The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-08
THE TRICOLOR IN
 THE NEW WORLD

This date commem crates the anni- versary of a tragedy which, in spite of the lapse of fourteen years, still exercises a weird and grisly fascina- tion. It was on May 8, 1902, that Mont Pelee vomtted forth death and destruction to the people of the West Indian island of Martinique and buried St. Pierre, the early home of the Empress Josephine, in volcanic ashes. Of the 10000 inhabitants of St. Pierre only one, a convict, escaped immediate death, and he died a, few days later. St. Pierre has never risen from it's ashes, and it now lies, white skeleton of a city, in the tropic towers Pelee, looking peaceful and in nocent. Fort-de-France, fourteen miles south of the old capital city, is now the seat of government.
 Although St. Pierre is now as dead as Pompeii, the island of Martinique is still rich and prosperous, and it's people, although largely negroes, have contributed lavishly toward the support of the French government in the present crisis. Not only have a large proportion of the white men returned to France to help fight the battles of Ia repubIique, but many blacks have also volunteered. AL though Martinique is a rugged and mountainous country. the soil is very rich, and about so per cent is under cultivation. MoIasses and sugar, with tobacco, rum, and tropical fruits, con- stitute the chief products and large quantities are exported to France.
 Martinique with an area of 380 square miles and a population of 150,- 900, and the twin islands of Gaude- 1oupe and Grande-Terre, with an area of 494 square miles and 5a population of 180,0O0, constitutes the richest of Frances colonies in the New World. The negroes of these islands are intelligent and progressive as any of their race to be found anywhere and they are intensely and periodically devoted to France. The genius for colonial government which French men have shown in Africa. is equally manifest in the West Indies, and France is now reapiug the reward of the patient 1abors of past years.
 Greatest by far in area of the French colonies in the New World is French Guiana, or Cayenne, which is 30,5 square miles in extent, but supports a population of only about 10000. The unhealthfu1 climate of Frances South American colony, and the sinister reputation which hovers about all penal settleme ents, have .gfv- en Cayenne an evil name Of late years, however, the French have suc-. ceeded in rendering the country more. healthful and better suited tef the abode of white men.
 
 meath the tricoIor the intensest patrio- tism has been manifested in St. Pierre and Miquelon, two islands and five lesser islets off the southern coast of Newfoundland, which constitute the last remnants of Frances North American empire Perhaps no other colony in the worlds history has ever shown such devotion to a distant m other country. Practically every male inhabitant of the colony of milf tary age and abIe-bodied has joined the colors in France When the news that France was in danger reached St. Pierre and Miquelon, the brave and hardy fishermen did not content Themselves with expressions of sym pathy. They are men of action, inur- ed to danger from their early boyhood, and the response to the cali to arms was so unanimous as to practically put an end to the fishing industry up on which the islanders depend for a, livelihood. Many women and chill dren have suffered from privation since then, but with the aid of contri- buttons from Newfoundland. Canada, and the United States they have sur vived the days of trial.