The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-06-09
NEW FLAG APPEARS ON
FRENCH FIGHTING sAR0NT
Republic of the SlSipetars" Is Latest
National Entity Among the Allies.


Koritza. Albania, May 12@Corres-
pondenee Of Associated Presst-A new
flag OF the Republic OF the Skipetars"
has made its appearance among the
standards OF the entente allies along the
Albanian Macedonian front. 1t is the
old standard of the Scandenbergs. Of red
with a black two-headed eagle and the
little army Of $50 men Of the Republic
of the Skipetars. composed of six com
I panies are fighting under II at the front
b. the side Of the Senegalese and colo
/ NAL cavalry. that compose the French
occupying force in this district. The
new banner already has received its
baptism OF blood Five hundred men
OF the new republic aided the French
| to repulse a sharp attack by Albanian
I tribes cooperating with the Austrian
regular troops at Moscopol.
/ Thus far the new republic includes
only the city OF Koritza with a popula-
/ ton Of $4,000 and the surrounding re-
eion. comprising altogether about 10000
1 inhabitants. IL IS located in that part
Of Albania in which the longing for
! liberty and tranquility has been most
developed through repeated pillaging by
neighboring Albanians and continual op-
preston by foreigners.
Powder Rule Heretofore.
The Albanians, accustomed to sum
mary and primitive means Of admins
tration and justice, are taking to re-
publican ideas and the parliamentary
regime, and considerable unsuspected
oratorical talent has been discovered in
this land where powder only has talked
heretofore.
The idea Of forming the Skipetar Re
public is due 10 Colonel Descoins, COM
manding the French forces stationed
here. When he assumed command Of
the post he called all the notables Of
the town together and talked to them
in this vein:
"Skipetars. my friends, until Decem-
Der. 1912. you suffered under Turkish
regime; in May, 1913, it was the Greek
army that mistreated you; then until
March, 1914, you became familiar with
the Inconvenience OF Greek civil ad-
ministration: in July. 1914. it was the
noxious buffoonery Of Prince de WED
that was imposed upon you; in Decem'
ber 1915 il was again the Greek mill
tary occupation; in October, 1916, II was
the Greek royalist civil administration
and in November. 1916. the Venezelist
followed in December by the French
i, military occupation with Greek civil au
thorities. You ought TO have enough OF
all these experiments, and l have a very
. simple suggestion 10 make 20 YOU. Why
don't you govern yourselves? You arr
. Alhanians Be Albanians, then. anC
% nothing else. Cease all intrigues an'
p occupy yourselves with your own self
+. / government French troops are her
g 70 defend the territory, that's all b
r honest men. I'll be the gendarme."
Parliament OF Fourteen Members.
h This plain talk appealed 10 the SIX
!. petars who at once formed republi
with a parliament OF fourteen member
and president whose tenure Of offic
is a fortnight.
Prosperity has come in with the n
, public. A coal mine at Koutza is bein
exploited and. aided by the military al
.. thoritieg, the Skipetar government
/ preparing to develop copper and iro
. ore deposits. declared by engineers
. be rich and extensive.