The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-07-07

German eu1ClenCy anu SUI PaSSNS
that of Great Britain. Al which
point the story OF the 80 tons OF
, hobnails begins. They were needed
10 bottom the men OF Joffre's army.
Get bids" ordered the govern
mental buyers. We are pressed
| for time. See who can furnish
these nails"
Il may be news 10 most 70 learn
| that a hobnail has an individuality
| OF It's own. II II Is too hard the
wearer slips on the rocks. and IL IL
IL too soft II wears out too easily.
The army buyers wired specifca-
tons everywhere. Great Britain
weighed IN with a bid that was too
high by miles. The United States
offered some highly polished hob
nails that were merely pretty.
Switzerland could furnish the 80
tons needed OF the right quality and
In the required time.
Has Switzerland factories which
make hobnails9" some cynic asks.
Has she mines that furnish the
hobnail grade of ore? Has she
manufacturing facilities for turning
out 80 tons OF hobnails over night"
IL is perhaps true that Switzer
land has a neighbor on the other
side which is so equipped, but
Frances military buyers did not
| bother about such things. The all
important item was that the French
army be properly hobnsiled al the
proper time This was done. The
inquiry into the origin OF the hob
nails will be deferred to more
convenient season. The point II
that the French authorities are OF
an eminently which is to
say an eminently French-turn OF
mind. The French people have de
termined 10 win this war Nothing
is 10 BE- permitted 10 get in their
way.
One discovers something more
/ That is the determination that after
| the war France shall be able to
NEE, Germany upon her own indus.
trial ground This explains the in.
terest that France is taking in
/ American labor.saving machinery
although il is Idle to deny that she
4 regards Americans as persons IL is
I well 10 watch during the beginning.
/ progress, and end of negotiations.
+. She has reason 10 do so. In the
/ first days Of the war. when France
was forced 10 buy where she could
and pay the price asked. a lot Of
gloves were bought OF an American
firm. They were 10 be khaki color
But these are yellow" the French
buyers protested, when delivery was
made
They were They were the yel
lowest gloves that ever screamed ar
alarm. An enemy could have seer
those gloves through the darkes'
night. They were luminous. They
fairly glowed. They are still YET
low. for France had to take them
and In the end they will be worked
OF on peasants who need gloves fol
work in the fields They would BE-
quite unfit for wear on dairy farm
II there is anything in the theories
OF prenatal influence.
I'VE know they are yellow" SAID
the American sellers; but we've
got your money"
A list OF similar instances nigh
be made out as long az your arm
But Y must not be understood tina
all this chicaning was done BY
! Americans. The horizon blue uni
forms in which the battle OF thu
aarne was fought by the Frenct
army faded just as white IL the clotf
was furnished by British spinners
as when Americans got the contract
| Once France bought lot OF $500,
! 900 socks from an English house
| Some one discovered that the whole
sale price Was much higher than the
! cost OF the same sock by the single
pair. The matter was investigated
/ THAT contract had passed
! through Ia British hands before II
reached u.s." was the report. Each
hand took out a pinch OF profit"
II is quite true that all the war.
ring countries are paying topnotch
prices for everything they buy from
/ neutrals, just as II Is likewise true
that they bitterly resent this fact
Their resentment might have 4
touch more OF reason II their own
merchants did not do their best "a
squeeze the last ounce OF profit out
o, each contract. France has recog
nized these things quite clearly and
has guarded herself az well as she
can. In the first days OF the wal
she bought a lot Of American leath
or. n was not satisfactory. " was
most decidedly not satisfactory. To
day she 10 only buying American
leather when she can buy leather
nowhere else.
Buy OF Ms" suggested Great
Britain. "Ours Ia the real old stun
the Made In England brand"
Your prices are too high" was
The reply. I'VE will buy from you
what we must. because your leath.
or II good. but first We will see
what we can do AT home"
60 the army started a tanning de-
nar,ment Soldiers oversee Il and