New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07


4 T THE beginning Of the world
"A war the German Reichs-
L N bank had a stock Of gold
amounting approximately to l,OOO,-
100000 marks. To-day this stock is
approaching the amount Of $780,
100000 marks. As Germany has re
ceived no gold from foreign coun-
tries in nearly two years and a half,
but has, on the contrary, exported
great deal for the payment of debts
contracted through the purchase of
goods, the feat accomplished by the
Reichsbank naturally excites wonder.
The methods by which such a re-
markable accumulation of gold has
been brought about are quite in
structive. even for foreign countries.
The increase has, without doubt,
taken place owing to the spirit Of
sacrifice dominating the entire popu-
lation, particularly the children, and
in this case something has been ac-
complished without that element Of
force which, especially in wartime, IS
resorted to on nearly every occasion.
In the very first weeks Of this strug-
gle of the nations some newspapers
took up the catchword, Gold belongs
into the Reichsbank." II was self
Understood that the great private
banking institutions should put all
their gold promptly at the disposal
of the Reichsbank. But much more
important was the fact that the peo-
pie, and especially the teachers, took
up that catchword. They under
stood how to impress the children
with the Importance Of collecting
gold. and the children FASTENED TO
develop an agitation within their
families which never rested a mo-
ment owing to the Consciousness
peculiar to children, and they man
aged to draw the gold from the
stockings even Of the most mistrust-
full and egotistical farmer. When in
addition those classes in the schools
which brought together especially
large amounts of gold were prom
ised extra holidays, the movement
gained a renewed impulse Always
new ways were found to prevent
gtoppage of the movement. For in
stance, the Reichsbank declared its
willingness to give to everybody who
brought gold in certain quantities
special diploma, something that un-
doubtedly appealed strongly to hui
man vanity.
Such were the ways used to bring
into the Reichsbank the gold circulat-
ing very extensively in the German
economic life. For Germany, it must
be understood, had previous TO the
war more gold in circulation than
any other country in the world.
While one handles in the United
States, for instance, gold money only
on relatively rare occasions, its use
in the daily intercourse Of the people
Of Germany was the rule. This state
of affairs naturally greatly facili-
tated the collecting movement. When
after a time the coined yellow metal
had been collected and locked up at
the Rcichsbank, they proceeded TO
make available for the economic
struggle the old gold jewelry which
was OF no particular value for the
adornment Of the person. For this
purpose unusually attractive arts
and craft objects were made from
iron, which were exchanged against
gold at special bureaus bearing the
title: "Gold ! Gave for Iron" The
profit due TO this exchange was used
for charitable purposes connected
with the war Recently they have
gone still a step further, insisting
with a great deal Of emphasis, espe-
cially among the nobility, that all
gold objects in the garrets and treas
ure boxes not Of particular artistic
value be placed at the disposal Of the
Fatherland.
1t must be acknowledged that this
has been done in a very complete
way, for especially in the last few
weeks the increase in the stock Of
gold at the Reichsbank has been no
t;ceably active. But again and
again the agitation finds new and
original methods to induce the peo-
pie to part with their gold in still
larger amounts. For instance, with
in the last few days even the bread
cards have on their reverse side ap-
propriate requests.
The entire coined gold Of Germany
at the beginning Of the war was esti-
mated at only 2,sOO,OOO,OOO marks,
or only a little in excess of the
amount which the Reichsbank now
has in its vaults