Cottonwood chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1917-current, 1923-08-10

ciety. Washington D. CO.
While the Near East conference is
reshuffiing the territorial cards that
were shuffled last by the treaty Of
Sevres. Albania, just outside the most
recently disturbed region, will prob
ably be permitted to go on its rather
somnolent way. The country was
created in 1912 to avert a world war,
and when World war did come the
troops in five countries occupied vari-
GUS sections of it. Germans, Aus
TRANS and Bulgarians were in control
In the northern districts where Ser
bians made after-war attacks, while
France and Italy held the south, in
Guiding the area about Koritza, which
later formed bone Of contention with
Greece. Durazzo, chief Albanian port,
was seized by d'Annunzio.
Perhaps history will recognize Ko-
rita as the scene of the first definite
step toward remaking the map of Eu-
rope. For there in December, 1915,
was set up a government, generally
referred to as the republic of Koritza.
While most of Albania was In Aus
trian hands this little republic, under
French military protection, started to
function as an Albanian republic, IS
sued paper money, postage stamps,
and established a national army with
a fighting strength of 800.
Before 1914 Albania was the new
est country of the Old World, and 1t
Is peopled by the most ancient race
OF southeast Europe. Edward Gibbon
called 1t "a country within sight of
Italy, which is less known than the
interior of America" And more than
a century after that characterization,
before the war helped introduce the
Balkans to America, a letter addressed
Albania" was sent from England to
the United States. and was returned
from Albany. N. Y, with the notation
mot for Albany, try Europe"
The towns of southern Albania are
few and, though strange and pic
turesque In appearance, are in reality
poor in comfort. OF cities there are
not any. Koritza, with some 10000
people, Is the largest place, but 1t IS
far from being a city. However, If
the towns are somewhat mean and
squalid, they are interesting to the
eye and have the charm Of old-world
Quaintness. There are but four worth
mentioning: Arjirokastro, so old, at
least In appearance, that its origin
falls hank into tho fcfc Of he
pleasant village of Premad, lying In
fertile valley along the river Viosa
Koritza, which was held by the
French; and Valona, which became
clean and thrived under the Italian
army.
Few Modern Comforts There.
They are all pleasant places to look
upon, nesting among the mountains
in the valleys, and by the sea, with
their old gray walls and roofs Of stone
dotted with storks; but they possess
none of the comforts or conveniences
Of modern life.
Such matter-of-fact things as trans,
hotels, or cafes do not exist In AL
bantam towns and would seem wholly
out of place. Water Is drawn from
the wells as 1t was 1000 years ago,
or maybe from some nearby stream.
Inns are represented by the khan. a
stone building half house. half stable,
where caravans and pack trains stop
to rest.
Albania belongs to time as far back
as the annals Of the world can reach
and is as primitive as If 1t were In
central China. almost as difficult to
penetrate as Tibet itself 1t is land
unfamiliar to the traveller and Stunned
by the tourist of today.
II the three or four centers of popu-
lation In southern Albania are a little
disappointing as cities, this is not true
of the country or of the picturesque
villages which gather like gray
splashes upon the grayer hills, where
they appear TO have nestled since the
beginning Of time. Rough stone huts
they are for the most part, with fiat
stone roofs, For purposes of defense
they are usually situated half way up
the lower hills, and the houses and
outbuildlngs are often surrounded by
strong stone walls.
The valleys are rich and we'll cult
waited, chiefly by the women, but pre-
sent a desolate. deserted appearance
except in the daylight working hours
Not a farmhouse nor a stable is to
be seen amidst all the fertile acres
The crops cannot be stolen: no bandit
would think OF destroying them, and
90 they are left unguarded.