Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1915-04-03
MAY LOSE HIS ARMY
Pope Will Lack Guards if Italy
Enters the War.
Entire Vatican Force Liable to Call to
CoIors, and Unprecedented Stua.
ton May Arise-Law of Guar
antees Silent.

Rome.-In case Italy goes to war
one of the most serious complications
which will follow in the relations be-
tween the Italian government and the
Holy See will be in connection with
the papal army.
There is no provision in the law of
guarantees contemplating the eventu-
atty of war. When this law was be-
fore the Italian parliament in 1871
member proposed an amendment to
tho effect that all privileges accorded
to the pope should be suspended lin
case of war between Italy and other
nations, as also in the case Of war
between foreign nations when Italy
| Rad declared herself neutral, and In
every circumstance when such a meas
IRE should be necessary for the inter.
nal and external security Of the state"
This amendment was accepted, but not
embedded in the law, which, 1t was
then explained, was concerned with
the rights of peace and not with those
of war.
Article 3 OF the law of guarantees
deals with the pontifcal army as fol-
lows:
THE sovereign pontiff can retain
the usual number of guards attached
to his person and employed for the
custody of the palaces without preju-
dice to the obligations and duties in
cumbent en- those guards by reason
Of the laws in force in the kingdom"
The obligations and duties men,
toned In this article are those Of
every Italian citizens liability to serve
in the army. and thus the law explicit
~ provides that pontifcal guards can
not claim exemption from military
service. In fact the pontiiical gen.
darmes, who are all Italian citizens.
ere purposely recruited from men
who have served in the Italian army.
The Noble guards and the Palatine
guards, who are nearly all Italian cit
liens. not being on permanent duty
at the Vatican, but only called for
service when occasion requires, get
special leave Of absence when called
fer service in the italian army.
In case general mobilization is or
dered In Italy practically all the 200
pontifical gendarmes would have to
Join the colors and thus the two per-
manent corps of the papal army, the
Swiss guards, already reduced from
200 to only about eighty rank and file,
and the gendarmes, will be to all in
tents and Purposes disbanded. Nor
can the pope rely On the Noble guards
and the Palatine guards for the pro-
lection of his person and the custody
of the apostolic palaces. as the great
majority of these guards will also be
called to arms. And the hundreds of
men employed in the Vatican, the GUS
todians of tie museums and the gal
leries, the lay clerks in the depart
ments and Offices, the gardeners and
coachmen and caretakers, all these
Will have to Join the Italian army
Such contingency is unprecedent-
ed In history and without a parallel
in international law and 1t will serve
TO prove the anomaly of state with
III Sldte olTduSSlY enough WH1ie
the next smallest army in the world
after that of the pope, existing like
wise In Italy, will not be affected by
Italian mobilization. and not single
citizen of the diminutive republic of
San Marine will be compelled to fight
in the Italian army, the army Of the
pope will practically cease to exist
when Italy goes to war.
The reason for this distinction be.
tween the two armies is that San
Marine is Italy's ally while the Holy
See, although its territory is only
palace and a garden. is considered
Itafy's enemy. Officially the pope is.
nores the kingdom of Italy.
IT is well-lcnown fact that many
radical changes will follow as a re.
cult of this great war. Old nations
will disappear aNd new ones win be
formed; boundaries and peoples will
change their nationality. while En-
rope will be remapped Great as al
these changes viii be their historical
IMPORTANCE will. however, be less than
t"at of the great change which NAV
Effect the Vatican, the oldest institu.
ton IN iha would