New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-06


diyidual Congressman, through the
American Association Of Commerce
and Trade. praying for some action.
The association first sent TO most Of
the big American business firms in Ger
many set Of questions. the most i'm
por'ant Of which was. What do Won
think will be the result il You continue
10 be unable to get goods"
Ruin Seen in Blockade.
The answers varied in wording. bg.
were epitomized in the reply Of thu
representative of big typewriter COM
pany, declaring that a continuation OF
the present situation spelled ruin.
Though the associations list of ques-
tons did not touch upon the point,
nine-tenths of the replies pointed on.
that. IN addition 20 impending disaster,
trade was slowly but surely falling into
the hands OF German competitors.
A correspondent made canvass Of
the larger American establishments in
Germany establishments which for the
most part have been in business fo-
decades. and which no, only are grsdu-
ally losing their German and Austrian
business, but which also before the
war dealt with Germany's present on
ponents, and consequently have LOST
their trade with Russia. France. Italy.
Belgium and other countries.
The list included the largest type
writer company in the world. the
largest dental supply firm in existence,
the bIgges. shoe company, in point o.;
sales Of American goods. in Germany,
R large adding machine corporation. a
well known elevator manufacturing
concern, one of the largest manufact-
urers Of toilet articles in America AMI
other smaller concerns. but no ATTEMPT
vas made TO determine the possible
losses Of establishments dealing in cor e
trabard. or even in conditional cor q
traband except a. the latter constl-
tutes part OF the imports Of the dental
supplies in the form of gutta percha
and rubber. The correspondents IN
vestigation was confined solely 20
things a. present held up by The block
ade which could not directly serve war
purposes.
Millions Alread, Lost.
Many millions Of dollars worth o.
goods either have been held up OF,
though needed, have not been ordered
because of the imposs ibiity of getting
them. Many more millions Of invested
capital probably viii be lost COM
pletely, in the opinion OF their invest
ors, ii there IS not a speedy remedy.
Women and children's shoes. il is
contended. are not contraband. Yet the
American shoe men IN Germany despair
OF ever being able 10 get any more, be-
cause they assume that England with
holds these articles on the theory that,
without American goods. Germany mus
apply a considerable proportion Of f.
leather stock TO supply it, civilian pop
uiatiOn. With American shoes for
women and children this leather coul /
be used for soldiers footwear.
The only American firms which have
not reached an almost hopeless stage
are those principally the manufacture
ers Of farming machinery which have
plants here IN Germany. and which,
therefore, are largely independent OF
imports. Many Of these are said 10 be
prospering BY diverting temporarily
their activities 10 the production Of
ammunition.
American importers Of goods OF every
kind long ago gave up Holland as a
country through which they could get
material. Scandinavia has become the
medium through which dribbles the
little that comes in. And the Scandi-
nayian countries, according TO me con
sensus Of opinion. are busily occupied
in looking out for themselves.
The largest American typewriter
company in Germany has an investment
here OF about two and half million
dollars. and. after eighteen months Of
war. has given up the ghost"
Germany always has been Mecca
for American dentists. Thousands OF
Germans go TO the "parlors" OF Amer
leans. In consequence the largest dem
tai supply house in the world lorg ago
established large branch in Berlin.
From this branch American and other
dentists all over Europe have irawn
their supplies. This concern vas do
ing az the outbreak OF the war bust
ness of between $4,000 and s75 900 a
month. To-day it is doing chiefly
through the sale OF German goods
business ranging from seven to nine
thousand dollars a month. Us Office
force has had TO be reduced By about
so per cent, and eventual closing seems
inevitable.
With varying details. il is the same
story with half dozen American firms
who sell farming machinery.
For a long while the Americans who
deal in all these things have been in
clined TO take matters philosophically
Most OF them have taken the stand
point Of an important dealer whose
home Office does large business with
the opponents Of Germany namely.
that 200 loud a protest is apt TO injurc
trade IN the Entente countries Now.
however. that il, has become literally
matter of commercial life or death.
most of them have stopped being silent
sacrifices. and are seeking ways and
means whereby they can voice their