Evening journal., 1913-08-21

The mutiny of the Swiss Vatican
Guard-the third in three months
caused such trepidation in the papal
household that the Pope. in order 10
avert threatened bloOdshed, ordered
the disarmament of the guard. Plus
KS orders were executed by sur
prise movement on the part OF the
Pontifcal Gendarmerie while the
Swiss Guards were in barracks. The
few on duty had stacked all the rifles,
bayonets and halberds. These, to
gether with all ammunition, were
seized.
The revolt of the Swiss Guards is
due to the severe military regime in
troduced by the new commander, Col.
Repond. who insists on the drill prac-
tice common to the great armies of
/ Europe, although the Swiss number
only eighty. They were formerly 150
strong. Discomfort exists also in the
ranks of the Popes Noble Guard, be-
causelof a recent innovation. whereby
the pontiff extends the recruiting to
all noble families, whereas It was
formerly restricted to Italy.
IL 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 a squad of Carabinieri to restore
order among the pontifical army at
the Vatican. But this is not corrobOr-
ated
The Swiss Guard demands the dis
missal of their commander. the in
crease of the number from so to 100,
tho coIo,tfop of ofEoorc from, ornpr q
themselves. the abolition of the pro-
hibtion against frequenting wine
shops. the suppression of useless mill
itary exercises. such as gymnastics,
bayonet drill, target shooting and
climbing on the roofs to protect tho
Vatican from imaginary attacks. and
finally immunity for punishment for
the present agitation.
The Pope's Swiss guard dates from
the Middle Ages. when no ruler be-
Ilieved himself secure without a body
guard of aliens or republican Swiss.
To this day ii is essential that every
member of the papal Guard should be
la native of switzerland. Dressed in
scarlet, black and yellow uniform. de-
signed by Miohael-AngelO. armed with
halbcrds on state occasions and with
muskets on ordinary days. they are
memorable 10 every visitor of the
Vatican They. with the Noble Guard,
the Guard of the Palace. the Papal
lGendarmerie. and the Vatican firemen.
make the little temporal army Of
which the Pope is the commander-in-
chief.
Europe's Swiss mercenaries, of
whom, tho popcfe CWise Cuard are a
relic. we're formally put an end TO in
1859 after the traffic in Swiss blood -
had lasted four centuries. BY the
Federal constitution of 1913 only the
conclusion of fresh engagements was
forbidden. but i'm 1S4a. when Naples
levied Swiss troops. a prohibition of
llevies followed. and on the outbeak of
ithe Italian war in 1859, the enlisting
of Swiss soldiers i'm foreign armies
finally was abolished Stuppa, the
chief mercenary leader of Louis XIV's
time. replied 10 the taunt of Louvois,
that a military road from Paris to
Basle might be paved with the silver
which France had paid to the Swiss
l"That is possible. but canal from
Basle to Paris might he filled with
the blood shed by the Swiss in your
service"
Mr. AsQuiths promise Of bill dc
signed "to prevent England from slip.
] ping into the sea-" will be glad news
/ TO the inhabitants Of the South anc
East coasts. Nobody wants TO lose
: Margate or Bridlington if the net gair
Of land is greater than the loss. Tha