The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-02-05
TODAY WE CELEBRATE.
San Marine, Oldest Republic, is Now
Threatened by Germany.

Another nation may be plunged into
the vortex Of the European war. &C.
ccrdtng to recent cable from Rome,
which asserts that tho government of
San Marine has dafied the Kaiser and
has refused to receive his commission.
ers. The German government is said
to have filed a protest accusing tho
San Marine government of giving aid
and encouragement to the enemies OF
Germany through the improper use OF
tho San Marine wireless station. The
threat that a German commissioner
would be sent to San Marine to in
quire into the matter mot with a
naughty refusal from the San Marine
officials, who declined to receive such
q commission.
San Marine, it may be stated, is
both the oldest and the smallest Of
the worlds republics. Entirely sur
rounded by Italian territory, It has
maintained its independence, with but
one brief break, for thousand years.
Perched on the high rocks OF the
Emilian Appennino, overlooking the
Adriatic, with which 1t is connected
by n railroad to Rimini. its ancient
fortresses are almost impregnable.
San Marine will mobilize its stand.
ing army OF hundred men today, not
because of the German menace, but
because the troops take a prominent
part In tho celebration Of San Ma
rlno's national holiday, the fifty of
February. 1t was on that date in 1740
that the ancient republic was restored
after It had for q time been subju-
gated by neighboring reigning
house. The intercession of Rome
brought about the restoration, so San
Marines holiday is Of the nature of a
religious festival.
II San Marine should decide to
hurl its army of a hundred men
against Germany, It would not be the
first time In history that the tiny ma
ton had defied great power. The
Oldest document preserved by the re-
public ia declaration OF war made
in the eighth century against aChRrle-
magne's Holy Roman Empire. Charlie
magne did not take the declaration
very seriously; in fact. his biograpner
declares that he died without ever
having heard of San Marine or its
declaration OF hostilities.
As no army could reach San Ma
rino without passing through Italian
territory, the little republic would be
comparatively safe in Joining in the
war. Small as it is, San Marine would
bo difficult to Erbjugate, as its thirty.
three square miles OF territory Is In
a mountainous region. It comprises
tho nat top OF Mount Titano. a spur
of the Apennines, and Is about twenty
miles from the Adriatic. The country
has an altitude OF 1850 feet above the
level of the sea below.
Small as It is, San Marine Is rich
in historic associations, and its quaint
and medieval atmosphere gives a
novel sensation to the few tourists
who penetrate into the Oldest OF re-
publics. The Malatestas, the Borgias
and many other celebrated Characters
OF Italian history figure In the annals
OF San Marine, and II was here, too,
that Garibaldi found a safe refuge
after the fall OF the Roman republic
In 1s49.
San Marine gains It's name from
Marinus. the Roman; stone mason who
fled from the prosecutions or Dioclo.
tianss emissaries In Rimini With a
few other Christians, he found sane
tuary on Mount Titano, and there laid
the foundation - fha settlement