Honolulu star-bulletin., 1917-12-29
WAR LIFE IN ALBANIA TOLD OF
BY FORMER STAR-DULLET|N man

people are 0lVIQe1 between TIE .ho
hammedan and the Greek Orthodox
faith In most towns are TO be seen
both the Greek church with cross and
the mosque with minaret. Education
Is not extensive. and development gen
orally has been arrested BIZ pTotractej
political strife and misgoVernment.
| The southeastern part Of Albania with
| In the last decade has been under the
rule OF Turks, the independent Alba.
nian government, and the Greeks. Last
| fall this section was organized into
republic Of KoritZa, with the encour
agement and support OF the French
military authorities.
AT this time the presence here Of
large bodies Of troops changes the gen.
| eral complexion OF things. Food sup
! plies are scarce. and prices are very
high Ravitaillement, or supplies for
the troops, is brought into the country
by automobile transport, the normal
native production being insufficient
even for the natives, many OF whom
must bc supported by the military au'
thorities. AS result, large gangs OF
men, women and children are employ.
receive both wages and rations. So
far as an observer can see, the French
authorities treat the natives with
scrupulous fairness and generosity.
At times, when an attack is contem.
plated, the civil population is marched
to refugee camps we'll to the rear,
pending the completion of the action,
Balkan Future Hazy
"As TO the future OF the Balkan
states, and Of Albania in particular, no
enc may fairly profess to have very
definite idea. Austria Las declared
protectoratc over northern Albania,
and Italy has taken similar action in
regard to the southern part of the
state. The existence of the Republic
I. KoritZa, ostensibly under French
protection, further complicates the
situation. Certainly there will be
much wagging Of diplomatic tongues
and much scratching of statesmen's
heads before anything like a perma.
nent and just solution is achieved.
will not muddle this simple narrative
by interpolating my own opinion.
geographically, Albania is hardly
on the map. l believe that a few
small papers are printed in the coast
towns, but in the interior there exist
only few small job offices, employing
only natives. Before arrival | had an
idea that there might be a few real
offices in Saloniki, Greece, the great
center for allied operations in the
Balkans. a city which recently burned.
Iswas disappointed. There were no
lfhotypes in town and the cases
were manned by Greeks and Spanish
Jews. The single English newspaper
there, the Balkan News, is published
by government employees and solely
for the convenience Of the troops.
Between pounding the keys Of
linotype and driving an ambulance
there is some difference. First, in the
matter Of the wage scale. Just now
am earning the munificent sum OF
eight sous per day. For this sum can
buy one egg, II there is any on the
market. As for hours, We are liable
to be called out any time,s though
there may be days when there is lit.
tie or nothing to do. Officers are no
more exacting than proofreaders and
foremen. Dues are nil. On the whole
1t is rather a happy, carefree life
one can have as many friends, and of
as many different nationaiities, as he
cares for. or course in time it will
become rather boresome. Food is suf.
fioient, but not in great variety, the
short ration Of sugar being rather
painful, The government tobacco
comes from Algeria; occasionally
some philanthropist in the states
sends few cigars or cigarettes and
there is real COY in camp. ..T'
The length of my. stay in the Bal.
kans is contingent on many things.
The American field service is now in
process of absorption by the United
States army. and I-may find myself in
the automobile service on the French
front before many months. The best
thing one ever gets out here is mail
from home, and I'd be mighty glad to
hear from any of the friends of yes
teryear who may care to write. Ad.
dress: s. s. American 10, Convois Au.
tomobiles, Armee d'orient, Par B. c.
NJ, Marseilles, France"