The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-10-16
GUARD THE VATICAN
Italian Government Watching
Over Its Safety.
Person Of the Pope and the PontificaI
Property Being Given Full Meas
ure of Protection, According
to Report.

A Roman writer says while startling
stories of how the pope is about tc
flee to Spain for safety continue to
blossom on the journalistic tree with
regularity, 1t is interesting to know
what is really going on to protect the
head of the historic church.
That the Vatican is protected by
Remington and Wetterly arms gives
quite a modern touch to the pictur-
esgue pile. The protection offered
and given by the Italian government
is interesting to analyze on account Of
state. Benedict XIV has no need to
worry for his safety, as the govern
ment of Italy not only gives protec-
ton but has offered far more than
he would accept.
AS to the internal security the
Italian police could take no steps, as
the Vatican is considered a foreign
state" The Italian government be-
sought the pope to accept, If it so
pleased him, whatever armed forces
he saw fit for the pontifical property.
Those men would be exempt from mil
itary duty to the Italian government.
Moreover the government offered the
pope the necessary protection of mod
ern arms and ammunition.
Benedict XIV, always practical, de-
clined the offer of men. being I'M
DESTROYS of increasing the number Of
Vatican armed guards, especially since
he had military service to perform
or who wished to go as volunteers to
file at once beneath the banner Of
the Patria. The holy father is cred
tied with saying to Cardinal Gasparri
Let all 60 who have the obligation,
let all go who have the desire. and let
them know that not solda will be de-
Quoted from their pay and that their
places will be waiting for them. But
let us not talk of accepting the offer
of the government for more men
that would be the same as converting
the Vatican into a haven of pol
troons."
The government, knowing how the
apostolic palaces are infested with
Austrian spies, who as visitors to the
great museums and galleries as al
legged students of the Libraries. have
ears and eyes open, suggested an army
of plain-clothes men.
The Vatican, however. so far has
not accepted the governments offel
| of police, though there is every reason
to believe arms and ammunition have
been introduced into the Vatican
through the government. The armed
Vatican corps are indeed manned will
Remingtons. These arms being heavy
the Swiss guards are being trained II
the use of Wetterlys, the heavier arm
being given to the outside guards
The gendarmes are also armed wit
revolvers which they need in thei
duty in the gardens and courts.
In Piazza St. Peter and in the oil
Borgo there are two barracks in whic
are stationed great contingents of tel
ritorial militia and carabinieri who ar
in constant contact with detectives |
uniform and in plain clothes. who
urn are stationed at the famou
bronze doors in the Via della Fond
nenta along the outside wall of tn
Basilica Saint Peter. At the Cava
leggeri gate and the Angelica gate al
two stations of Carabiniri, reinforce
by a great body Of territorial militi
Protection of the Vatican meteoroloe
cal observatory. which is in the ga
den, has been augmented by the pre-
ence of a number Of civil functionari,
who assist the Jesuits. In the obser
atory an electrical reflector has bee
placed with which it is possible
search tn, now dangerous depths
J the sky.