Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-04-09

position Of the Central Powers must
gather strength rather than other
wise, IL The war IS prolonged. 1t
would be a serious mistake to COM
pare this manner OF gathering
strength with the mobilization or
resources that has been going on
chiefly for spending purposes, both
IN the countries OF the Central Pow
ers and OF the Entente Powers. The
frequent assertion that the Allies are
steadily gaining in strength rs only
trhe as to this mobilization OF re-
SOURCES. To be sure they are getting
their resources steadily organized,
but running parallel to this process
rs the dangerous. process Of spending
vast part Of their resources by
purchases OF perishable goods in for
eign countries, such q vast part that
II rs far easier TO prove, With figures,
that tho potential resources of the
Entente Powers viii, within reas-
enable time. be exhausted than that
the resources Of the Central Powers
Will come to an end The huge
figures OF an unfayorable balance Of
trade against the Entente Powers
seem far more threatening than any
iiguiea that have SO far been quoted
against the Central Powers.
II may be we'll to say a few words
about tho supply OF food, clothing
and munition available to the Eur
aalan powers. On the food ques-
ton many untenablc opinions hayo
been presented on both sides which
are based on production figures here
toforo available. Assuming for the
sake OF argument that no si2aDle
supplies Of food would come into the
neutral countries Of the ENrasian ag-
gregation II would have to rely on
somewhat over two hundred million
acres Of staple crop land, while the
United States have excepting the
cotton acreage. about three hundred
million acres staple crop land. That
would indeed be a vcry dangerous
comparative situation when II Is
realized that tho population or the
Eurasian states Is over twice as'largc
as tho one Of the United States
Three factors, though, must be al
lowed for: the considerable exporta-
tlon OF food products on the part OF
the United States--thc low produc-
tion per acre in the United States IN
contrast to that under the leading
European standards which, with an
average production more than twice
as large as the one In the United
States, viii, under the new impulse
rapidly obtain throughout the Eur
asian states and the natural ten
doncy for economy in all food con-
sumption If to these three consid-
erations tho undoubted fact Is added
that truck farming and the use OF
neglected food products, such as all
kinds OF nuts and fruits, will con-
tinuc To increase very rapidly, II may
safely be said that these surces OF
supply and THE above mentioned over
two hundred million acres OF land
should supply the necessary susten-
ance for aDont two hundred and ten
million people.
AS To clothing the situation is
quite different With very little cot
ton available. we may safely count
ont the cotton Industry for the time
being. or course assuming that the
war viii last for years, mn occupation
OF Egypt would alter that situation
quite successfully, and Mesopotania
with be. according 20 Sir William
WillcOcls, 'as rich as Egypt and one
OF thcN largest At0tt6npf6thicing CEN
tres or the world" Sir William has
calculated that one-time expendi-
ture Of about forty million dollars
would accomplish this purpose. we
may be ccrtaiu that the Eurasian
powers will make this expenditure.
But at present FAX. other vegetable
nbres and especially wood pulp have
to take the part of cotton Every
body is familiar with the remarkable
results which have within recent
years been obtained BY the use OF
paper coverings, paper towels and so
forth II win only be q step further
to uso paper Tor many purposes OF
dress lust as wood pulp is being
used IN the making OF munitions, so
IL will moro and moro be used in the
making Of wearing apparel. Ot
course tho wool situation is far from
satisfactory There are about forty
million sheep in the Eurasian states
compared with about fifty million
sheep In the United States, but these
would at best only provide for an
annual consumption of not oven
three quarters Of ono pound OF wool
per head Of population. Great econ
omy IL WOODEN goods will be neces-
sary until tho rebuilding Of the sheep
industry has proceeded Tar enough
II rs largely question Of rebuilding,
as the heavy imports from Australia,
South Africa and Argentine have
only developed within the last few
decades,
The munition industry has come
to the rescue Of many industries
which would otherwise not have beon
able to earn enough to pay interest
on the Invested capital The resour-
ces available for the munition indus
try are practically unlimited. Staple
articles of which there 49, for tho
time being probably an undersupply,
arc copper. tin. and nickel. Substi-
tmtes arc, therefore, necessary. This
has been done in the manufacturing
OF shot and shell by the extensive use,
wherever possible, OF iron and steel
allows in which zinc and aluminium
have taken the place Of copper, tin
and nickel Naturally, Of the epor-
nous amounts Of copper which were
In Germany between 1903