World War: Muzzle-Loaders

Gossipist Walter Winchell reported last week: "Mussolini's soldiers hope to retreat to Rome where they can be protected by the Vatican's Swiss Guards." Swiss Guards carry halberds. By an order of the peace-minded Supreme Pontiff last week the effective modern rifles of His Holiness' fur-helmeted Palatine Guards were replaced by 1840 muzzle-loaders which have been stored away in the Vatican for over half a century. If the Papal troops were ever military, they are now wholly demilitarized. Each muzzle-loader, now so rusty it would be hazardous to fire it, requires two Palatine Guards to work it, one to fire it, the...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!