The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-11-06
WANT UNITED STATES TO TAKE
 OVER MANDATE

Tirana, Albania, Oct 5. (By the Associated Press. )--Conunued 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 Aneri- ca Scarcely a week goes by in which some local Albanian society or group of patriots does not present a peti- ton addressed to the Americans ap- pealing to President Wilson to inter- cede on behalf of their country.
 When the Associated Press cores 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 n 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 A1banians 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
 
 teria1 and moral good to the coun- try and have stabilized things in an effectua1 way
 The country is extremely primitive and there are continual internal dis orders Railroads or teIegra phs 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 altogether the country seems back ward. Except for the southern part which is fairly fertile, 1t is a 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 IS per cent. of this number is able to read or write.
 The women do all Of the work They are Teritable b-=~-- of burden Indeed they compete with the ponies and donkeys as pack carriers, but are not considered by the men as valu- able because they cannot bear up I1n- der such heavy loads. In the freuuent sale of young women for wives, the price paid often is not as high as l4Ieil SlhSl IOI d SOOO morse. This S9- were life among the women shows it. self in premature old age and in many forms of serious physical disa- .bjhty. Fifteen per cent of the moth CTS die in childbirth.
 The men sit arounC coffee houses discussing politics, Or attend to the business of repelling by gun OF sword the frequent Serbian or Monteneeria invaders. The hostility to the Serb and hontenegrin never ceases. Tet1ds, pistol duels and vendettas are of a daily occurrence. The Albanian, once he believes himself or relatives wronSed, never rests until complete and fierce vengeance is secured. The American Red Cross hospitals throughout the country are constant ly called upon to treat the ,ictirns of l these feuds and vendettas
 The Italians have a force of about 25.00e troops in Albania. The major part Of these are in the vicinity of Valona. The rest are used in police and garrison duty in various parts of the country. Their presence has tended to Tanquilize the country and keep down the troublesome elements among the population. There ara re-
 curing sporadic clashes, however l between the Albahians, Serbs and Montenegrins, in which freouentjy the Italians are forced to take part.