the dispatch of squad OF
i 10 oiuCt thN
pontificial army at the Vatican. But this
is not corroborated.
The Swiss Guard demanded the dis
! missal of their commander. the increase
| of their number from so to 100. the Sc
lection OF officers from among them
selves. the abolition OF the prohibition
| against frequenting wine shops, the sup
/, preston Of useless military exercises,
such as gymnastics. bayonet drill, tar
get shooting, and climbing on the roofs
| to protect the Vatican from imaginary at
| lacks. and finally immunity from punish
ment for the present agitation.
The Pope's Swiss guard dates from
| the Middle Ages. when no ruler believed
himself secure without bodyguard OF
aliens or republican Swiss To this day
1t Is essential that every member OF the
Papal Guard should be native OF
Switzerland. Dressed in scarlet. black.
and yellow uniform, designed by
Michael-Angelo. armed with halberds on
state occasions and with muskets on
ordinary days. they are memorable to
every visitor of the Vatican. They. with
the Noble Guard, the Guard Of the
Palace. the Papal Gendarmerie. and the
Vatican firemen. make the little temporal
army Of which the Pope is the COM
S,.'i l,i'.i -,- -, ,
,ha d.. s.. c.. 90 Ii 80
,nrr,an,, -, ., ca 20 In IS-o af,ar
the traffic in Swiss blood had lasted
four centuries. BY the Federal consti-
tuition OF 1915 only the conclusion of
fresh engagements was forbidden, but in
1873. when Naples levied Swiss troops.
a prohibition OF levies followed. and on
the outbreak of the Italian war in 1853.
e,cr arr,ies an.Iy Vas abolished
s,unn, Nh. chic, ,,.rc.n,ry I.od.r ~
7 IL Wv. ,;r,a rsn,;ad 80 o.. -,
OF LouNois' that Hiii'arS roau from
r rs 10 nasie ,nieh' De pavea Win tne
s"'ef With France nao paia 10 'he
S"ks mat IL possiole' OUT cahai
from hasle 10 fafls might be hiled with
the blood shed py the SWISS IN your
service.
MI Asqui'h promise OF Dill de-
sishea 10 proven. Emsiaho from SIP
ping INTO tne sea VIII De giad news 10
the ihhaoltahts OF the south and East
coasts NOBODY wants 10 lose Margate
or Bridlington II the net gain OF land Is
greater than the loss That the gain is
great was proved before royal COM
land and Wales lost 1858 acres and
gained 3O,7s5. while Scotland and ireland
made an equally profitable bargain with
Neptune. Parliament will not be able
to put an end to the oscillations dis
covered by the commissioners. Beeches
that rise sixty feet above high water
mark and afterwards sink fifty feet I'M
der the waves. evidently obey some law
that laughs at dykes and sea walls.
"
land slides no one knows. hut for some
thing like 1900 wear. Britain has taken
no serious plunge downward.