Charlevoix county herald., 1917-09-21
Enemy Modifying Industrial
Resources For World
Commerce War.
BUILDS MERCHANT SHIPS
Going Over TO Peace Commission
Formed to Devise Means to Win
Back Export Trade Lost Tnrous~
Conflict of Arms.

ConriCt OF Armb.
Contrary to the general belief, Ger
many, during the past three years, has
not confined her shipbuilding activities
to the turning out Of submarines and
other war vessels. Since the outbreak
of the war twenty eight new freight
steamers have been constructed In her
shipyards. 1t is also worthy OF note
that German steamship offices through
out the neutral world are being kept
open for the immediate resumption OF
business and that recently the clerical
STATS I'm these offices have been restored
to full from half pay.
To the American manufacturer and
his employee there is a world Of signi6-
canoe in these correlated statements OF
fact, indicating as they do, the extent
to which Germany is prepared for the
campaign of industrial reconstruction
and the wholesale conquest Of world
trade markets which she plans to I'M
dertake the moment peace has been re-
stored. Germany Is making ready for
the economic war just as carefully as
she prepared for the present conflict.
Just as every man, automobile, horse
and factory in the empire was indexed
and given place In mobilization for ac-
tual war, 80 have certain men, indus
tries and raw materials been indexed
today and given their place in the mo-
bilization for German export trade with
the coming Of peace.
Other Nations May Follow Suit.
Nor Is it to be supposed that the 9TH
er big nations will be behindhand In
bidding for world trade after the war
TO make up for the tremendous trade
losses sustained through the conflict.
Under pressure of national danger the
governments in these countries have
come into closer touch with their man.
ufacturers and, having learned the
principles of industrial mobilization,
are in a position to aid those manu-
facturers In times of peace.
Germany's plans for the trade war
may go astray just as some Of the
features of her military program did
during the past three years, but re-
cital of the active steps she has taken
toward economic and industrial recon-
structior will serve to emphasize the
need In this country for industrial econ
omy and efficiency unhampered by
strife between wage earners and wage
payers and unwise business laws.
To begin with, Germany is not on
the verge of bankruptcy. She has no
huge floating international debt, and
her war loans are, secured several
times over. She has not put such a
pressure on her mines that they will
be overwhelmed when peace comes,
nor has she exhausted her other re-
sources Unless conditions are very
radically changed by the outcome of
the war she will be In an excellent
position to wage the fight for the re-
covery of the $5,O00,O00,OO0 worth of
world trade she lost through the war;
Plenty of Goods For Export.
When the war ends, Germany will
have plenty of goods in a few lines
In which she enjoys a superabundance
Of raw materials to throw back upon
the world markets, and she will be
able to sell these goods at very low
price. There are factories In Elber-
field, Remscheid, Frankfurta Main
and Dusseldorf today turning out a
steady flow, not for the purposes Of
war, but for peace.
Germany's preparations for the re-
construction period are characteristical-
ly thorough. The imperial government
has appointed "The Friedensubergau
Kommission," literally the going over
to peace commission, which Is headed
by Senator Stahmer of the Hamburg
parliament. Associated with the latter
are the most prominent German cap
tains OF industry and bankers. The
plans so far evolved by the Stahmer
commission for the recapturing of Ger
many's $1,000, 100000 worth Of lost
trade are based upon the principle that
when peace comes Germany must ex-
port cargoes of goods that far exceed
In value the class of goods she imports.
That will enable her to establish a SUBJ
stantial trade balance.
In her export activities she will lay
most stress on lines such as chemicals,
uycstuus, HdTuWdTt, cutlery anu kn1Ck-
knacks," for her available raw mate
rails favor the abundant production of
those articles They will have to I'm
port copper, nickel, cotton and animal
fats and American machinery. On any
other commodity II Is almost certain
ty that the Stahmer committee will rec
ommend prohibitive import duties, es-
pecially ON manufactured articles.
II Germany is to compete successful
ly for world trade, however, II Is vital
ly essential that costs be kept down
In the manufacture of the chosen arti-
cles of export. The imperial order
has gone forth that the exporters bur-
den be lightened, and all sorts of con-
cessions Will be made him In the form
OF preferential railroad rates md cheap
inland waterway tolls and ocean freight
rates. - Industrial Conservation, Ncv
York.
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