New-York tribune., 1918-03-31
German Radical
Covets French
Iron Ore District
Regards Metal as Key tc
Future Control of
Europe

Europe
The NesO York Tribune
Foreign Press Bureau
Germany, through her rich iron ore
and coal deposits, will be the con-
trolling factor Of Europe's economic
development for the next century, ac-
cording to an article in the "Berliner
Nossische Zetung" by Privy Coun-
scllor Dr. Eberhard Gothein, professor,
Of Heidelberg University. Professor
Gothein, the brother of the progressive
Reichstag Deputy, Georg Gothen, is
regarded the foremost German author
ity on mining.
Although since his early manhood a
radical in politics and an advocate of
the Reichstag's so-called "peace rcso-
luton" of July 19 last, Professor
Gothein pleads by innuendo for the
annexation Of the French iron districts
Of Longwy and Briey by Germany to
permanently secure the Fatherland's
economic preponderance-a fact tend
ing to show that the article referred
to was written by order of the Kaiser's
government, and outlines the territorial
Franco, Luxembourg and Belgium.
Gothcin's article follows:
ours is the iron age. Iron is,
indeed, its most urgent necessity; iron
NV ri,
labor in peace, iron sti1l more needed
by still more severe, devastating labor
in war. The world will be surprised
by the achievements of Germany's iron
industry during this war and by the
way the Fatherland was saved If we
win the war our strategists and armies
will have to thank the railways and
the output Of ammunition--iron in both
instances. After the restoration of
peace iron will be our best article of
expectation, enabling us to regain
those foreign markets which we have
lost for the time being. For the world
market is longing for iron after four
years Of war; everything must be re-
placed. Thanks to its increase, forced
by the war, the German iron industry
will be capable of delivering any or
dcrs, provided it does not lack ton
nage-ships made or iron. Therefore,
our security from attacks by foreign
countries and our economic develop
ment depend on iron, at this time and
in the future.
Raw Materials Necessary
"The iron industry depends on the
availability of the necessary raw ma
tcrials. This war has taught US that
raw materials are the base of eco
nomic existence and prosperity.
"Two kinds Of material, iron ore
and coal, are the essential prerequisites
of iron production. Iron ore is of
greater Importance than coal, because
twice as much iron ore rs coal is used
to charge a blast furnace. England
owed her former prominence in the
iron industry to the fact that she pro-
duced iron ore and coal at the same
The fact that her iron ore deposits
are rapidly being exhausted is more
than anything else the cause of Eng
land having been denoted from the
first to the third place. To secure the
necessary iron orc she depends on
Germany in times of peace, during the
war on America.
"Thc United States and Germany owe
their immense progress, first of all, to
their rich iron deposits, which en-
ablcd America to increase her iron
production from 100000 tons, in 1870.
to 31,462 900 tons, in 1913, while Ger
many, within the same period, in
creased her production Of iron from
1887 900 tons to 19,3o9 900 tons. Eng
land, on the other hand, does not pro-
ducc more than 10,479 900 tons of iron
year. The question whether the
prosperity of our Fathcrland is de-
ceitful and may decline after less than
two generations, in case we don't take
preventive measures, surgcs up in our
mind at this time
ut is easily understood why
country bent on developing its indus
tries looks out for the necessary iron
deposits. The most difficult problem
has arisen between Germany, which
only for the present time, and France,
which for all future, is rich of iron
dcposlts-the problem of the produc-
ton and importation of that raw mn
terial. This problem will play the
most important part at the peace con-
ference.
Germany has an abundance of coal