The Detroit times., 1916-07-07

has been brilliant Nhen IL is con
sidered that she has been carrying
almost the whole weight OF the war
on land IN the west. IL is safe 10 say
that she measures we'll up 10 the
German efficiency and surpasses
that OF Great Britain. AZ which
point the story OF the 80 tons OF
hobnails begins. They were needed
10 bottom the men OF Jorre's army.
! Get bids" ordered the govern
mental buyers. I'VE are pressed
for time. See who can furnish
these nails"
Il may be news 70 most 20 learn
that hobnail has an individuality
| OF is own. II IL is too hard the
wearer slips on the rocks. and IL II
is TOO soft II wears out too easily.
The army buyers wired specitica-
tons everywhere. Great Britain
weighed in with a bid that was too
high by miles. The United States
offered some highly polished hob
nails that were merely pretty
Switzerland could furnish the 80
tons needed OF the right quality and
in the required time
Has Switzerland factories which
make hobnsils7' some cynic asks
Has she mines that furnish the
ho5nail grade OF ore? Has she
manufacturing facilities for turning
out 80 tons OF hobnaIls over night
II is perhaps true that SwitGer
land has neighbor on the other
side which is SO equipped. but
Frances military buyers did NOT
bother about such things The all
important item was that the French
army BE- properly hobnailed at the
proper time This was done The
inquiry into the origin Of the hob
nails will b. deferred 10 a more
convenient season. The point IL
that he French authorities are OF
an eminently practical which IS 10
say an emineptly French-turn ot
mind The French people have de
term,ned 70 win this war Nothing
is TO be permitted 10 get in their
way.
One discovers something more.
That is The determination that after
ths war France shah De able 20
meet Germany upou her own indus.
trial ground This explains the in.
tcrest that France IT, taking IN
American labov-savins machinery
although Il is idle 20 deny that she
. -esards Americans as persons II is
we'll 20 watch during the beginning.
/ progress. and end OF negotiations.
she has reason TO do so I'm the
was forced to buy where she could
/. and pay the price asked. lot OF
gloves were bought OF an American
Arm. They were 70 be khaki color.
I "But these are yellow" the French
buyers protested. when delivery vas
made
They were They were the vel.
lowest gloves that ever screamed an
alarm. An enemy could have seen
those gloves through the darkest
night. They were luminous They
fairly glowed. They are still yei
low for France had 20 take them
and in the end they will be- worked
of on peasants who need gloves for
work in the fields They would be
( quite UNIT for wear on a dairy farm
II there is anything in the theories
Of prenatal influence.
we know they are yellow" said
the American sellers; but we've
got your money"
A list of similar instances might
be made out as long as your arm
But il must not be understood thai
all this chicaning was done by
I Americans. The horizon blue Uni
forms in which the battle OF the
Marine was fought by the French
army faded just as white II the cloth
was furnished By British spinners
az when Americans got the contract
| Once France bought a lot OF $500.
900 socks from an English house
/ Some one discovered that the whole
sale price was much higher than the
cost OF the same sock by the single
/ pair. The matter was investigated
THAT contract had passed
through IA British hands before II
reached us," was the report. Each
hand took out a pinch OF profit"
II Is quite true that all the war.
! ring countries are paying topnotch
prices for everything they buy from
neutrals, just as II is likewise true
nat they bitterly resent this fact
| Their resentment might have a
touch more OF reason II their own
merchants did not do their best 70
saueeze the last ounce OF profit out
OF each contract. France has recos
nized these things quite clearly and
has guarded herself as well as she
can. In the first days or the wal
-he bought a lot OF American lesth
or. II was not satisfactory. II wa
most decidedly not satisfactory. To
day she Ia only buying American
leather when she can buy leather
nowhere else.
Buy OF u.s." suggested Great
Rritain. ours IA the real old stun
the Made In England brand"
"your nrices are too high was