The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-05-06
VATICAN ARMED
 FOR DEFENSE
By EDWARD c. STRUTT, International News Service Staff
 

Correspondent
 Rome. May 61colone1 RePond, Guard has resigned and the an nouncement has caused quite a stir in Vatican circles, it is most un- usual; indeed, I believe, unprecedent- ed, for commander of the Swiss Guard to abandon his post. which is considered a lifelong appointmen mt. Up till the Pontificate of Plus N two Swiss families, the Barons Meyer von Schauensee and Pfyffer Von Altisho- fen, used to alternate in the com Inand, and this lasted for several cen turies.
 von Schauensee died, the Pope found himself at a loss to appoint his sue cessor. In fact, Baron Pfyffer von Altishofen, on whom by an ancient right his choice should have fallen, had long since abandoned the Vatican world for the world of business, in which he has proved eminently suc- cessful, being closely connected with the Ritz Hotel in London and with the Hotel Excelsior in Rome. The late Baron Meyer von Schauensee's eldest son, known in Roman and cosmopoli- tan society as Baron Fritz was equally ineligible, being a we1lknown man about town,'' who, by the way, has married an American wife.
 Retired Swiss Appointed.
 Plus x. then decided to confer the command of his Swiss Guards on a retired officer of the Swiss Army Colonel Repond, who at once started to reorganize the corps in truly mil itary spirit. Discipline was very hx among the Euadily uniformed guards (they still wear yaricolored uniforms, in which yellow, black and red pre- dominate-supposed to have been de- signed by Micnelangelo) they were very seldom drilled, and when not on f Bronze a. pal apartments, always picturesque with their long haIberds, their time was spent within the Vatican walls and around the Swiss Tavern, famous for it's excellent white wines. With the advent of Colonel Repond, a chnge came over the spirit of their work. The new commander was de- termined to transform this purely or namental corps into a thoroughly ef- ficient military unit and in certain measure he succeeded.
 Colonel Repond began his work of reform by discarding the useless cid rifles with which the Swiss Guards were armed, replacing them with the most modern weapons. There are spacious lawns and fields within the Vatican enclosure, and here Colonel Repond established a rifle range, where his men had an opportunity of confirming their traditional skill in shooting. Plus X. was rather annoy
  although only faint echo pierced the massive walls of the Apostolic Palaces, but he soon got accustomed to it and used to joke mildly about the new commanders military zeal A regular martinet for discipline, Colonel Repond almost. drilled his easy-going subordinates off their feet, and at one time something like a, mutiny threatened. Many of the men left in disgust, and fresh recruits had to be summoned from Switzer1nd to take their places.
 Fortress of the Vatican.
 Colonel Reponds fixed idea was that the Vatican must be placed, so far as possible, in an efficient state of defense, and in view of the present stormy times and communist out bursts, he is perhaps not far wrong- In spite of the Italian Governments nothing would be easier than a surprise attack by a handful of deSperadoeS, and most tragic con sequences might enSue before help arrived, if the Vatican were not able to defend itself against a first rush. It is extremely unlikely that such a hing should happen, but Colonel Re pond, not wishing to take any chances, ! has drawn up a carefully devised de- fensive plan by which the Swiss iuard, together with the Pa1atine 1 fuard and Papal Gendarmes, armed 1 with modern rifles and machine guns, 1 ouId hold the Vatican without diff 1