The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-01
WHEELBARROWS
HELP TO CLOSE
ITALIAN FRONT
Closing of Frontiers in War
Time HumOrously De-
scribed by Writer

Closing OF frontiers in war
times Is hunorously explained in
this correspondence from Chias-
30, Italy. 1t is informing as
well as entertaining.
BY J. c. Segrue.
The Italian frontier is closed.
Here at the International railway
station Of Chiasso, Italys northern
gateway, though it implies stranding
OF travellers, stagnation OF COM
merce, accumulation OF foodstuffs,
and score Of equally dtsagreeable
consequences, Italians and Swiss
draw comfort from to knowledge
that the longer the frontier is closed
the more imposing is the number of
troops pouring into, Italy to help
drive back the invader.
The methods adopted to close the
various frontiers which abut on
Swiss terrritoy offer a contrast in
national characteristics. Beyond
Basic, when the edict to close the
German Swiss frontier comes from
Berlin, a barrier across the road is
formed by fierce looking German
soldiers, who point bayonets men
acingly, even at the nursemaids who
unwisely push their perambulators
too close to the line Of demarcation;
outside Geneva, when the French
Swiss frontier is closed, the poilus
nonchalantly drag a lorry across the
road and pile up wheel -barrows on
the pavement; the Austrian Swiss
frontier is closed, when the occasion
arises, by a frayed rope which school
boys in their fun creep under or
leap over. At Chiasso the Italians,
having no need for either wheel
barrows or bayonets. employ a
iever-crossing type Of gate to mark
the end OF Italy and the beginning
Of Switzerland.
Italian Minister Has Difficulty.
Only one person-the Italian min
lister at Berne-crossed the frontier
during ten days. The minister him
self had to display a large collec-
ton Of sealed and signed documents,
had to plead, argue, coax and threat
en- before the quill-hattCd Guardian
di Finance allowed him to pass into
Italy.
"WelI, we viii let you go, mar
quis." said the chief officer, finally;
but am not SO sure that we will
let you out"
Il will bring back with me a pass
port signed by the prime minister
and Cadorna themselves" replied
the minister, as the gate was raised
and he entered Italy.
Frontier absurdities, of course,
abound. The pedestrian may stand in
Switzerland. but may not protrude his
head over the gate, because. accords-
ing to the opinion OF the best authorD-
ties on the subject, the air over a
that cDuntry-and the head OF the
pedestrian would be in Italy.
An Italian one afternoon bitterly |
complained that the sudden closing OF
the frontier had incidentally produc- |
ed the most expensive shave on rec
ord. He had crossed to pay his Gus
tomary visit to the BARRIERS shop on /
Swiss territory, when the sudden
closing OF the frontier was annoupced. |
With soap still on his cheeks he hur-l
ried to the gate, but he arrived twen- /
ty seconds too late, and the guards |
proved memorable. He estimated that /
in loss of wages, and cost of board /
and lodging on Swiss territory the |
lover $3.50 and was automatically /
augmenttng.
bedrooms In italy.
The plight of the occupants of /
house situated partly in Italian and /
partly in Swiss territory, Is equally
ludicrous. The bedrooms are in Italy, /
and so, for over week, the family /
have slept in the kitchen and living
room, which are in Switzerland. Two
Swiss chickens--to mention third
Of these incongruities-whic start
led by the noise of a motor car, scut-
lied across the frontier on another
afternoon, have been detained by the
Italian authorities, who base their l.
action upon regulation 90 OF the code
governing frontier trafhc, namely:
when the frontier is closed no live
stock, dogs or other animals, may be
TO cross"
The inspiring character of the news
which, in spite of all precautions,
eaks out from the strong-room of
tally, helps the 5000 Italians who
i've here to endure patiently these
minor crosses. All Italy, particularly
northern Italy, is afiame with patriot
SIN. The knowledge that the enemy
s on sacred Italian soil has galvan-
zed this nation TO giant efforts.