Republican farmer., 1919-11-07
WANT UNITED STATES TO TAKE
 OVER MANDATE

Tirana. Albania, Oct D. (By the Associated Press,5-Continued ap peals are being made by the Albani- ans for the United States to assume a mandate for Albania. The Albanian has an amazing confidence in Ameri- ca. Scarcely week goes by in which some local Albanian society or group of patriots does not present a peti- tton addressed to the Americans ap- pealtng to President Wilson to inter cede on behalf of their country
 When the Associated Press corres- pendent was passing through a small town south of here on horseback he was stopped by the mayor and To- cal officials who presented to him an appeal seeking the protection of the United States because the Greeks were reorted to have taken posses sion of the city of Koritza, in South ern Albania.
 The Italian protectorate is in op- eration but most Albanians profess a distinct dislike for the Italians say ing their desire is merely to exploit the country and to retain a strategic foothold in the Balkans. Some of them say they fared better and the country progressed more under the Austrians. American. observers say the Italians have brought great ma terial and moral good to the coun- try and have stabilized things in an effectual way.
 The country is extremely primitive and there are continual internal dis orders. Railroads or telegraphs do not exist, many of the most ordinary convenience of life are wanting. san itation is almost unknown schools and churches are few in number, and o1T
 ward. Except for the southern part which is fairly fertile, it is Q barren waste of rocks and woodless hills and mountains.
 Albania produces scarcely enough crops to support it's inhabitants. The population is upward of two millions divided about evenly between Chris tians and Mohammedans. Only about 5 per cent. of this number is able to read or write.
 The women do all of the work. They are veritable b-rs-- of burden. Indeed they compete with the ponies and donkeys as pack carriers, but are not considered by the men as vaIu able because they cannot bear I'D l1n- der such heavy loads. In the freuuent sale of young women for wives, the price paid often is not as high as that given for a good horse This se- were life among the women shows it. self in premature old age and in many forms of serious physical disa- blI1ty. Fifteen per cent. of the moth CTS die in childbirth.
 The men sit around coffee houses. discussing politics, or attend to the business of repelling by gun or sword the frequent Serbian or Montenegrin invaders. The hostility to the Serb and Montenegrin never ceases. Feuds pistol duels sand vendettas are of a daily occurrence. The Albanian, once he believes himself or relatives wronged, never rests until complete and fierce vengeance is secured. The American Red Cross hospitals throughout the country are consta mt ly called upon to treat the --ictims of these feuds and vendettas
 The Italians have a force of about 25,O0O troops in Albania The major part Of these are in the vicinity of Nalona. The rest are used in police and garrison duty in various parts of the country. Their presence has tended to tranquilize the country and keep down the troublesome elements among the population. There are re- curing sporadic clashes however between the Albanians, Serbs and Montenegrins, in which freuuentlv the Italians are forced to take part.