SAN MARINO STRUGGLE

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28397, 2 October 1957, Page 13

SAN MARINO STRUGGLE

Rival Regimes In Clash

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) SAN MARINO, Oct. 1.

The armed forces of the tiny hilltop republic of San Marino —lB4 militiamen and 50 carabinieri —stood by today as San Marino’s two governments struggle for power.

During the night the Republic’s anti-Communist parties set up their own government to oppose the Communist and Socialist Coalition Government, which has ruled the republic for the last 12 years, and its two Captains Regent.

The militiamen, in old-fashioned uniforms and equipped with antiquated carbines and revolvers, have been on duty in the seven castles dominating the republic's capital for several days waiting for the struggle to break out. Italian carabinieri are guarding the seven roads leading into the 1600-year-old republic—the oldest and smallest in the world —although normally the frontier is unguarded. The anti-Communist parties, backed by 31 members of the 60-member Parliament, may now appeal to Italy to help them drive the Communists from power, according to usually well-informed sources in San Marino. But if the Italians decide to venture an action against the republic, perched on a peak in the Apennines, they will be engaged in a staggering battle, for the carabinieri have said that they will not fight but greet the troops “with great quantities of Muscat wine.”

The citizens of the republic gave no marked reaction to the luxury of two governments. They learned in the announcement issued shortly after midnignt that an executive committee representing the anti-Communist parties was assuming the full powers of the Government. This move was the answer to what the opposition parties regarded as a Communist coup d’etat 10 days ago.