New-York tribune., 1922-04-02

galleon they fought until one was sunk In
Genoa houses were piIlaRed in the daily street
lighting, while in the suburbs even the vine,
yards and olive groves were cut down, so
great was the animosty
The only stable institution Of those days
which was destined to last was the Banco df
Santo Giorgio Bank of 81 Georpe), which
gradually acquired immense wealth and vast
possessions. The state with all its internal
and external fighting, was forced to issue loan
after loan until all Of the government revenues
were absorbed by the interests due. These
creditors met and formed this bank in order
TO amortize the public deot and supervise all
state affairs, so that they would be sure Of
their payments. Though really ruling the
state, it was a private bank. In 1853 Genoa
was no longer able TO maintain Caffa, in the
Crimea and Corsica, so she simply turned them
over to the bank. From that time the bank
had its feet and soldiers in order to protect its
new colonies and, incidentally, to insure it.
self.
Genoa was the excuse for battles between
France and Spain and between Austria and
France from 1920 on. Louis XIV sent fleet
against the Genoese under Duquesne, who
bon1barded the city in 1884. The Austrian i'm
perial troops attacked Genoa in 1746 and
took the city, but the inhabitants threw them
out few months later. The Genoese were
unable to quell the rebellion Of Corsica, which
started in 1929 They called on the French to
aid them in 1868 to settle the Corscan clIes-
ton, and incidentally gave France the island
for her trouble. Napoleon passed Genoa in
1897 on his way to conquer Italy, and over
threw the aristocracy in order to form the
democratic Ligurian Republic At this time
the Bank Of st. George was still extremely
powerful and had a revenue Of over two mil
lion dollars, which in those days was enormous
While Napoleon was at war with the Aus
trlans in 1900 they attacked his troops at
Genoa under Massena, who became lannon's
for his defense of the city He held out for
more than two months with only $1,000 men
who lacked every necessary supply and had a
rebellious starving population to keep in order.
Against him were the combined efforts of
we'll equipped Austrian army and the English
fleet. When there was nothing left to eat and
half the population, as we'll as MANY of his
troops, had died of starvation Massena signed
a treaty with the enemy Whereby in return
for surrendering the city, he was to be trans
ported back to France at the cost of England
with all his troops and cannon and the liberties
of the Genoese were to be respected. Napoleon
arrived, after winning the battle Of Marengo,
and entered Genoa triumphantly Just eleven
days after Massena had capituated.
Napoleon was the cause of Genoas loss Of
independence, he had previously destroyed
the Republic Of Venice With his fall after
Waterloo the Congress of Vienna assigned the
city to Piedmont, which was under the Dukes
Of Savoy and Kings of Sardinia, who later be-
came the Kings Of Italy. But before her last
vestige Of independence was gone Genoa took
it upon herself to show her rebeious spirit
again. The English army had to take the city
by force, but after they announced that Genoa
would be handed over to Piedmont the popula-
ton massacred all the British troops. While
the people in the city were fighting each other
for control Of the government Piedmont troops
arriving took advantage of the disorders to
establish themselves for good.
During the century which passed since then
the Genoese have not remained entirely docile.
The Bolshevik spirit has constantly reappeared.
Even during 1917 they We're the prime leaders
in revolution TO stop the war. Their excuse
was poor bread supply, bat they gained
rigid martial law rule for their trouble. The
great problem before the present rulers In
Rome is to keep this Genoese revolutionary
spirit under control during the conference.
The last relics Of the former Genoese EN-
pire, il its scattered colonial possessions could
be collectively called such. is found in the
principality OF Monaco This IS still ruled by
one of the great families CT Genoa the Gri-s
maldi, Of whom the Prince of Monaco is di
rect descendant.