East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-08-24
BY ALICE RoHE.

lNAiAA July Wy AANAAff
While startling stories of how the
pope ls about to flee to Spain for
sa afety continue to blossom on the
Journalistic tree with regularity. it is
interesting 10 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 modern touc to the pictur-
esqup pile The protection offered
ana given By the Italian government
is interesting to analyze on account
Of the relations between church and
state. Benedict XIV has no need 10
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 internal security the italian
police couli take no steps as the vat
lean is considered a foreign state,
The Italian government besought the
pope to accept, If it SO pleased him
whatever armed forces he saw fit for
protection OF the vatican and the
pontifical property These men
would be exempt from military duty
TO the italian government. Moreover
the government offered the pope the
necessary protection of modern arms
and ammunition.
Benedict XIV, always practical, de-
clined the offer Of men, being unde-
sirous of increasing the number oi
vatican armed guards, especially since
he had desired all OF his attendants
who had military service to perform
or who wished to go as volunteers to
file at once beneath the banner oil
the Patria The holy father is credit
ed with saying to Cardinal Gasparri'
LET all go who have the Obligation
let all 20 who have the desire and let
them know that not solda will he
deducted from their pay 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 poltroons"
The government knowing how the
apostolic palaces are infested with
Austrian spies, who as visitors to the
great museums and galleries alleged
students Of the libraries have ears
and eyes open, suggested an army ol
| plain-clothes men.
The vatican. however so far has
not accepted the governments offei
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
very heavy. the Swiss guards are be-
ing 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
Boreo there are two barracks in
which are stationed great contingents
of territorial militia and carabinieri
who are in constant contact with de-
tectives in uniform and in plain
clothes, who in turn are stationed at
the famous bronze doors in the Via
della Fondamenta along the outside
wall Of the Basiciica of Saint Peter
At the Cavalleggeri gate and the An
gelica gate are two stations of cara
binieri. reinforced by a great body
of territorial militia Protection of
the vatican meteorological observatory
which is in the garden, has been aug
mented by the presence of number
of civil functionaries who assist the
Jesuits. In the observatory an elec-
trical reflector has been placed with
which il is possible to search the now
dangerous depts of the sky The OBJ
servatory is in direct telephone som-
munication with the vatican. II was
thought at first good idea to place
an observation station upon the 1up-
olo Of st. Peters as was done in 1870,
but this idea was abandoned.
A most scrupulous guard has been
placed about the palaces Of the Da-
taria and the Cancelleria and the
Propaganda of the Faith beneath the
Quirinal.
II is believed the treasure of the
Propaganda may have been trans
ported to the subterranean vaults Of
the vatican or elsewhere.
At night the apostolic palaces are
wrapped in darkness as is wise in
city within the war zone for the
church has learned its lessons from
Rheims and its other despoiled reli-
glous houses.
The rare pedestrians who pass at
night through the solitary ways on
either side Of the vatican are regular
ly stopped by carabinieri And II
these passers-by can not justify their
presence at that hour in the deserte 1
ways they are amiably requested to
choose more frequented streets. Even
supply wagons which at dawn clat-
ter up to the vatican are inspected
minutely, and the drivers have to pre-
sent Identification cards. Letter car
riers and messenger boys are stop
ped at the bronze doors, where they
give over their messages except those
for the secretary of state. Special
ushers carry the messages to the 9th.
er persons residing within the vatican
walls
Tt is now clear how vigllant an eye
the government keeps on the vaticai
and how careful is Its protection.
A luminous paint for automobiles