The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-07-30
San Marino, Oldest and Smallest
Independent Safe, Enters Hos
ti|ities Against Austria-|t Is
In Italy Near Adriatic Coast.
1t Has No Navy, but an Army
Of 1000.

"a that San Marine, the little re-
- public on the Adriatic, but en-
tirely surrounded by Italian territory,
has officially approved the Italian at
t1tude toward Austria and has declared
itself to be In a state of war.
Situated in the Apennine range of
mountains on the east coast Of the
kingdom, with her citadel perched on
the top Of Monte Titano almost $3.50
feet high, she looks out over the blue
waters of the Adriatic sea to he sweep
Of Austrian territory to the north and
east Of her, which is Italian in all but
nationality and is known to the Ital-
lans as italia 1r-iedenta" or 'unre-
deemed Italy, because it once formed
part of the Italian states Of the middle
ages and because a majority of b peo-
pie r of Italian stock. Since Aus
trial seized it in 1918 it has been the
gain 1t, and it has Deer to them what
Alsace-Loraine is to the French since
the Franco-Prussian a
So Small It's Often Ignored.
San Marine is so small that it is sell
dom to be found on the maps. The
greater number Of Biographies ignore
Its existence. Nevertheless it has the
honor of being the oldest If the small
est republic in the world.
San Marine has rested there proudly
and securely for more than 1000 years.
Its entire territory is thirty-three square
miles in area. A census taken in July,
1913, gives it a population Of 11.O41. 1t
Is surrounded entirely by Italian terri
tory and its strategic position gives it
Importance. 1t is but twelve miles
from Rimini and dominates the Adri-
attic. Had it continued neutral, Aus
TRAN aeroplanes could have taken ref
uge In San Marino, been repaired. Sc
cured new supplies and then returned
home. Now, with the republic Joined
with Italy in the war, this is not posi-
BILE.
The Brobdingnagian nations in the
war broke peace to fight each other,
but this liliputian republic merely open
ed hosdlities after a truce Of fifty years.
After the statesmen Of San Marino had
Issued their neutrality declaration they
discovered that the nation had declared
war against Austria fifty years ago,
and San Marino entered the war by
merely reafilrming that a state of war
exists with Austria.
Defied Kaiser Last Year.
On Nov. u, 1914, San Marine defed
b kaiser In a reply to the demand Of
the German ambassador that the wire
less station at Monte Titano. which is
In direct communication with the Elf
fel tower, be demolished. San Marine
In its reply recalled the ancient tradi-
lions Of liberty and the dignity of the
republic and described the demand of
the ambassador as an unjustitieu and
intolerable interference.
"The republic of San Marino,' it
permitted interference by other states
in its internal affairs"
In January last the German govern.
ment protested at San Marino, accus.
ing the republic Of encouraging espion.
age through its wireless station, anC
threatened to send a German commits
sion to inquire into the matter. The
republic declined to receive the com
missioner-.
Once before, in the eighth century
the people Of San Marine detied the
Germans, or at least the Holy Roman
empire, in the person of the mighty
Charlemagne, who. according to his
secretary, Einkhard. was destined tC
die without ever having heard of Sar
Marine or its declaration. But tina,
declaration exists and is said to be the
oldest document preserved which de
6nes the status Of the republic.
Two years ago, although all the PEG
pie Of San Marine are Roman Catho