New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1918-12-28

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by emigration, which was largely COM
posed of male adults. Out Of those
1900, 900 only 100000 were adults
economically productive. Consequent
~ the subtraction Of the modified
forces has had an acute reaction on
the economic life Of the nation. 1t Is
estimated that on an average only 100
adults remained In each town or viii
lage to provide in each case for some
800 children below the age Of fifteen.
Furthermore, the traditions Of Ital-
ian family life render the work of their
women an economic factor of less i'm
portance than in some other countries,
! though it has been utilized to the ut
most and is becoming more available
as old traditions give way to wars ne
cessity.
No Troops From coIonIes.
Italy got no help from colonial con-
tingents. On the contrary, the scarcity
Of native troops in Italy's colonies
compelled the government to reinforce
them with troops from the mother
country. Nor has help come to Italy
through the cooperation Of workmen
Of neutral or allied countries. Italy,
on the other hand, sent a large con-
tingent of skilled workmen to France,
thus allowing her to release valued
elements for war. Furthermore, near
ly 100000 of our male adults residing
in America gave to this great nation
direct contribution to her economic
and military efforts.
To meet their military obligations,
therefore. the Italian people have been
compelled to cut into the most urgent
needs of agriculture and industry. Her
continuous lack of labor has made the
task Of feeding the army and provid-
ing 1t with munitions a most difficult !!
one.
Difficult to Obtain Goods.
The very act Of entering the war cut
of Italy from one of the sources Of |
supply Of manufactured products 1t
Is not necessary here to enlarge upon
the vel. known fact that Italian mar
kets were largely under the domination
OF Germany ana Austria.
Mr.. Francis II. SissOn, vice presi-
dent Of the Guaranty Trust Company,
In a recent article on the economic
of Italy points out that while
Germany before the war dominated
the foreign trade Of Italy so far as
were concerned, that
country was one Of the best customers
of the United States in raw materials
and foodstuffs. That writer also points
out that it was the adjustment Of her
Industrial and commercial life to the
,urdensome new conditions that has
treated an entirely new economic fab
.ic in Italy.
"Italy's devotion Of her resources to
var purposes has been complete" says
Mr. Sisson. "Her pre-eminence in the
production Of certain articles Of COM
nerce marked her as the chief source
II supply for similar products Of
nature Her ordinary produc-
ion Of automobiles, aeroplanes, tur-
zines and heavy oil engines has mere
y been intensified and modified in the
Of such standardization as
would permit quantity production"
Financially Italy Responded Well.
Financially Italy also has responded
0 the demands of war with an OPEN
andedness that has surprised even her
elf. From the first of August, 1914, to
he end Of 1917 the total expenditures
t the state were $685., 100000. Cal
ulating on the basis of a monthly aver
ge expenditure for thewar Of $24O, OOO,-
90, the total cost Of the war to Italy
7ould be more than $4,000. 100000.
The first national loan yielded about
zoe. 600. 600, and it seemed a great
truggle, but the one In October, 1917,
ielded about 81 800. 000.0