Rensselaer Republican, Volume 28, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 December 1896 — ONE MAN THE ARMY. [ARTICLE]

ONE MAN THE ARMY.

Monenet Boasts of a Militasfy Forcsl Both Small and Efficient. | The smallest independent state In Europe is neither the principality ofj Monaco, with its population of >12,000 souls, nor the republic of St, > with its 8,000 inhabitants, nor that of; Andora, containing only 6,00.0 but Morfsjrtft, with a population of scarcely 1,200 souls. Moresnet, which is thoroughly autonomous, is situated' on the Gerniano-Belgian frontier, about half way between Verviers and Aix-la-Ohapelle,. It lies in a picturesque valley, watered by K the little riyer Gueule, How Moresnet, has maintained its Independence has just been explained to a French journalist by a Belgian minister in Paris. The commune of Moresnet, as it existed under the empire, was, after the retreat of the French in the early years of the century, administered exclusively by the Parisian authorities till 1811®. At that time it was divided into three parts, In virtjie of the treaty of June 26, 1816. The principal portion was annexed te Holland, another portion was annexed to Prussia, and the third portion, situated between the other two, formed the neutral territory. It contained the calamine establishment of the Veille Montague, and thp importance of that establishment, which now produces yearly Some 25,000,000 kilograms of ore and furnishes Europe with about 50 per cent., of the zinc it employs, rendered It impossible fox' the negotiators to come to an understanding concerning that fraction qf the frontier. It, Indeed, seems unlikely that a decision concerning it will be taken for a long time, as the governments of both Germany and Belgium claim possession of the mines of the “old mountain.” That is why’ that piece of contested territory has, for the last eighty years, preserved its neutrffl character and its political independence. Prussia and Belgium’have each a, commissary, whose duty it is to intervene in case of difficulties arising, but that is a purely formal suzerainty. The Belgiap representative is at the present moment M. Bleytnesy, subprefect of Verviers, and that of Prussia Counselor Guleher. The supreme chief of this minute republic is M. Schmetz, who contents himself with the title of burgomaster, and has occupied that post since 1884. The ideal taxation of about 6 francs per head, nevertheless, suffices to provide a subvention for the school and for the repairing of the roads. Moresnet has one soldier, who wears a splendid uniform, to preserve order. As there are no tribunals in the territory, law cases have to be tried alternately at Verviers and Aix-la-Chapelle.—London Standard.