The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-06-18
FORM LITTLE
REPUBLIC ON
ALBANIAN SOIL
Is Called "Republic of the
Skipetars" and Has It's
Own Flag
FRENCH COLONEL
FATHER OF IDEA
why Don't You Govern
Yourselves" He Asks
And They Do It

Koritza, Albania, June 23.-(Corres-
pondence of The Associated Press).-
A new flag, the flag of the new re
public of the Skipetars" has made it's
appearance among the standards Of
the entente allies along the Albanian
Macedonian front 1t is the old stand
ard Of the Scandenbergs, of red with a
black two-headed eagle, and the lit
tie army Of $50 men of the republic Of
Skipetars, composed of six companies,
are fighting under it at the front by
the side Of the Senegalese and colonial
cavalry, that compose the French oc-
cupying force in this district. The new
banner already has received it's bap-
tism of blood. Five hundred men Of
pulse a sharp attack by Albanian
tribes cooperating with the Austrian
regular troops at Moscopol.
Thus far the new republic includes
only the city of KoritZa with a popu-
lation of $4,000, and the surrounding
region, comprising altogether about
10000 inhabitants. It is located in that
part of Albania, in which the longing
for liberty and tranquility has been
most developed through repeated pill
Laying by neighboring Albanians and
continual oppression by foreigners.
The AibanIans, accustomed to sum-
mary and primitive means Of admin
istration and justice, are taking to re-
publican ideas and the parliament
tary regime, and considerable unsus-
pected oratorical talent has been dis
covered in this land where power has
talked heretofore.
French Colonel Father.
The idea of forming the Skipetar re-
public is due to 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 Deem
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 adj
ministration; in July, 1914, 1t was the
noxious buffoonery of Prince de Wied
that was imposed upon you; in De-
cember, 1915, it was again the Greek
military occupation; in October, 1916,
it was the Greek royalist civil admin
istration; and in November, 1916, the
Venezelist, followed in December by
the French military occupation with
the Greek civil authorities. You ought
to have enough of all these expert
ments. and l have very simple sug-
gestion to make to you. Why don't
you govern yourselves? You are AL
banians. Be Albanians, then, and
nothing less. Cease all intrigues and
occupy yourselves with your own self
government. French troops are here
to defend the territory, that's all Be
honest men, I'll be the gendarme."
This plain talk appealed to the Skip
etars who at once formed a republic
with parliament of fourteen mem
bers and a president. whose tenure of
Office is fortnight.
Prosperity has come in with the re-
public. "A coal mine at Koutza is be-
ing exploited and, aided by the military
authorities, the Skipetar government
is preparing to develop copper and iron
ore deposits, declared by engineers to
be rich and extensive.