New-York tribune., 1917-10-14
Product Of Willow Can B.
Used Also for
Bandages
Surprise to Entente
Reminds America That Gro,
Is Still Great Problem
of War
By Paul Bartholow

by fdul DdrtholoW
In the "Corriere Economico,s A,
Italian journal devoted 70 comm.r.
there has been lately valuaol. s.r.,
of articles on German reserves Of co,.
ton and textiles. An Italian contemuo.
rary, the "Giornale degli Economists
supposes that the great question ate,
the war will be trade competition, ard
il believes, on what y states 70 ;.
good authority, that The Teuton empire,
have accumulated vast stocks OF cotton
goods with which 70 inunda.. n.
world and seize the markets.
The best reason for reading tails,
papers is that Italian writers ar. IN.
usually we'll informed as TO conditions
in Germany. Italy is near enough %
receive German papers and news rega.
larly, and Italy, for very special r.s.
sons. finds it we'll worth while 70 study
Teuton internal affairs, and particular.
ly those Of Austria.
1t appears the Germans ar. well
aware of the shortage OF the American
cotton crop and Of linters.
L. :. Cotton Crop Short
The report from Washington tts.
only 2,4sS,38l bales Of cotton we're
ginned in the United state, this
year. as compared with i,0sl s3s bales
in 1916, should remind the eoun-
try anew that the production Of co.,
ton is the master problem OF the war,
so far "a munitions are concerned
For the moment people suppose that
the great question Is, not cotton, eut
men aud munitions and victuals. The
truth is that cotton is q great, vital
consideration, though this Ia not a.
ways clearly perceived in all the other
problems OF war
Our imports Of cotton 20 Germany
ceased after August, 1914. Therefore
il is specially interesting 20 inquire
how she gets her supply The ord-
nary man firmly holds the view that,
as Germany and Austria are cut OF
from exports even through neuirsss,
these countries are in peril and need
munitions.
Expected End in Six Months
Even so great an authority a. the
late Sir William Ramsay believed, as
long ago as June, 1915, that Germany
could not last six months. he wrote N
"The Saturday Review" in regard 10
making cotton contraband OF war:
when that is done the end OF me
war will be spprecsbly nearer, Tor ]:
is certain that within six months oi
the day when cotton is effectively eX.
Guided our adyersaries will have 70
stop operations for lack Of propl.siVs
ammunition"
The utter mistake Of regarding ne
stoppage of cotton exports as the be-
ginning of the German collapse IS
brought home 20 US when we see y
such Journals as "Corriere Economco'
and "Giornale degli Economhu' that
Germany has found substitutes for all
raw materials.
Germany Solves Problem
However, until the problem OF eottoa
fibre or cellulose was solved in a taor-
ough. scientific and final manner Ger
many was in grave peril over elotaes
and munitions for her soldiers. II IS
interesting to compare % detail sr
William Ramsay's story OF this dsnge:
and the romance OF the manufacture oi
cellulose in the "Ha1delsmuseum.' 81
Williams argument shows both me
difficulties OF the problem and the way
in which the Germans probably nave
solved il. II is not always realized BY
the public that propu.siYo ammunition
that il, the ammunition OF the sol.
oilers rife and guns-cons.sts manly OK
nitro-cellulose manufactured from coz
ton. Cotton, however, Is not essentlsli
any woody fibre, 0r cellulose, can %
nitrated, and of il smoke.e's powder OK
nitro-cellulose can be made.
Woody fibre has some technical
merits as well as some serious faults OK
substance. Ii has both explosive ana
propulsive force, bu. 10 burns 100 quick
~ and ii takes W too much space IN
the gun. Modern inventors have urea
20 make an ammuE tlon which conceh :
trates the greatest energy % the small,
est space. and nitro-cellglose prepared
from cotton fuliils this requisite. Othe'
forms of cellulose can be used, bu' ne
pressure developed when hey exp.ods
is so great and il H. raised 80 suddenly
that they cannot be Used wi'nol'
danger.
Makes Difference in Propulsion
Wood pulp and straw were also tr.sa
by the Germans; they can bee nitratedi
and possess similar properties 20 gun
cotton, but the powders prepared irom
them have not the same propu.sN'
power as has an equal weight OF gun
cotton; hence a bullet propelled oy one
Of these substitutes will not leave th'
barrel Of the gun with the same We
loclty ss il propelled By an .eqlS.
weight Of guncotton. Therefore, u suen
a substitute be used. the gun must o.
differently sighted. Or a larger "eigNl
Of the substitute may be used ln wv
case the chamber OF the gun, j org
inally designed for guncottor powder
will not be large enough 20 contain !
and will requiIe alteration. The que
tion of relative bulk has great lnhu
ence.
According 10 the Italian writers, u I
believed Germany has found TWO .se
isfactory substitutes for gunco.sVn
Some genuine COTTON, lL ~ h"N -.
get from Adana. IN Turkey. but N.
supply is wholly inadequate. since u !.
estimated that - 900 tons OF cotton AZ
being discharged from their rifles sa''
day in the form Of guncotton.
Used for Bandages Also
Compulsory syndicate have peg
formed with supervisory committees .
administer these provisions. The mai
source of cellulose for making powde
. =, 49,. .h. Iarmai