The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-03-28
Must Have Aid in Restoring Mer-
chant Marine.
VAST LOSSES SUMMED Up
Edward de Billy, Deputy High Com
missioner of the French Republic to
the United States, Gives Statement
of Country's Needs-2,5oo,ooo OF
Her Young Men Killed or Manned,
26,0oO Factories Ruined.

ablest, and most spirited men killed or
manned, and upward of half her indus
try and shipping destroyed by the
war, Frances appeal to her allies dur
Ing the period of rehabilitation will be
for help in rebuilding the factories and
farms which the Germans wrecked and
for assistance in constructing or pur-
chasing ships, said Edward de Billy,
deputy high commissioner of the
French republic.
Admitting his country's gain by the
conflict, in the revitalizing of the
French spirit of self-conidence, SUBJ
dued by the defeat of 1871, and in re-
gaining Alsace and Lorraine, with their
AGRICULTURAL districts, Mr.. de Billy said
the wars losses were far greater. He
denied that France was "bied white, y
but said the handicap imposed as
result Of her sacrifices in resisting the
invader could not be overcome except
with outside aid.
Resorting to figures, he declared
that $4,000 factories in the French dis
tricts occupied by the Germans were
DESTROYED or stripped Of their ma
chinery; that almost 12,OOOoOO head
of cattle were seized; that thousands
of miles of farm land, devastated by
shells. was made unfit for cultivation !;
that the net loss in ship tonnage,
through sinkings and enforced curtail'
ment in production, was $4,000 tons,
and that the money cost of the con-
aict, in appropriations and public debt
aggregated 15s;0O0,0oo,O00 francs, or
s31. .OOO,O00,oOO.
"Our army had to stand" he said,
"the first rush of the invasion. While
the other armies were being prepared.
And. however wonderful was the ef-
fort of the British, some months later
end afterward that of the American
army. the front held by the French
had never been less than two-thlrds OF
tbe total line from the North Sea to
the Swiss border. Thus our losses were
greater than those of any other army.
A part of our country has been IN
yaded, it's population treated as slaves
their houses looted, their factories de-
stroyed; while on the fighting Ene the
soil of France has been plowed so deep
by shells that no agriculture is possl-
ble. Some sentimental people nave
been Iamenting over France as bled
white. Nonsense! France is not bled
white. She has men filed with re-
newed and splendid energy. But here
she stands, facing the problem of re-
gaining her place in the economic
markets of the world, with a part OF
her industrial and agricultural power
DESTROYED, and with her men killed
and manned to a number that exceeds
imagination. May give you some h9-
ures on these subjects?
100000 Men Killed.
"Besides 100000 of our young men
who were killed or died of wounds or
illness In this war. we have a great
number whose physical ability has been
seriously impaired. Add to these the
number of our prisoners who came
back in such a terrible physical con-
dition as to render them unfit for any
sustained effort. and we come to to-
tal cost. for the work to be started
in France, of about 100000 men. who
wera mostly among the youngest,
ablest, and strongest, as we'll as the
most spirited of our peopie-a terri
BILE loss for country Of less than
100000 inhabitants.
"Our agriculture has perhaps SUI
fered more heavily if possible than
any other branch Of our economic ac'
tiyity. The number Of cattle, which
in England increased by 4 per cent
has in France decreased by IA per
cent. The production Of milk has de-
creased by 63 per cent. The number
of sheep has decreased in France by
SO per cent. The number of pigs has
decreased by 40 per cent. The soil
of France is also in an Impoverished
condition. having been, for four years
mostly titled by very young and elder
" men, below or above the age OF
military service, ana Dv "oiheh' "hoss
physical strength was not equal to the
splendid spirit they have shown IN TINS
war;
He then referred to the heavy losses
through the destruction Of mills anc
factories.
''The part of France occupied by the
Germans" he said, produced four
fifths of our woolens and included q
ner cent of our weaving industry. Dur
ing the four years of their occupation
the Germans willfully and methodi
cally destroyed all that was in thelI
power to destroy. They not onl!
reouisitioned as at Roubaix and Tour
Going, where they commandeeret
stocks of wool worth 3oO,0O0,O0'
francs. Requisition is one OF tn
rights of war, and of that we canno
complain. But what is against al
right. and against all international Law
and agreement, is the destruction an
stealing of property; and this is Wha
the Germans did.
GAS to our cotton industry in tn