El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-09-13
P5P5L GUARDS
To UNDERGO
CHANGE
Miniature Army Numbers
but Few Hundred Men, but
Membership Is Coveted.
NOBLE GUARDS ARE
OLDEST IN SERVICE

- ONE, Italy, Sept 1S.-In conse-
K quence OF a series of incidents,
~ the most recent of which was the
mutiny OF the Swiss guards, the Vati-
can authorities are today taking steps
to reform the tiny but historic army
under their control. Although consist
ing of less than 500 men, the armed
forces of the Holy See comprise 1lVe
different corps They are the Noble
guards, Swiss guards, Palatine guards,
.gensdarmes and firemen, or as they are
called, Guards of the fire"
The most important of these is the
Noble guards Constituted as it is to-
day, this organization dates back to a
little over 100 wears. The predecessors
Of the Noble guard, however, first came
into existence in 1884, having been or
ganized as a papal guard in the time
of Innocent VIII They were, however,
disbanded in 1898 when Plus VI was
carried off to France, whence he never
returned.
In 1901 an agitation was started in
Rome among the artistOcracy to form
a bodyguard for the pOntiff, and an ad-
dress was sent to Plus VII, offering
their services gratuitOusIy. To this
Plus replied by message from his sec
rotary Of state, dated May II, 1901,
which may be called their act OF
foundation, and which provided that
the corps consist OF so individuals, men
and officers. Now they are reduced to
about so and their command, which
was hereditary in the Barberini and
Altieri families, has lately passed TO
the ROspigliosi, the present command
er being prince Camille. The American
connections of this family are notable,
prince Camille having two sons, botn
of whom married American girls. The
vile of one was Miss Ethel Julla
Bronson of New York, while the other
made Miss Mildred Haseltine his WIFE
Warrior Pope Organizes Swiss Guards.
To that warrior pope of the Della
Revere house, Julius IL threw the
keys of st. Peter into the Tiber, say
ing that he had more need Of the SWORD
of St. Paul" who built the castle OF
Ostia and fortified the monastery OF
Grottaferrata, and who was hoisted up
in a basket to inspect the siege WORKS
of Bologna, the formation OF the
famous corps Of the Swiss guard was
due.
The beuicose pontiff in october, 1905,
enlisted 200 men, who were officially
described as "Praetorian guards of the
-POpe's person and palace" but only
200 came to Rome under the command
of Casper de Silenen, a nobleman OF
Lucerne, who remained at the Papa1
court till his death. The Swiss guard
was destroyed almost to a man IN the
famous sack of Rome by the constable
of Bourbon in 1927. 1t was reorgaC-
lied in 1913 and since then has never
ceased to exist, with the two notable
but temporary exceptions of the French
occupations in 1898 and 1903. The Swiss
guard now number only about 20, ana
are recruited equally from the Catholic
German dan French cantOns of Swift
erland.
The Palatine guard formerly was
composed of members of the upper
middieclass, but il is now recruited
from among shOpkeepers and small
tradesmen' belonging to Catholic CLUBS
and socities in Rome
1t IS not chartered inside the NaJl-
can, but receives an indemnity Tor eX-
penses and uniforms and is only called
upon for great functions or important
events, such as canOnisatiOn in st.
Peters, or the visit of a foreign ruler
to the pOntiff Its commander holds
Continued on next pase)