Evening star., 1938-02-27

W InlS country.
The ruler of Albania-once Illyria
that gave six emperors to Rome, is
like the kings of England and Belgium,
young man in his early forties, and
Is the New Dealer of the Balkans, who
during his 10 years of rule has accom-
plished more for the welfare of his
people and the advancement of nis
country than has been done by any
other Central European power. with
the limited amount of money he has
had to expend. Owing to its strategic
position Albania has for centuries been
the Belgium or cockpit of Eastern
Europe. From the wild beauty of the
mountain regions to the romantic
shores Of the Adriatic it has been
land OF bloody warfare of tribes or
clans whose ancestry dates back to
the era BIC. The present king, whose
ancestry goes back to the national
hero, Scanderbeg the Great, is of the
ancient dynasty of Matt The flag of
Albania has a field of red with a
double-headed black eagle in the CEN
ter and the Scanderbeg Golden Hell
met above the eagle-hence King Zog
is known as the Son of the Eagle"
Wonderful Progress
Under King Zog.
After the World War, when a par
tition Of Albania began to be seriously
considered, the Albanians became
aroused to almost frenzy, for their
years of subjugation had been bitter
and protracted. 1t was then that
Ahmed Bey Zog, princely young man
Of 25 years took the helm, won the
confidence of his people and in 1920
his country was recognized at the
Peace Conference. In 1925 he be-
came president of Albania and in Sep
tember of 1923, was proclaimed king
by the unanimous vote of the Consti-
tutional Assembly at Tirana At the
same time his mother. a masterful
woman Of executive ability was given
the title of queen mother. and his
sisters we're made princesses with the
adjunct of royal highness. His half
brother also received the title of royal
highnesS.
Albanian Language
Is Restored.
Under Trukish domination the Al
banian language was prohibited, so it
has been through the work of King
Zog that the native language of
majority of his people. has been re-
stored. He has established 44O pri-
mary schools. IA continuation schools
and a college for training teachers.
Besides these school Of agriculture
. technical school at Tirana At
Scutari the Albanian College is -four
ishing and at Kontsa there is French
College. The country being pre-
eminently an agricultural one the
farmers are being instructed in new
methods Of caring for and working the
soil. Machinery is being imported
from this country and they will doubt
less try out many of the reforms in
agriculture as advocated by Secretary
Wallace. An impetus has been given
to road building which is progressing.
Modern bridges have been built, new
public buildings, hospitals and clinics
have been eStablished-the latter re-
ceived great help from the late Queen
mother and the work is now being car
r1ed on by the ladies of her family.
With her three eldest daughters she
established Red Cross work in the hos
pitfalls and personally cared for child
welfare. 1t was with the American
supplies left over from the American
Red Cross that she carried on her
work-a work that is now looked after
by the three younger princesses who
are to arrive tomorrow.
Codification of the laws. and i'm
provements in industry, and the an
e1ent arts and crafts The exquisite
craftsmanship of the gold and silver
smiths of the Far East is known and
practiced by the Albanians. The
King has been particularly interested
IN organizing the Boy Scouts. A love
OF the folk music of the country is
fostered and the royal orchestra plays
daily in the public parks and squares
Of Tirana, the smallest capital in
Europe.
Minister Knows America
Like a Book
The street lights had begun to
flicker when we turned into the hotel
where MIR. Faik Konitza. the Albanian
Minister, maintains his charming
apartment, and as we elboWed our way