The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-01-28
SHIPS FIRST IN
\ FRANCES NEEDS
Must Have Aid In Restoring Mer-
chant Marine.

MdtNics
VAST LOSSES SUMMED UP
Edward dc Billy, Deputy High Com
missioner Of the French Republic to
the United States, Gives Statement
Of country's Needs-2,5oo,oo0 OF
Her Young Men Killed or Manned,
$4,000 Factories Ruined.
With 100000 Of her youngest,
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-confidence, sub
dued by the defeat Of 1871, and In re-
gdlning Alsace and Lorraine, with their
agricultural districts, Mr.. de Billy said
the wars losses were far greater. He
denied that France was "bled white"
but said the handicap imposed as a
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 100000 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 670,000 tons,
and that the money cost of the con-
nict, In appropriations and public debt
aggregated $4,000. 100000 francs, or
S81, OO0, 100000.
"Our army had to stand" he said.
sthe frst rush of the invasion, while
the other armies were being prepared.
And. however wonderful was the eff
fort Of the British, some months later.
and afterward that Of the American
army. the front held by the French
had never been less than two-thirds OF
the 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
vaded, its population treated as slaves,
their houses looted. their factories de-
stroyed: while on the fighting line the
soil Of France has been plowed so deep
By shells that no agriculture is posi-
bic. Some sentimental people have
been lamenting over France as bled
white. Nonsensel 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 I give you some fig
ures on these ~subjects2
100000 Men Killed.
Besides 100000 Of u 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 a. to render them unfit for any
sustained effort, and we come to a to-
tai cost. for the work to be started
In France, Of about 100000 men, who
were mostly among the youngest,
ablcst, and strongest, as well as the
most spirited Of our people-a terri.
be loss for a country Of less than
100000 Inhabitants.
Sour agriculture has perhaps suf
fered more heavily II possible than
any other branch of our economic &C
tivity. The number of cattle, which
In England increased by 4 per cent
has in France decreased by ii pei
cent. The production Of milk has de
creased by 63 per cent. The number
Of sheep has decreased In France by
% per cent. The number Of pigs ha.
decreased by 40 per cent. The sol
Of France IL also in an impoverished
condition, having been. for four years
mostly titled by very young and elder
" men, below or above the age o.
military service. and by women. whose
physical strength was not equal to thu
splendid spirit they have shown in THU
war;
He then referred to the heavy losses
through the destruction Of mills ant
factories.
'1The part of France occupied by thu
Germans" he said. produced four
6fths Of our woolens and included 81
Per cent Of our weaving industry. Dur
ing the four years Of their occupation
tho Germans willfully and method
cally destroyed all that was in thei
power to destroy. They not onl
requlsitioned ~ at Roubaix and Tour
&AAA 80 49,