The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-20
WHATHAPPENSAS.
FRONTIER
is SHUT BY WAR
Many Humorous Incidents
Are Recorded By Guards
Watching Lines
RED TAPE OFFICIALS
MADE EXPERIENCED
Bedrooms of House Which
Are In Italy and Kitchen
In Switzerland

Chiasso, Italy, Feb. 20-The Italian
frontier is closed. Here at the inter-
national railway station of Chiasso,
Italy's northern gateway, though it
implies stranding Of travellers, stag
nation of commerce, accumulation of
foodstuffs, and a score Of equally dis
agreeable consequences, Italians and
Swiss draw comfort from the knowl-
edge that the longer the frontier is
closed the more imposing is the num-
Der of troops pouring into Italy to
help drive back the invader.
Closing the Frontiers.
The methods adopted to close the
various frontiers which shut the
Swiss territory offer contrast in ma
tional characteristics. Beyond Basic,
when the edict to close the German
Swiss frontier comes from Berlin a
barrier across the road is formed by
looking German soldiers, who
point bayonets menacingly even at the
nurse maids who unwisely push their
perambulators too close to the line of
demarcation; outside Geneva, when
the F'rench-Swiss frontier is closed,
across the road and pile up wheel
barrows on the pavement; the Aus
TRANSMITS frontier is closed, when
the occasion arises, by a frayed rope
which schoolboys in their fun creep
under the leap over. At Chiasso the
Italians, having no need for either
wheelbarrows or bayonets, employ
lever-crossing type of gate to mark
the end of Italy and, the beginning Of
Switzerland.
Only One Person.
Only one person-the italian Min
lister at Berne-has crossed the from
tier during the past 10 days. The
Minister himself had to display
large collection of sealed, signed and
cocketed documents, had to plead,
argue coax and threaten before the
uui1l-hatted Guardian df Finance al
lowed him to pass into Italy.
'eWell, we will let you in, Marquis"
said the chief officer, finally; "but
am not so sure that we will let you
out"
"I 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, &C
cording to the opinion Of the best au-
thorities on the sebject, the air over
a country constitutes the territory of
that country-and the head of the
pedestrian would be in Italy.
Expensive Shave.
An italian one afternoon bitterly
complained that the sudden closing of
the frontier had incidentally produc-
ed the most expensive shave on re-
cord. He had crossed to pay his Gus
ton1ary visit to the BARRIERS shop on
Swiss territory, when the sudden clos
ing Of the frontier was announced
With soap still on his cheeks he hur-
ried to the gate, but he arrived 20
seconds too late, and the guards prov
ed inexorable. He estimated that in
loss of wages, and cost of board and
lodging on Swiss territory the shave
had so far cost him 125 francs Cover
$3.50 and was automatically augment
ing.
Bedrooms In Italy.
The plight of the occupants of a
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 Switzer-
land. Two Swiss chickens-to men
ton a third of these incongruities-
which, startled by the noise of a
motor car, scuttled across the from
tier on another afternoon. have been
detained by the Italian authorities,
who base their action upon regulation
81 of the code governing frontier
traffic, namely: when the frontier
is closed no live stock, dogs, or other
| animals, may be permitted to cross %
The inspiring character of the news
which, in spite of all precautions,
leaks out from the strong room of
Italy, helps the 5000 Italians who
live here to endure patiently these
minor crosses. All Italy, particularly
all northern Italy. is afiame with pat
riotism. The knowledge that the
enemy is on sacred Italian soil has
| galvanized this nation to giant efforts.
| (By the International News Bureau,
Inc, Boston, Mass.)
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