New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-29
NITROGEN IMPORTS
ALSO SUPERSEDED
Substitute Found for Camphor,
important in Manufacture
of Explosives.

:, hour Of his time. value his can
Hss and friendly reception all the more
h.,,u,s did not attempt TO conceal my
,,o.Entente sympathies. and my belief
,. the Central Powers were more TO
N,me than, at any rate, the Western
Powers for the present war.
discussed with DR.. Helfferich the
following statements made by the pres
dent Of the Bremen Convention OF
Merchants:
81 can here state that have been
rl.esd in 3 position TO certify that for
,isht months past not kilogram OF
,o..on has been used for powder max
;,s Thanks to German science and in
su,try. we have succeeded in producing
Tram our own forests q eellulose both
,,,sp.r and better suited than cotton
FOR powder production, and even after
N, war the German powder factories
will not buy . kilo Of cotton for NUM-
ton purposes.
"The second most important ingredi-
,nt nitrates, Of which We have hitherto
u,,d tvo-thirds Of the total Gillian
PRODUCTION, is now entirely made from
atmospheric nitrogen in Germany. Our
factories are already so fsr extended
that they will during the coming
scring. besides our war requirements
cover the whole requirements Of our
agriculture, while II the war ends the"o
will be large surplus available for ax-
rort. Our Gillian friends have, there
fore, TO thank our enemies for the loss
Of an important market.
9Th. same applies TO esmphor, also
an important ingredient in the manu-
fscture Of explosives"
Trade Lost by Chill.
Or. HelHerich Unhesitstingly con-
frmed these statements. He showed
n. sample Of nitrates now being pro-
dueed in Germany, and mentioned that
before the war Germsny's import from
Chilli vas about 100000 tons per an
mum. and that this quantity was already
exceeded BY the newly started home
production He added 20 the above
statement one regarding rubber, to the
effect that. although the substitute now
rsde in Germany was not yet so cheap
so good as the natural article, IT was
perfectly adequate substitute for war
purposes. got independent confrms-
ton Of this fact from business men.
Although last years harvest in Ger
many was errstic and on the whole not
Up 70 the average, present stocks OF
ioodstufs are not less than year ago
The critical period was, as previously
stated. last autumn, before il could be
absolutely stated that home production
o. prime necessities was assured. and
before the German people had settled
down, as they have done now. 70 the
strict limitation Of certain foodstuffs.
Dr. Helferieh wondered what any in
tenigent Whitechspel policeman would
say L he had 10 face the inhabitants OF
his district with food restrictions SINH
lar 10 those in force in Germany. Pos
sibly the reply is TO be found in Sir
Edward Holden's question about "the
shooting down of poor women crying
out for bread"
Patriotic Germans Submissive.
Dr. Helferich categorically denied
the truth OF this or anything approach
ing il in Germany. The patriotism OF
Germans had caused them 10 submit
cheerfully TO control Would British
patriotism stand the same test? The
question is fair one TO ask, and is
practically invited by Sir Edwards
wrong assumption that Germans have
not stood the test
The British governments recently
initiated action 10 reduce imports with
ne syowed intention OF forcing on the
country economy and diminishing the
imports was discussed. He asked me
whether | did not consider IL rather
strange that the British government
we're finding themselves compelled 10
inhict on their own people some of the
lneonveniences they were so ANXIOUS
10 inhict on Germans. This would at
any rate indicate that they admitted
hat there was some truth in the Ger
man view that being thrown on ones
own resources was an advantage IN war
ume u one could supply ones own
needs
But can you manage on your own
resources in the long rum" / asked.
ne replied with emphasis. AT least
a. long and probably longer than our
soverSarieS."
believe ne is right. and | must GER
AMY say that my discussions with
Germans OF all classes bear out what
MS eNcellency said. II is true my bust
ness does not take me among the work
hg classes, but in Germany as IN Eng
4ahd these classes are doing well.
Workmen Eat the Best.
To give an instance: One reason why
oetter is scarce is that large sections
OF the working classes. which hitherto
nave been satisfied with margarine,
row wans butter and can compete for
at high prices. The millionaire must
TOW have no more butter than the
workman. the children must be secured
,helr requirement Of milk and every
Yooy else is satisfied with the control
Instituted.
! saw no indication in Germany that
me population was subjected 10 greater
privations than were good for them
on the contrary, IL seemed 10 me that
ne wellbeing OF the people is. IL any
Nlng, enhanced BY the constant re-
mlnders Of the necessity for economy.
Or. helferich considers IL astonish-
mr. that Sir Edward should continue TO
eeeeive his bank shareholders and his
..eunuymen in general by insinuating
aat the war credit banks, mortgage
eehE' Insurance companies, private
oanG and municipal corporations issue
s9ooles. Has he ever seen such notes
.h.y do not exist and have never eX-
Nled. eNcenting during the first weeks