Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-01-30

and prevent these regions from resum-
ing, for many years to come thelf
place in the markets Of the world.
"The industry of transportation mas
also heavily suffered from the war.
The wear and tear on the rolling stock
of our railroads has been intense. In
the invaded regions the tracks were
badly injured during the German re-
tirement.
"rayes have been raised to an I'M
precedented level. While in 1914 the
total of our national budget was slight
" above 4,OOO,O0O,00O francs, the taxes
will have given in 1918, without the
invaded regions, which were as you
know, by far the richest. over 9ooo,-
100000 francs. In 1917 the CIVIL
ian population in France paid in taxes
S3S per capita, as compared with ~
paid in 1916 by Americans.
"France, before the war, had pub
lie debt of 34,OOO.OOO,OO0 francs. The
interior debt has increased, during the
war, by over 1OO,O0O,0O0,0oo, the
last public loan having produced
81 600 100000. We have received from
Great Britain and the United States
loans amounting to 2oWoooOooo
francs.
$50 that France starts on this new
period of her history with burden OF
nublie debt increased, on account OF
the war. by over 123o0oWN,ooo
francs figure which VIII certainly
be further increased in order to liqui-
date the war expenses.
81 have to give you these figures in
order to make you realize the serious
ness of the situation in which France
stands. We are all ready to face our
problems with the utmost confidence
and will to succeed, but we are aware
that they are grave problems.
"Tirst. while the whole world 1u nps
into peace work and resumes trace
we have a part of our territory Which
is unable to produce. We cannot NAM
tain our place in the markets OF the
world. We cannot get our own sup
nlv of coal. We are obliged to mnin-
tain restrictions in order to protect our
industry while in course OF relahii'
tnti0n, and as long as Il normal order
of things is not re-cStabliShed
"Sccondly, in order to get from out
side markets the raw materials al" I'M
ishcd products we need, we depend
largely upon foreign ships.
Ships the Big Item.
"Thirdly. trade and shipping are
closely connected. We have to rebuild
our foreign trade, which has been
stoppcd during the war on account OF
lack of tonnage and lack Of industrial
production.
"Fourthy, one of our best assets is
our colonial empire. We have pacihed
and established our rule in vast coun'
tries. whose natural supplies are cnor-
nous. and whose populations are will
ing to work. and are loyal, as they
have shown by giving up total con-
trIbution of 91S0OO men during the
war, of which GSO,0o0 were fighters,
and 23S,OOO workmcn in our war fac
tories. With her possessions France
is actually the fourth of the great
countries of the world rs regards ter
ritory, the fifth as regards population.
But we must develop these posses
sions. In order to perform that duty,
we want ships. And again, our mer-
chant fleet has fallen to almost moth
ing.
$50. in order to fulfill her duties,
France has two great objects to
achieve: to rchabilitate her devas-
tated regions and to build ships. If
her friends want to help her during
peace as they have helped her during
the war, they have two means of as
siSting her to regain her place in the
society of nations; helping her to re-
build which has been destroyed by the
Germans, and helping her to construct
or purchase ships"