The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1915-10-28
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 to
fee 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.
ton but has offered far more than
be would accept.
AS to the internal security the
Italian police could take no steps, as
the Vatican Is considered 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 un-
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 go who have the obligation.
let all go who have the desire, and let
them know that not Soda 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 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 arma
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
ritorial militia and carabinieri who are
in constant contact with detectives in
uniform and in plain clothes, who in
turn are stationed at the famous
bronze doors in the Via della Fonde-
Basilica Saint Peter. AT the Caval.
leggeri gate and the Angelica gate are
two stations of Carabiniri, reinforced
by a 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 a 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.
The observatory Is In direct tele-
phonic communication with the Vati-
can. 1t was thought at first a good
idea to place an observation station
upon the cupoia of st. Peters as was
done in 1870. but this idea was - ban-
doned
A most scrupulous guard has been
placed about the palaces of the Dat
aria and the Cancelleria and the
Propaganda of the Faith beneath the
Quirinal
1t is believed the treasure OF the
propaganda may have been transport
ed to the subterranean vaults OF the
Vatican or elsewhere.
At night the apostolic palaces are
wrapped in darkness, as is wise in a
city within the war zone, for the
church has learned it's lessons from
Reims and it's other despoiled relig-
ious houses. 49,.
1t is clear how vigilant an eye the
government keeps on the Vatican and
how careful is it's protection.