The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-08-29

(Continued from Page D and 64-and most of these are in the regular army.
 An intense drive for new recruits was made during July and still is in progress. It has been well re- ceived by the public, and the re- sponse has been satisfactory from all strata of the population.
 Irish fears of invasion center upon two possibilities German attempt to get a foothold on this island athwart Britain's lifelines and close to her industrial centers, or a British attempt to beat their enemy to Irish soil.
 Either, officials have made plain would meet armed resistance.
 The defense measures, the arrival of bombed and machine gunned ships in Irish ports, the recent bombing of Irish towns, have serv- ed to bring the full impact of the war home to the public.
 But most Irishmen, while look ing gravely to the future, believe strongly that their country will not be invaded as long as it presents to the world strong defenses.
 In Early Stages
 Irish economy was affected ad- versely in early stages of the war Foreign trade was hard hit by early depreciation of the pound Favorable trade balances, resulting from the tourist trade and from the Irish hospital sweepstakes, were wiped out. .
 Coal was rationed strictly unti France collapsed, opening the Welsh markets for Ireland. Gaso. line still is rationed.
 The British system of purchas' ing and pric econtrol has kept 1 prices of Irish foodstuffs and live stock from mounting steeply a. they did in tIe World War. In mos cases, mounting costs have offset increased revenue from higher prices. Imported goods from Eng. land have remained about stable in price.
 But Fire always has been pre-. dominantly an agricultural country and in that field she has profitee enormously from close proximity tt Britain and the inexhaustible market that country now offers for her food products.
 Rising production figures tell ar eloquent story of this agriculture recovery.
 Wheat plantings have increased by 250,000 acres, reaching tota of 3oe,00o acres for 194o. the high est sines 1881. In 1892 wheat plant ings were only 2l,000 acres.
 Root crops-largely potatoes = have increased by 100000 acres Oats planting have reached 700.' 900 acres, and barley acreage hal more than doubled. All these fig ures represent new highs since thu boom days of agriculture in thi: country in 1861.
 Hopeless Era Over A competent government oncia already has said:
 "This year ends Fires hopeless era-tne era when this agriculture country imported food for man at1t beast at a cost of 10000, ,000 pound sterling year"
 Increased plantings, however have not adversely affected live stock raising. Heavy exports lof cat tie to Britain decreased stocks b. only one per cent, and new breed ing next year probably will nor than make up for these sales. Tn number of hogs has increased b. 13.6 per cent and poultry by 2.l pel cent.
 Industry too Is experiencing ; boom. Total exports for the yea ending May increased by nor than 100000 pounds (about 5000, 0o0) over the previous year, ant totalled 2,7S7,176 pounds ($ll,l48. 704.
 Shoes, leather goods. and woolen are the principal manufactured ex ports, but heavy industry is devel | 0nif1p ranidlV