The Monticellonian., 1915-10-14
GUARD TIE VATICAN
Italian Government Watching
 Over It's Safety.
Person of the Pope and the Pontifical 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. it 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- esque pile. The protection offered and given by the Italian government is interesting to analyze on account of the relations between church and state. Benedict XIV has no need to worry for his safety. as the govern ment of Italy not only gives protec- tion 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 l HOSb HIGH WOulu De eAtillpl HUH HIT itary duty to the Italian government. Moreover the government offered the pope the necessary protection of mod ern arms and ammunition.
 Benedict XV, always practical, de- clined the offer of men. being un- desirous 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 go who have the obligation, let all go who have the desire, and let them know that not solda will be de- ducted 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 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 offer 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 with Remingtons. These arms being heavy, the Swiss guards are being trained in the use of Wetterlys, the heavier arms being given to the outside guards. The gendarmes are also armed with revolvers which they need in their duty in the gardens and courts.
 In Piazza St Peter and in the old Borgo there are two barracks in which are stationed great contingents of ter ritoral militia and carabinieri who are in constant contact with detectives in uniform and in plain clothes, who in urn are stationed at the famous bronze doors in the Via della Fonde- menta along the outside wall or the Basilica Saint Peter. At the Caval- leggeri gate and the Angelica gate are two stations of Carabiniri, reinforced by great body of territorial militia. Protection of the Vatican meteorologi- cal observatory, which is in the gar den, has been augmented by the pres ence of number of civil functionaries who assist the Jesuits. In the observ- atory an electrical reflector has been placed with which it is possible to search the now dangerous depths of the sky.