The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-05-07

however, has gone far in the direction
OF a permanent ostracism of merchandise
from countries now at war with France
II 1t continues to develop along the same
lines it may make official action super
fluous.
Nearly every French Trade corporation
that las felt German competition in the
past is not only spreading the doctrine
of preference for articles made at home
or by the French allies, but is organizing
for the eventual boycott with an ardor
Of initiative that was rare in French
business circles prior to 1914. 1t involves
the systematic education of consumers
as to what German articles and products
they bought before the war without
knowing it, and what French, British
Russian and Italian arrYcies may re-
place them Starting with the charac-
,eristic / artisan industry which makes
the minor articles called articles Oh
Paris, local manufacturers were shown
In detail how the Germans lowered the
manufacturing cost and competed with
them even in their home market; this
was done by public exhibition of Ger
nan-made articles of Paris" and by ex-
planatory documents spread among the
little manufacturers. There is perhaps
no other country that is so important
in Paris, although the articles are OF
minor importance, they being made in
immense quantities by a great number
OF small manufacturers. Following this
propaganda with the manufacturers, the
movement extended to propaganda with
the families. showing them the difference
between the French and the German
made articles.
MADE SURGICAL EQUIPMENT
The scientific and medical committee
If the allied nations is being organ
H. TO- 20
lists, chemists and medical men the reas-
ons Why before the war rs per cent of
the products and apparatus used by them
came from Germany, and how they may
be replaced hereafter. Most of the
French manufacturers of surgical instru-
ments had become simply commission
merchants, handling German-made ar
ticles; for instance, all of the medical
thermometers came from Germany, nearly
all the fine graduated glassware used in
Laboratories, and eight tenths of all the
microscopes came from either Germany
or Austria as we'll as great proportion
of eyeglasses. opera glasses and field
glasses sold by French opticians. The
preponderance of German chemical prod
uCts, drugs and dyes on the French mar
ket was well known even before the war,
but it was not so well known that Ger
many furnished nearly all of the syn
thetic remedies.
All of the allied countries since the
war began have been obliged to de-
velop their. facilities for the manu-
facture of explosives. The raw mate
rails employed are quite the same as
those that must serve in the prepara-
ton of the dyes, perfumery and med
icine. 1t is concluded therefore. that
there Is nothing whatever in the way
of replacing these German products
after the war since the considerable
ho,- Of I'll
preparation of raw material for ex-
plosives will be obliged to turn to
some other industry and can be i'm
mediately utilized in the production of
chemical products.
The scientists interested in the or
ganization of this committee have dis
covered in many different obscure cor
ners of France men who are manu-
featuring on small scale scientific in
struments that they declare are equal
In every way to those made in Ger
mony. In the past these little manu-
facturers have satisfied themselves
with small output without endeav-
orinn to make the merits of their pro-
duction generally known. The French
contingent of this committee is al
ready practically formed, comprising
many well known names The English
Belgian, italian. Japanese and Russian
contingents of the international COM
mittee are being organized and work
ing in common with the French con-
tingent will prosecute a thorough pro-
paganda with the general public as
well as with doctors, scientists and
opticians
NO OFFICIAL SANCTION
AS far as transpires at present this
committee has no official sanction. It's
work, however. is being seconded by
the government SO far as concerns cor
rro on fn
and other industries The minister of
commerce has constituted in his de-
partment technical service charged
with the examination of questions re-
latlng to supplies Of raw material and
to the operation of industries not en-
ployed exclusively in the national de-
Tense. This technical service is divided
into three sections-metal, textiles and
divers industries. to which has been
aoded a department of chemical and
pharmaceutic products This DEPART
ment is charged with the distribution
OF phenol so important to the aniline
dye industry.
1t will not only furnish this import
ant product, but will take measures
to deevlop that industry as wen as
me manufacture of drugs in France.
1t has already succeeded in reconsti
tuting the manufacture of syntheticaJ
lnGlgo with resources of the country.
me important service that this de-
partment has rendered to manufac-
lures is the determination of the guam
.ilies OF chemical products secured
IRON allied countries in derogation
1fo1n rules prohibiting expectation.
Ihe commercial directories OF for
eisn countries published in France now
ehmlnate the names Of all business
houses and manufacturers previously
gwen IN the departments devoted to
ene central empires. SO that there are
no lists of German or Austr;sn m.ru
laCtErorS