Evening star., 1918-06-02
AIDING ALBAN|AAS
us. IN PHILIPPINES
Italy Is Helping and Uplifting
the Population
Urgent Assistance.
BIG WORK ALREADY DONE
Correspondence Of the Associated Press.

Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
ROME. May 10-The Italians are
doing in Albania exactly what Amer
leans did in the Philippines in helping
and uplifting a population in need
of guidance and encouragement, Gen.
George Scriven. military attache at
the American embassy, said to the
Associated Press correspondent upon
his return from a Journey OF five
weeks through that part of Albania
which has been occupied by the Ital-
ians.
Had it not been for the work OF
would have starved" Gen. Scriven
said. ''The Italians have given these
people food. employment, education
and security. Wheat, corn and rice
have been imported into the country
and the foodstuffs have been distrib-
uted free to the INDECENT and sold at
reasonable prices to those who could
afford to pay for it. Experimental
farms have been opened. schools have
been instituted and. most important
had been unexistent in the country
have been established and Albanian
judges placed at their heads whenever
possible.
Although the Italians are fighting
the Bulgarians and the Austrians on
the frontiers. the work there is not
a work Of war. but one of civilization.
and the ground there is most favor
able to such work for the reason that
the Albanian is an honest man of good
virtues OF courage. truthfulness and
activity. He has the highest respect
for women. who can travel from one
end of Albania to the other alone
without being molested.
"RrigandaEe has virtually disap-
peared from Albania. and the Alba
mans welcome the Italians as bene--
factors and friends. Several hundred
miles Of beautiful. durable roads have
been built, tunnels, bridges and railways
been erected in Valona harhor and
eight in Santa Quaranta- Barracks.
and hospitals containing 1900 beds
have been established. In order to
have the practice of burying the dead
in the center of the villages discon-
tinued. cemeteries have been created
in tre outskirts Of villages and towns
Telegraphic, te1ephcnic and wireless
stations have been established and the
Italians are now engaging in reclaim
Iona and comprising about 5000 acres
Albanians Admire Americans.
ne AlDAHllnS are great duItAIS ISE :
of America" added Gen. Scriven, "al-
though only recently have they be-
gun to emigrate there"
In this connection. Gen. Scrfven
quoted one Of the leading Albanians,
a man VINO has been to America, as
saying to him:
"The invasion Of Albania by the
Balkan states. accompanied by har-
rowing atrocities on unarmed popu-
Iatfon, thousands Of shepherds and
farmers being slaughtered. towns and
villages destroyed. farms burned.
flocks devastated and stolen. and hum
dreds Of thousands Of refugees flock
ing into Valona half starved and per
ishinE from hunger and exposure.
have caused the beginning Of emigra-
ton to the United States. The aver
age American is probably unaware
that $4,000 Albanians have gone to the
United States since the beginning Of
the war"
Concluding. Gen. scriven said: '"The
occupation Of Albania by italian
troops has proved the salvation of
the remaining Albanians and the re-
vival of the Albanian nation"