ONE-GUN REPUBLIC.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1912, 21 November 1913, Page 11

ONE-GUN REPUBLIC.

COMEDY OP THE ARMAMENTS CSAZB. .A new question affecting iuternaltamal. ntmstmeots hits arisen in tlio Republic of Sa.n Marino (on the- Itnilian Adriatic coast about 100 miles south of Venice), which contains 10,635 in-Habitants (writes the Paris correspondent of the London "Daily Mail"). Hitherto the artillery forces of tho UeptihHc have consisted of ono truck field gun, bought in 1893. Under the protection of lliis weapon the Republic has since- existed in perfect tranquillity and safety, but apparently in view of tho general tendency to increaso armaments throughout 'Europe the Government of San Marino has decuM ts embark upon a programme of military expansion. To meet the requirements of the new military situation in Europe, San. Marino is now buying a whele battery of four field gnus. Taking into consideration tho manifest superiority of French artillery as demonstrated in the Balkan' War, tlvo military authorities of the Republic have decided to place this order with the Crousot firm. At the same time tiio number of traiwed artillerymen in thfl Republic is to be raised from nine- to thirty, A difficult question of international law has arisen, however, in connection frith the scheme. The now cannon have a range of nine miles. The territory of the Republic, ou the other haiul, is only four miles across. - K will, therefore, be impossible, to practice With the Runs without the shells falling- into Italian territory and causing perhaps tlio gravest diplomatic coanplieatiflns. t ,i ll „,.„--t,>,^-^-.. J^.