Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-09
ASKS AMERICANA AID
TO REBUILD FRANCE
General Commissioner Andre
Tardieu Issues Reconstruc-
ton Appeal.
GIVES FIGURES OF WRECK
Agriculture, Commerce and In
dustry in Invaded Re-
gions Wiped Out.
GIVES FIGURES OF WRECK
. TBy Associated Press.

NJ w lcltN, NONember S.---An appeal
! to America to assist France in her re-
construction-with men, money. ma
teriais and ships-:was made here to-
( nighi by Andrew Tardieu. general COM
missioner for Franco American war
affairs.
Declaring th>t the war has reduced
by one-ifteenth the effective popula-
tion Of the republic, that $4,000 houses
have been destroyed. that agriculture
commerce and Industry in the invaded
regions virtually have been wiped out.
that French shipping and foreign trade
nave been reduced almost to nonexist-
encc. Mr. Tardieu said that approxi-
mattel" $4,000. 600, 900 francs C.1o. 900. :
| oo0.Oo0) will be required TO finance the
I process OF restoration. While France
! Tor many months the main battle field
OF liberty and right" will draw upon
colonies TO mobilize this vast sum the
commissioner stated. She coniidentl,
LOOKS TOT assistance from the allies.
FROM America. Mr.. Tardieu continued
making public as he s.yd. representa-
tions which he had presented TO the
administration at Washing ton. France
American troops now on her soil. for
credits to the extent OF per cent Of
e ner reeonstruetion purchases in this
country Tor raw materials railroad
rolling stock and agricultural and in
dustrial tools and for diversion OF part
ot the emergency fleet to the rbes OF
In explaining these needs IN Tho
american government. the commits
S,oHeb ST Mh,sh said es ne vas given welcome
While France will exact rcsti,u,iop
Tor German depredat!ons. Mr.. Tardieu
asserted. speed In tho reconstruction is
OF her. nna Amsriea on account
.loh, ought to give US first help
FRENCH OFFICIAL PRhIsEs
WORK DONE DY AMERICANS
the French commissioners appeal to
1Amertcans was made in an address be-
Correspondents. Introduced bv FranIs
Diinot. OF London. pro- Ident OF the
o,ssgan,ization. org Mr.. Tardieu attributed
soldiers soil e and vllctGrx c1ri, to the work Of our
to tho loyal. wise and skiIifuI noiinv
oy means Of which President Wilson
en ena pied the allies and America, in an
s%er TO the German request, to de-
termine in full liberty our conditions
OF armistice."
500 die eoo continued; min So, France has los, q
manned: some have returned Sick and
inSapa citated from German prisons
Whether meim ,hsir 'heE Ss Lost altogether, or
permanently reduced. they will not par
liclpate in this reconstruction.
..piN pine ~ industrial disaster is complete
Is iett SO complete is the destruction
that. In the case of our great coal
mines in the north, two years of ,rorl.
VII! be needed before single tom ~
Soai can be extracted. and ten ven 70
neloEe the output is brought back IN
the ngureS OF 1913. ~
France deems il fair tint .rt.,
ing been for so many months tho main
battle field Of liberty and right she
should now be helped in her Effort sue
ASKS FOR COOPERATION
OF LABOR AND TECHNICAL rNtTS
To you. Americans let me say that
me mater OF labor. He hope that. dur
ing the preparation and the cutrvinr
out OF the transportation of Your troons
pack 10 America, your technical as ,ren
AS other units with their eouinment
WIN De able to cooperate i'm that efS
tWe will have to clear the recon
guered ground Of the ruins acrunm-
lated by, the German hordes Your
army Will help us in this work. while
our OUT reputation Will restore her cities
u Regarding French shipping needs.
Mr. Iardieu declared that the colossal
In the building of her fleet for war
purposes will be diverted from th,s
sacred end, il it. in part. helms Fr.nnn .S
70 recover on the seas, for the revival
OF her rorceS in peace, the means ~
transportation which were lost to ber
on account of the war"
Speaking TO America" Mr.. Tardien
years our liberties and yours ours havn nus'dea den
veioped fraternally. and today we
united, offer to the world tho stnrt,;n~
lesson or victory and democracy"