Rome, Jan. 2.
A serious fre occurred yesterday in the Apostolic Chancellery of The Vatican.
It is believed the chancel of the Church of Saint Lorenzo was destroyed and the hall, which occupies the entire floor of the Palace, seriously damaged. The blaze was watched by huge crowds. Cardinal Maglione, the, Papal Secretary of State, went tó the scene with the Governor of the Vatican and various Italian officials. The Cardinal afterwards gave an account of the damage to the, who was much moved.
Opinion at the Vatican is divided as to the cause of the fire. One theory is the outbreak was caused by a short circuit and another that it is a case of incendiarism.
The Chancellery is not within the precincts of Vatican City, but is one of the most important pontifical buildings in Rome itself and enjoys extra-territoriality.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.