New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-11
Cotton. for Instance.

Cotton, for Instance.
Even in such big area many over
sea commodities, as, for instance COZ
ton. are missing. though Turkey raised
200 900 tales in 1912. There IS snort
are of other goods, especially as eacn
of the component parts of the big area
i hound TO provide first for its own
people. Wars are not won by cotton
cspeciallv since cotton is no longer
necessary for the manufacture OF eN-
plosives. And human consumption Is
very elastic. Fifty years ago before
the war of lS66-the German people
consumed only 100000 bales OF cotton
or about one-tenth of their consump-
ton before the present war; their com
bined consumption of tea, coffee ana
cocoa was 1000 tons, against 22O'ooo
to-day. They won three wars at these
low rates Of living. Surely, It Is not
likely that they will lose a fourth war
because they are reduced to their for
mer standards of living for the time
being.
In all essential things the resources
of the Central Powers are very great
The Central Powers produce about 3d.
600 900 ,ons of wheat and rye, !. e., as
much AS Canada, the United States and
tho Argentine Rerublic raised in 1913
(the occupied territory is not includ-
ed. The stock of cattle of Germany
Austria and Bulgaria was 100000
head-France. Italy and England COM
bined have about 3l,000,00O. Germany
and Austria produced over 2O,OOO,OOO
tons Of pig iron in 1912; England, Rus
STA. France. Belgium and Italy com
bined. nearly 2O,0O0,0O0 tons. Since the
occupied area Of Belgium produced
more than 100000 tons, and since 10
ner cent of the great French iron pro-
duc.ion is in German hands. the re-
sources Of the Allies have decreased
correspondingly, while those of Ger
many have grown. The iron producing
capacity Of both groups to-day is about
%. 600 900 tons for the Central Powers
and about $4,000 tons for the Allies.
That is the reason why the Allies, who
have access TO oversee markets, must
buy such huge quantities from the
United States.
The productive resources OF the Cen
trail Powers have been greatly strength
ened by the temporary occupation OF
Allied territory. The Allies have done
their best to diminish them by de-
struction and devastation. In Belgium
they had to be satisfied with efforts OF
preventing the people from going TO
work. In East Prussia, in Galicia, IN
Poland and Kurland they have laid
waste the land. German organization
has been able to overcome the DIM
culties, though il could not prevent
suffering. It's work has been greatly
facilitated by the 100000 Russian
prisoners who are in the hands OF the
Central Powers. Though the Russians
have laid bare the iields, burnt houses,
driven away the people (for, after all,
they were only Jews and Poles and
not orthodox Russians), they have been
unable to prevent the tilling of the
fields and the working of the mills.
And Providence, it seems, has not
listened to the prayers of the Allies
and has granted bountiful crops to the
Central Powers, thus saving them from
starvation.
The Naked Problem.
On account of this attempted block
ade the financial problem of Germany
and her allies is merely this: Is the
production OF material goods in the
territory occupied by the Central
Powers and supplemented by those of
their neighbors sufficient CD TO provide
the army with all the implements Of
war. % TO keep the army and the civil
population in such bodily vigor as IS
essential for the wellbeing of the ma
ton?
The second year OF the war has
passed. II has shown that the problem
can be solved by organization, by econ