New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-05-01
Europe Preparing For New War;
New Britain Traveller Informed
F. ii. Johnston Hears Talk
of Great Conflict in Near
ly All Countries on Con-
tinent.

While the grain fields Of Europe
once more appear where a few years
ago were hattie grounds, yet storm
clouds OF an impending war mofr
terrible In its potentialliies than any
thing the world has ever seen, grow
hlaeker every dag, according 10 FFanA
n, Johnston, who has Just returned
alter a three months tour Of Ebr
tope ana parts Of Africa as one Of q
delegation OF lsn from the T. p
Chamber Of Commerce 20 tho Inter-
national Chamber Of Commerce IN
Rome, The American delegation was
taken through ~ countries as guests
of the respective governments for
the purpose Of studying economic ana
political situations al lifst hand,
Asked what was the one ouistanl'
ing feature Of the entire trip Mr.
Johnston said he did not think there
was any. unlcss il was the possibility
OF another war. Everybody In Europe
appears 10 anticipate new war, h4
learned from his observations,
As soon as the delegation left the
border lines Of Poland. Tor instance,
the train was boarded 10y newspaper
man and the first question he asked
was. when is Poland Going 10 War"
Egypt, the delegation found. Is
prosperous and her cotton exports
have made her wealthy. But Egypt
under home rule Ia In a state OF po-
litica confusion and is being gov
erned badly.
How Much Would n Sandwich Cost?
Austria was found TO be in as bad
II not worse state than any country
visited. The currency there has little
or no value. People are spending
their money as fast as they can get
II because Of the great fear that to-
morrow II might not be worth any
thing This condition is found to be
almost similar in Poland and Ger
many.
In Germany the people are invest
ing their money In real estate which
seems to be the only thing left that
has any real value.
Mr.. Johnston while in Ahstfia spent
10000 kronin for copy of the Paris
edition OF the New York Herald
lie said 50,0p0 kronin, worth at par
value about s12,50o, are now equal
to 20 cents in American money.
Markin. Down the Mark.
In Germany money has fallen so
low in value toat II costs more to print
mark than tile mark is worth. He
told about strike of few days ago
in a German government printing
office. When tie strike ended people
were waiting with vaises and suit
cases for marks to carry to the banks
SO they could pay their bills.
Everywhere the commission went
the members were given all the OBJ
portunity they desired to study. Agri-
culture seems to be growing in most
of the countries and big factories are
going up in some sections.
Italy was found to be getting onto i
her feet again, although she has no
coal and little iron of her own. Italy [
is an agricultural countries trying to |
be an industrial country. he said. She /
has large surplus OF labor and be-
cause OF this is doing all kinds of .
manual labor to keep the people .
busy while labor saving machinery /
stands idle.
Women Won't Stay Home.
In Ita'y as in other parts Of the
world tho status or woman has
changed since the war When men
We're scarce and women went to work
the latter learned the value OF money
Now they refuse to give up the right /
to work and can be found loading coal |
on steamers at the docks, digging in
the roads and doing other kinds OF
heavy manual labor. They refuse to
70 back to the Old family life no mat
ter how hard they must work.
ltaly's experiment with the Musso-
lini government was one OF extreme /
interest TO the delegation. Mussolini .
seems TO have a strong grip on the .
people, but whether he can keep the /
people under his control, since he
has shifted from being a socialist to
the middle class is problemetical. The
travellers had three private confer
cnces with him and left feeling that
II he can keep control Of his people,
under the new movement Italy will !,
do wonders in the future. on every
hany they found the feeling that
Mussolini alone can save Italy.
France and Poland
In France the peasantry was found
to be recovering rapidly from the
scars Of war. The farming element
seemed to be coming back in splen-
did shape
Poland appeared to be top heavy