Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-05-31

IT is affirmed that German trade by espionage
Is practically great menace to the world as Is
Germany's military machine that, indeed, Ger
manys military methods and her economic pene-
tration" methods are interdependent, and that any
peace which seemed to leave German militarism
powerless would ne vain and futile If the German
methods of trade allowed to continue as at
present. The question is asked whether trade at
ter the will be secret service struggle on the
part of all the nations and whether, as Germany
forced all the powers to mobilize for mltarism,
she is going to force them also to mobilize for trade
warfare These questions may seem grotesque,
but able men raising them. They point out
that the law of civil CONSUMPTION in Germany has
made all the business representatives of the en-
pre potential secret service agents at the disposal
of the military authorities
The French economist, M. Lucien Deserves who
has made special Investigations In this matter,
quotes from a secret document of which he has
seen copy containing instructions to German
engineers, who called upon to sink their pro-
fessiona pride and to devote themselves to finding
trade secrets and to furthering German trade,
which will be readily possible for them under the
guise of their professional mantle.
NJ. Deserves has described the results of tour
he made of neutral countries for the purpose of in
vestigating German secret service methods of
trade. Both men and women he says, are EN-
ployed In this way by Germany mostly young men
and women. Secret service and business promo
ton are practically convertible terms. The German
trade development and the German commercial
traveller is taught the art of espionage. Germany
realizes that the role of commercial traveller is the
best disguise for secret service man and that Sc
cret service is the best of all adjuncts to trade
Germany according to NJ Deserves, is inundating
the neutral countries with literature and with
agents. The agents recognized as by far the
most productive. Printed documents are scattered
and even If they followed by many others,
they are soon forgotten. Where the agents follow
one another, working with mutual aid, their work
Is practical and profitable. They perform not mere
ly a common task they work out propaganda.
"The Germans" he continues. have been sys-
tematicay giving furloughs from the army TO their
mobIlized men who had been commercial travellers
in foreign countries. These are authorized to
visit their former customers but they are espe-
clally engaged to work with zeal and adroitness
and to produce practical results. Special rewards
are reserved for those who able to practice es
plonage for the benefit of Germany. The agent
has double. rather triple. part to play He is
openly placing his country's products, he is cele-
bratng his countrys glory and secretly he is gain
ing information regarding Germany's neighbors
and her enemies Such work is regarded as worth
a reward and the reward is paid. In one neutral
country was struck by the large number of these
German commercial agents who are young, despite
the fact that the country, being at war; needs
young men. But the fact is that they can serve
their country this front just well the
battle fronts. They are Industrious insnuating,
tenacious The promises they make. in the
OF the great commercial firms of Germany.
Kept. They go and come as in time of peace. They
have their own hotels. restaurants cafes. meeting
places. They are servceable AID they push their
aagerncss TO be agreeable to the point of servty.
While they do not succeed in making themselves
popular, they impose themselves on the business
men because they quickly obtain from Ger
many what merchants have patiently but vanly
sought elsewhere"
NJ Deserves urges that the allies put more
nercial travellers in the field TO offset the German
rade campaign methods. but he declares that the
french business agent undoubtedly like the busi-
less agents of Frances allies "has insurmount-
ble repugnance for espionage. no matter what the
eward might be-
NJ Charles Humbert. proprietor of lie Journal
4 Paris. and other public men OF France declare
hat In order for the world TO be safe for democ-
acy Germany must not merely be beaten in the
eld. but her whole system of militarist govern
nent, with he country's trade development sub