Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-07-05
Hun propoeandists
Spread Stories Of
Commercial Gains

Washington, July 5. Persistent
stories of, Gernany's commercial
achievements IN South and Central
America and the generally accepted
boast that German goods had COM
pietely captured those markets fade I'M
der the intense light Of careful investi-
CATION into merely German propaganda,
circulated with the idea Of soaring all
other competitors out OF the field.
William c. Wells. chief staustician for
the American Union, IS authority
for The statement that for several years
before the war Germany actually vas
losing ground in South and Central Am
erica and that the greatest gains were
made by the United States.
Just PRIOR 70 the European war
says Mr.. Wells. German trade IN most
Of Latin America was in danger Of m
mediate dissolution. For thirty years,
il is true, German trade showed a large
and progressive zrowth-ouL this was
almost entirely at the expense Of
France. II 1911, German trade reached
it's apex. In Argentina was centered
the German efforts - capture Latin
american IIdS.t. III -'A- A--' 80 ~---N
ages of imports from the seven leading
commercial cuntries TO Argentina were
as follows: United Kingdom. 29-S; Ger
many, IS United States 143; Italy. 5;
France 1G.4; Belgium, So; and Spain
81. And this was Eermary's best year.
In thirty years Germany had increased
her proportion ot the Argentine trade
50 per cent. Italy gained q per cent.
and the United States gained IA per
cent All the other countries except
Belgium lost, France most heavily Most
Of the German gains were at her e1-
perse.
IN fourteen Of the n-Anerican
countries Notwithstanding the strenu-
ous efforts made by Germany % acquire
or TO preserve the trade, the result had
been practically failure. The imports
from Germany IN these countries was
only silently vyzr - PER cent Of the
whole and less than one-fourth Of the
imports from the United States.
Wonderful stories nave been told
and are get being told Of German com
rnercial success in Latin America, The
spreading Of such stories is and always
has been part Of the German progTa m.
II creates an atmosphere which is sup
posed to have a depressing effect upon
rivals. The English. French. Italian,
or American exporter is apt 70 BE- re-
ticent about what he is doing in foreign
countries Not so the German. He
claims everything and then some.
las Illustrating that, some time ago
a story came from Buenos Aires to the
effect that agricultural machinery from
the United States imported into Ar
gentina since the war was giving great
dissatisfaction. that German machinery
used prior to the war was much better
made and more suitable to the country
This story, with much detail as to why
the German machinery in general use
IN Argentina prior to the war was bet
ter, WAS published extensively in the
United states With no comment what
ever The facts are that Germany had
no held on Argentine agricultural ma
chinery imports. She had been ousted
from this field more than twenty years
ago-horse, foot and Dragons. Amer
lean machinery had done the oustins
because it was better made and more
suitable to the country and the crops
The trade was more intelligently hand
led By American exporters and as q
consequence they secured IT,
Both Germany and the United States
are new entrants in the race for over
seas trade IN manufacture. hat Ger.
many was first in the field. German
manufactures were pouring into tht
Latin American field from Mexico K
] Argentina in competition with British
and French goods years terore tat
United States was shipping anfth'ns
to these countries. except -four c0dfsh
lumber and the like. Yet IN 1913, prio!
to the outbreak Ut the 49, n -sstnf