The Benson signal., 1918-12-28

This seeming disproportion is caused
by emigration, which was largely COM
posed Of male adults. Out OF those
100000 only 100000 were adults
economically productive. Consequent
ly the subtraction Of the modified
forces has had an acute reaction OH
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
$40 children below the age Of fifteen.
Furthermore, the traditions of ltal-
ian family life render the work Of their
women an economic factor of less i'm
portnnce 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
ceSSitv
no Troops From Colonies.
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
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-
tingcnt of skilled workmen to France,
thus allowing her to release valued
elements for war. Furthermore, near
~ 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 it with munitions u most difficult
one,
Difficult to Obtain Goods.
The very act of entering the war cut
off Italy from one of the sources or
supply of manufactured products. II
is not necessary here to enlarge upon
the we'll known fact that Italian mar
kcts were largely under he domination
Of Germany and Austria.
Mr.. Francis f. SjSson, vice presi-
dent of the Guaranty Trust Company,
In a recent article on the economic
situation OF Italy points out th|t While
Germany before The WIZ dominated
the foreign trade Of Italy 50 far aS
manufactures were concerned. thHt
country was one Of the best customers
Of the United states In raw materials
and foodsluffs. T.'ilut writer also points
out that II Was tho adjustment Of her
industrial ANA commercial life TO the
burdcns0me new conditions that has
created an entirely new economic fab
RE in Italy
"Italys devotion Of her resources to
war purposes has been complete" says
Mr. Sisson. Her pre-eminence III the
production of certain articles OF cont
merce marked her as the chief source
Of supply for similar products Of a
warike nature. Her ordinary produc-
ton Of automobiles, aer0planes, tur-
bines and heavy oil engines has mere
ly been intensified and modified in the
direction Of such q standardization as
would permit quantity production"
Financially italy Responded We'll.
Financially Italy also has responded
to the demands of war with an open
handedness that has surprised even her
self. From the first of August, 1914, to
the end Of 1917 the total expenditures
Of the state were $500, 100000 Cal
culating on the basis of a monthly aver
age expenditure for thewar of $240,000,-
900, the total cost Of the war to Italy
would he more than $4,000, 100000
The first national loan yielded about
$2O0,000000, and it seemed a great
struggle, but the one in October, 127~
yielded about 81 300, 100000.