The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-04-03
BRITISH REGAIN AYETTE AND RELIEVE
SOME OF PRESSURE SOUTH OF ARRAS,
THEY ALSO WHIPPED AT FAMPOUX
DEPARTURES MORE
THAN ARRIVALS
Stream of Immigrants Into the United
States Greatly Slackened By War,
and Many People Already In Are
Leaving for War Service.

Washington, y. c., April 3.-While
war has stemmed the tide of immigra-
tion, il has not entirely stopped it. And.
as the flow of immigrants from Europe
has been cut down To comparatively
nothing. it has increased at the Cana
dian, Mexican and Pacific stations,
For a decade before the war, the an
nual influx approximated million
year. From July to December last year
the number fell to s0,222. Moreover, the
decreasing stream of newcomers is be-
ing offset TO remarkable degree by the
exodus from America of those desiring to
return to their native lands In fact, the
departures outnumbered the admittances
in November and December.
A great many of those leaving the
country since the beginning of the war
have been allied reservists who have
gone back to answer the call TO the col
ors.
While war conditions have curtailed
the usual duties of the immigration serv
ice, a new field has been opened that re-
quires even more intensive application
and effort Beginning with the seizure
of the German ships, the service has been
called upon to assist other agencies of
lut III many iiPpl tshhb ih'o
of work. Especially have the inspectors
been active in prohibiting the entrance
or departure of enemy aliens, in the de-
lection of spies, the surveillance and APP
prehension OF suspects and in capturing
draft law evaders
A great part of the facilities of the
immigration stations, especially along
the Atlantic coast, have been turned over
4. l.. rs .
receiving depot at Ellis island now is de-
voting only - or 80 per cent OF its space
to handling immigration, and somewhat
similar conditions exist at other Allan
tic ports
As ever, the service is employed active
ly in preventing surreptitious entry into
the country OF Objectionable aliens, chief |
" Chinese coolies. Although the traffic
has been cut down materially by vigil |
ance, the great financial inducements of |
fered those who successfully can run the |
blockade prevent complete curtailment |
of the practice.
The number of stowaways on ships |
was twice as many in the last half Of
1917 as in the preceding II months, 80
having been detected and de- |
barred. fuchded in the number were
several German soldiers who deserted, |
fled to neutral countries, then sought to
find safe haven by hiding on Ameria
bound vessels.
Although the tide Of immigration |
dropped from a million to 100000 the
first year OF the war and has since stead
lily been on the decline, there is every /
prospect that the fow will not resume
its pre-war proportions for decade or
more after the treaty of peace.
America, practically since its diseov
cry, has been the land of promise for
the ambitious, the adventuresome, or the
people of other lands. Begin
ming with the Argonauts of the early
18th century who established colonies
along the Atlantic seaboard, the tide
steadily had increased until the first part (
Of the present century saw millions eag
erly setting their faces toward the new
world.
They came principally in the steerace
Of the great ocean liners, ever with de-
termination to win fortune and enjoy
liberty. The immigrants still come from
Europe, but in small scattered groups.
of women or children joining
relatives here. The ravages of war have
made it an absolute necessity for the
belllgerentS 10 RETAIN Wltnln tneT own
borders all useful man -power-not alone
for active fighting or imperative non
,ombatant tasks behind the lines, but
for the great work of rehabilitation that
must start when hostilities cease.
Even the neutrals Norway, Sweden,
Denmark and Hollaud-are discouraging
emigration, recognizing that the loss of
,ven small portions of their populations
may prove material after.war eco
1omic loss.
With the great stream of immigration
for a while, the nation, even
n the rush of war. will find additional
inc TO break up, educate and American
ze the polyglot groups in the larger
titles There are many of these elements
which, it is asserted, have not yet begun
o be assimilated in American national j
ife. Their language. customs and ideals
emain practically unchanged in their
lew surroundings.
Americanization of an emigrant of this
lass offers great problems and greater
ewards for the social worker.