Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-01
TASK OF GERMANY
STANDS COMPLETE
All Productive Activities of
Country Have Been Reor-
ganized for War.
SUFFICIENT UNTO ITSELF
Proves That 1t Can Live, Even
Cut Off From Rest of
World.
SUFFICIENT UNTO ITSELF
by FREDERICK WERNER.

ID II.
BERLIN. July 31.--When Germany
declared war against Russia almost
exactly year ago to day. her military
preparations were perfect. but as it be-
came evident that the struggle was to
be one for the country's national exis-
tence the government with character
istic energy planned a thorough re-
organization Of the nations economic
and industrial activities and resources
This reorganization may now be said
to be complete, the country Is fully
organized for war. and. though, Of
course, the varying fortunes OF war will
continually bring forward new prob
lens to be solved. n solid foundation
has been laid for the maintenance OF
social life in the near future
ut is almost impossible to imagine"
prominent member OF the government
said to me. what a gigantic task It
has been to reorganize the entire pro-
| duction OF a country the value OF
| whose annual exports exceeded 10000
100000 marks $4,000, 600. 0oo), and
whose exports were increasing moro
rapidly perhaps than those OF any
other country in the world, when sud
denly all outside communications were
cut off,
For an entire year Germany has
been practically n closed country, as
were formerly China and Japan, and
simultaneously we have been engaged
in life and death struggle against a
world OF enemies. No country in the
world has ever found itself placed In a
similar position"
| INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES
SUDDENLY PARALYZED
In August, 1914. all Germany's indus
trial activities were suddenly para
lyzed. The official statistics show this
in the most striking manner. In July.
| 1914. there were on an average about
144 applicants for every 100 vacant
positions. In August the number OF
applicants suddenly rose to 23s 1t was
not long, however. before the demands
made by the War Department revived
production. the enormous orders for
war supplies Of all kinds began to show
their effect. and. as the number of men
called to the colors continued to in
crease. there became less unemploy-
ment. In December. 1914, the number
of applicants for 100 vacant positions
was 1874. or below the normal.
The German ability, not only to hold
out. but even to grow stronger has
far surpassed even the most sanguine
expectations OF German political econo-
mists. AS one OF them writes: The
wheels OF the engine are now running
MS smoothly on the new tracks as they
did on the old
The reason must be sought in the
splendid organization of German manu-
facturers. who are practically all
united in trusts or syndicates The
central mana gements OF these had been
able almost instantly to conform their
activities to the demands Of the
changed situation.
| This Is also tho reason why the ef-
fects Of the British blockade of the en-
pire have been felt only very little, and
Germany has proven herself to be an
empire that Is practically independent
of the outside world and able to exist
| on her own resources.
though Germany has had to do
without imports valued at 10000. 900
600 marks (s2.4o0. 0OO.Oo0). her supplies
are not yet exhausted, and she has suf-
fered very little, though In some cases
substitutes have had to be found.
| There has. of course, been a tenn,
porary shortage OF grain. but potatoes
were found to be an excellent substi-
tute. and Germany's normal crop OF
potatoes is ten times big as that OF
Great Britain. and at least five times
as big as that of tho United States.
Tho lack of saltpeter for some time
was Viewed with considerable alarm.
but German chemists found n remedy,
and tho government has now laid the
! foundation OF manufacture of
nitrates. which will very shortly mako
Germany permanently able to get along
without any imports. In this year,
when 1t has been necessary to use more
fertilizers than ever on the fields.
nitrates in sufficient quantities have
| "a
| In the same way the manufacture of
bcnZol has covered the alarming short
age of benzine
STEEL, IRON AND ZINC
| USED IN PLACE OF COPPER
Wherever it has been possible. steel.
iron and zinc are being used In place
of copper. but should it become neces-
sary Germany may mako use OF her
reserve supplies OF the red metal, which
are very large.
The German chemist has also con-
qucred tho lack OF cattle food, having
invented an albuminous food made by
! oxygenizing the refuse from the
hrewer!es There is. besides. an enor-
nous excess supply OF sugar and sido
products OF the sugar factories.
Tho fact that German exports have
ceased has liberated thousands OF hands
needed Tor tho production OF war sup
plies. not only ammunition. but many
other things continually required by
the armies In unlimited quantities.
| Practically NIL industrial concerns have
thus been able to pay their usual diyi-
dends TO their ockholders.
| Everybody knows the great depart
ment store of Wcrtheim in Berlin. It's
sales dwindling to a mere fraction OF
| their normal size the firm opened n
factory for shells in Il Berlin suburb.
| kempinsky. owner OF the famous
restaurant in Lcipzigerstrasse. lie maxi
ing goulash for the army, and Crimes.
the well-kuown Crefo!d manufacturers