Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-18
Must Create New Factories.

So that Germany will be forced to
re-eauip her factories complete-prac-
tically speaking-from cupola to ash
pit, and she will also be forced to buy
raw material to an extent difficult to
realize elsewhere. Her church bells
and household copper has gone. Her
kitchen utensils of brass and alumni
mum and zinc have been taken.
When the war ends 1t is hardly an
exaggeration to say that Germany must
buy all new throughout from dynamos
to cap ribbons.
A start is already being made by the
government, which has laid down the
keels of 100 new steel cargo ships. to
be built on the Ford plan. The Ger
| man infiltration in Swiss and Spanish
and presumably Scandinavian bust
ness firms is designed as protection
gainst drastic customs bars set up by
the allies. The needy German manu-
facturer WIFI try to buy what he needs
through his branch house in one Of
these small neutral countries. German
money has been largely invested in
banks in these countries and in South
America. in spite of the drain Of war,
because it was recognized that financial
protection will be necessary when the
war ends.
1t is useless to attempt to figure at
this time what the total imperial debt
will be when the war is over But to
that total must be added the debts of
the various municipalities, which have
been forced to spend money in caring
for their needy citizens and in other
war ways, and also the debts of the
individual Germans
7 of 10 Germans Ruined.
Seven Germans out of ten will say
frankly that they are utterly ruined"
am told by a man who has had bust
ness dealings in Germany
Although there has been little news.
paper discussion of the manner in
4 ~ l. Il
there is belief in certain financial
circles in Germany that a modified re-
pudfation will be inevitable. 1t is sug-
gested that part of the war debt
will be declared as permanent and
irreducible debt, like the British con-
soils. which viii continue to draw in
terest. but of which the principal will
never be paid.
It is also regarded as likely that the
government will make a fiat levy upon
all property real and personal. in or
der to provide it with capital with
which to make a fresh start.
The government may act as banker
for merchants and manufacturers who
have been reduced by the war, but
who are DESTROYS of making fresh
start. These are merely the sugges-
| lions that are In the air at present
Germans frankly admit that something
must be done. but they do not know
what that something will be. Repudia-
ton of a debt owed by the govern
ment to the people would bring about
revolution, they believe, so many and
made by Germans in subscribing to
the war loans ard in carrying on their
own affairs. The great test of the
German system of financing will be
when the war ends and 1t is necessary
ITO buy goods from abroad.
Up to the present the financial sit
uation in Germany may be likened to
la whirlpool. The money goes on run
gate to the outer world is opened
what will happen then?
Perhaps the Whirlng stream may
drain the pool.
tainiy be taken by Germany to restore
herself will be the forbidding of all
emigration. Well informed persons say
1t Is likely that no German will be
after satisfying the police of his rea-
son for leaving, and putting up a suf-
lficfent bond for his return. An annual
head tax upon Germans residents in
foreign countries is also envisaged.
There is no real fear of lack of work
men however. The German woman
has become a factory-frau. rather than
a hausfrau. and 1t is not probable that
| she will ever consent to return to her
former state Of approximate servitude
on the other hand, the cockiness Of
labor leaders is worrying the German
statesmen. Many laboring men are
making three and four times what they
| did in times Of peace, and it is no.
toriously a more difficult operation to
| reduce wages than it is to boost them
They have learned their power too.
The socialist leaders, in the reichstag
have rather plunned themselves on the
| fact that they have never ordered a
general strike.
Labor Situation Is Serious.
| eve need not order one" is the state
ment attributed to Scheidemann in a
corridor conversation. IF we but
nodded the workmen would call a gem
| eral strike OF their own WILL
few attempts have been made to
handle strikes by police authority, but
nowadays they are invariably referred
| TO the military. Hfndenburg and Luden-
dorff have in each case yielded to the
demands Of the strikers, or at least
compromised with them. They are the
great hxers Of Germany. Solve ,em
| more food 10 tho formula which has
always proved successful
Economy Becomes Science.
| The other sids at the aftsr-ths-xax