Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-04

s., 900. 900, 900 a year. We sell her almost
a quarter Of billion dollars worth of raw
the raw materials are made over into pro-
ducts which help supply the foreign trade
created under this imperial drummer.
A short time before William II became
emperor. Germany was noted for her po1-
erty. She is becoming known for her
riches. Under him she has planted invest
ments all over the world. She has $780,.
600 600 invested in South America, $3.50. OO0
600 in Africa and an equal sum in Mexi-
co and the United States A large part
Of the coffee fields Of Guatemala are
owned by Germans, and German merchants
are to be found in every city Of Central
America.
For the past $50 years the British have
been making foreign investments They
have plowed the continents and seeded
them with shillings. expecting each to bring
back a sovereign in return Their foreign
holdings are now estimated at $1O.OOO,OOO,-
900, but 1t has taken more than century
to accumulate them. Today the Germans
are said to have $J,0O0,OO0,OO invested
outside their own country, and they have
made the most of these investments since
the kaiser took charge fifteen years ago.
The contrast is striking. and the more SO as
the Germans are by no means satisfied, but
are reaching out for more.
The Kaiser Counting Uncle Sam.
There is no doubt that the kaiser is
counting Uncle Sam in order to get big
share of the American trade. The visit Of
Prince Henry. the christening of his yacht
by the daughter of the President and
the giving of the statue of Frederick the
Great are looked upon in Berlin as means
to that end. Every one here knows that
the emperor admires the United States and
the business men approve of his actions.
Indeed, he is doing much for the United
States. AT the time of the war with Spain
the sympathy of the Germans was with
the Spaniards and many of the military
officers here thought they would be VIC
torious. They had looked upon as
tradesmen and dollar-chasers. and had no
idea we could fight. One of the admirals
speaking to an American in Berlin at that
time, asserted that while the Americans
might have a few good officers in their
navy, it was known that the rank and file
was composed of the offscourings of for
eign ships. and there was little doubt that
such a force would be wiped out by
trained navy like that of Spain.
IF it is not" he concluded. 1.-The war will
continue unti-the resources of both ma
tions are exhausted.
"And what will happen then, pray?"
asked the American.
"Ohu' was the reply, Germany will then
have it's innings. IT will come in and be
the arbitrator and settle all matters be-
tween the two nations.
Such opinions of the Americans changed
rapidly the Spanish war went on. The
emperor foresaw the result at the start,
and he gave his officials the cue. He changed
public opinion that today the best of
the Germans are anxious to be associated
with us and some of their ablest thinkers
believe that this is their only chance for a
permanently successful foreign trade
Indeed the Germans more astounded
at Americas growth than any other nation
of Europe. They measure their millions
in 25-cent pieces or marks. and a German
needs to be only one-fourth as rich an
American to be a millionaire. The real
millionaires are very few, and there are
no enormous fortunes like those of our
country. The people are scared at our big
trusts. The iron men do not see how they
can compete with the United States Steel
Company and the exporters are frightened
by the steamship merger. In the reichstag
our balance of trade is steadily brought to
the front 1t Is shown that for ten years
we have had a bigger trade balance in our
favor than double the war indemnity paid
by France to Germany, and the question Is
asked how soon Europe will be drained of
its gold if S15O, 600 900 is to annually roll
across the Atlantic.
What One German Thinks.
I doubt whether the kaiser is as alarmed
over the American peril as some of his
high officials. He certainly will not In
dorse the prophecies of Baron Won Walter
hansen, the famous professor Of political
economy in the University of Strasburg.
| This man has written a book on our trade
supremacy and how the Germans should
combat 1t. In this book he prophecies
| that American capital will eventually alb
sorb the European state, municipal and
| industrial securities He shows that we
| will buy all the good stocks and become
Europe's great creditor. Then the best OF
the European manufact urers and the most
skilled of their workmen will emigrate to
America: there will be less and less am-