Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-28
GERMAN COMMERCE
/ COLLAPSES UNDER
4 PRESSURE OF WAR
DR.. Emil Lederer Virtually
Admits the Fact, But
Points to Good Harvest as
Some Consolation.
BERLIN, Sept, 2s.

n. BERLIN, Sept. 2S.
whatever be the outcome Of the wa
Che trade of Germany has been so crir
pled that II is now on the verge G
total collapse. The progress made 1
manufacturing In recent years was simpl
amazing. At the outbreak of the wa
Germany had probably overtaken Gres
Britain so far as foreign trade was con
eerned, and year hence would hav
reegated her rival to second place 1
the worlds commerce.
During the first six months of 1914 mer
chandise was exported from GERMANY I
the enormous value of sLO45, 900 900. n
compared with $1,075,O 100000 from Grea
Britain and Ireland. This was rrnnin
England very closely but whether Ger
many would have won or lost in tn
race will now never be known, for tn
war has changed the channel of tn
whole worlds trade.
DIR. LBDERER'S VIEWS.
An article by DR.. Emil Lederer in tn,
vossische zeiting is an interesting revela
tlon Of the extent to which German in
dustry has been already hit by the war
TIE says:
The removal of all men capable of
bearing arms has smashed industry
to atoms. All the links uniting the
various trades have been broken The
crisis with regard to money and credit
which occurred in the first instance
was accentuated by the necessity of
financing the war by single stroke.
The attempts made to meet the
crisis by liquidating assets only made
matters worse. The unfortunate thing
Is that this liquidation, which Is Gus.
tomary in all times of crisis, does not
In the present instance affect merely
small body of spectators, but ex-
presses the fact that German indus
try and Its production are on a ficti-
tious basis. A complete transforma-
tlon is necessary In order to cope with
the new conditions brought about by
the war.
At present there Is little sign OF
this. We sec the apparent paradox
that, In spite of the increasing alb
sorption for military purposes OF men
capable Of working, there is an in
crease of unemployment among those
that remain behind. Even the much
sought-after labor of women cannot
nnd employment. Day after day un-
dertakings are shut down or a their
output diminished. Those, indeed.
which continue at work are working
with aimless overpressure and uncer-
tainty, so that the net output Is di-
minished.
What are the decisive economic
facts? Does the complete breakup of
industry which threatens Germany
involve disruption also of agricul-
ture and of the supply of necessities?
The war means for Germany: First.
the prevention of exports. especially
OF articles of luxury; secondly, the
prevention of imports of the means of
subsistence, especially raw materials.
such as cotton, copper, ETC.; thirdly,
the reduction or alteration in demand
by all at the front and the restriction
or demand by those remaining at
home. There is no longer any demand
for articles of luxury
GERMAN HARVEST GOOD.
Against these facts. which apparently
involve the Government outlook for the
near future. DIR. Lederer mentioned
others which tend to relieve the picture
Germany, he says, has had a remark
ably good harvest. so that, on the whole,
Industry is remarkably big.
The same applies to industries which
supply the needs of the army and other
public purposes The problem is to use
this purchasing power in such a way as
TO revive all those branches which supply
the needs of the aforementioned indus
tries.
Dr. Lederer then applies himself to a
discussion of some process of develop
Tnpnf M nd tno
In this connection says:-
The question is how to build
around the sound kernel 1t will re-
qutre foresight and perhaps great ex-
penditure for the forces which could
bring about this reorganization auto
matlcally, do not exist. Hitherto the
agricultural trades supplying the
army and public works and contracts
have been stimulated; the decisive
problem is. how can the mass of pri-
Tate industry be kept going or set go
ing again?
1T must be remembered, first, that
me amount of available labour is con-
siderably reduced; secondly that the
available raw materials will prob
ably not be sufficient for n long time;
thirdly, that the needs of private in
dustry have during the war under
gone considerable diminution and
change. These facts must first be
recognized. then a systematic plan
of reconstruction must be drawn up
with the help OF Chambers of Com
merce and similar organizations.
WHY GERMANY EXCELLED
7 e author concludes by recommending
he formation of a Central Permanent
Committee representing all the interests
see what can be done for the revival.
ven upon comparatively limited basis,
the trade and industries ruined by
le war.
should the war be prolonged there would
great difficulty in accomplishing this
ut should hostilities cease and peace
'isn once more. there is no reason why
elmany should not again become a
fdat factor in the worlds commerce
ermany excelled In every branch of in
lstry, be II mining, forestry, agriculture,
'al' iron or machinery; textile or chem
al Her magnificent training, patient
aiming and tiFeless activity enabled her
master every problem in production
TN success unrivaled by any other
iuon. She owed her prosperity to her
Hendld government, uniform, practical
"a technical education, public control
the means of transportation and the
instant application OF new scientific
sthods in the process OF manufacture.
mere are, OF course, other causes of |
ceess' but II can be said with certainty |
at country which is favored by the |
ur causes mentioned is certain to |
osDer.
OF WARSAW FORT,
0EnnEN