The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-11-12
DESIRE MANDATE
FOR ALBANIA
People. Of That Country Want
American Protection

! Correspondence of Associated Press
Tirana Albania. Oct. 5.--Continued
J appeals are being made by the AL
banians for the United States to as
/, sumo {; mandate for Albania. The
! Albanian has an amazing confidence In
(; America. Scarcely week goes by IN
which some~ local Albanian society OF
group Of patriots doc; not present a
petition addressed to the, Americans
| appealing to President Wilson to in
tercede on behalf of their country.
! When the Associated Press CORE
sponde1t was passing through a small
town south of here on horseback, he
was stopped by the mayor and local
officials who presented to him an ap-
! peal seeking the protection of the
were reported to have taken posses
sion of the city of Koritza, in South
ern Albania.
The Italian protectorate is in oper-
alton 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
footfold in the Balkans. Some ,of
them say they Jared better and the
country progressed more under the
Austrians American observers say
the Italians have brought great ma
terial and moral good to the country
and have stabilized things in an ef-
fectual way.
The country is extremely primi-
tive and there are continual internal
disorders. Railroads Or telegraphs do
not exist. many Of the most ordinary
conveniences OF life are wanting,
sanitation is almost unknown, schools
and churches are few in number, and
altogether the country seems ex-
tremely backward. Except for the
Southern part which is fairly fertile.
1T is barren waste of rocks and
wood1ess hills and mountains.
Albania produces scarcely enough
crops to support its inhabitants. The
population is upward of two millions.
divided about evenly between Chris
tians and Mohamme edans. Only about
5 per cent of this number is able to
read or write.
The women do all the work. They
are veritable beasts of burden. In
deed they compete with the ponies
and donkeys as pack carriers. but are
not considered by the men as valuable
because they cannot bear up under
such heavy loads. In the frequent
sale Of young women for wives. the
price paid often is not as high as that
given for good horse This severe
life among the women shows itself III
premature old age and in many forms
of serious physical disability. Fifteer
percent of the mothers die in child.
birth.
The men sit around coffee houses
discussing politics, or attend to the
business Of rcpc!lins by sun or sword
the frequent Serbian or Montenegro
Invaders. The hostility to the Serl
and Montenesrin never cease. Feuds
pistol ducls and vendettas are~of daily
occurrence The Albanian. once he
believes himself or relatives wronged
never rests until complete and fierce
vengeance is secured. Tic American
Red Cross hospitals in the coun-
nv are constantly called upon to treat
the victims of these feuds and ven
dettas.
TIE italians have a force of about
25. .0Do troops in Albania. The major
part of these are in the vicinity OF
Valona. The rest are used in police
and garrison duty in different parts
Of the country Their presence has
tended to tranguilize the country and
keep down tho troublesome elements
among the population. There are re-
curing sporadic clashes. however.
between the Albanians, Serbs and
Nontenegrins. il, which frequently the
italians are forced to take part