The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-06-03

throughout Germany have been branch
agencies of all the Italian shipping
companies since August. The trade in
imports by this means was enormous
before the declaration of the British
blockade and even since then has been
considerable. With Italy in the field
on the side Of the allies this door for
the entrance OF raw materials has
closed with a bang.
Raw Materials Grow Scarce.
Despite all efforts and notwithstand-
ing the efficiency of the German organ
izati0n 1t is undoubtedly true that the
important raw materials are becoming
increasingly scarce. Thus the textile
industry in the Chemnitz district is af-
fected by n lack of cotton: the electri-
cal industry is affected by a lack of
copper and other metals. There is no
real lack of copper for the manufacture
of ammunition yet, but the consider
able stock Of that must soon begin to
feel the drain.
Recently the authorities ordered an
inventory of the stock of copper and
other metal articles in the empire
which may be used for ammunition. 1t
has been ordered that none of these
articles be sold without authority, but
this measure was thought chiefly pre-
stationary.
AS the famine OF raw materials grows
German industries win not improbably
be reduced TO the condition of Ham
burg, which today is a dead city. The
country Is now consuming its stored
commodities, which cannot be replaced,
while production is gradually slacken-
Ing except with regard to the materials
used In military operations. Even
among manufacturers and business
men who regard the military situation
with complacency there is Il keen per-
ception of the danger impending.
Use Violent Language.
The German newspapers were not al
lowed to attack Italy editorially or in
their news columns. But the private
yituperation and violent doctrine OF
hate against England, preached vel in
pulpits. are nothing compared with the
unmeasured language used privately
against Italy.
In many respects Germany has been
able TO call upon her scientists for help
whore the pinch of the embargo was
felt, and she did not call in vain. Her
scientists have literally reached out
into the air and done their importing
from the atmosphere.
Thus when the embargo ON the inn
portation of Chilean saltpeter threaten
ed a shortage of nitrates for the gun
powder industry the modified scien-
lists" Of the empire promptly worked
out a way by which the necessary nj
trates could be produced from the
nitrogen of the atmosphere by means
OF electricity. Two plants now produce
more than twice the amoun needed
for Germany's great consumption of
explosives, and the remainder is used
for fertilizer.
One of the results Of the efforts of
the allies 10 starve Germany has been
to cut off her large imports of nitrog-
enous food for her farm animals. Ger
many has plenty of forage, but the sup
ply OF oats, barley and other grains
has always been dependent on Russia
and even America. For months the
feeding of horses and cattle has been
a problem.
But the scientists of the Berlin In
stitute of Fermentation have now dis
covered a method of getting the neces-
sary heterogeneous foods out of the at
mosphere. Before the war few dream
ed that such gold mines existed i'm the
air.
New Food From Sugar.