The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-04-18
WHAT GERMAN RULE MEANS
TO A CONQUERED LAND
Systematic Exploitation OF Belgium
Under the Rathenau Plan.

Under the Rathenau Plan.
Washington, April 00-The Sys-
tcmatic exploitation Of Belgium by
the Germans under the so-called
"Rathcnau Plan is revealed for the
first time to the American people IN
the latest publication OF the com
mittee on public information, issued
today, entitled German Treatment
OF Conquered Territory" 1t Is based
upon unpublished reports to our
department of state, and other sour
ces as vet little known in this coun-
try, and presents an appalling rec
ord of calculated German greed and
brutality. Much of the most damn
ing evidence is derived from the OF
fetal orders and other utterances OF
the Germans themselves.
The Rathcnau plan was suggest
ed early in August, 1914, by Dr..
Walter Rathenau, president OF the
General Electric Company OF Ger
many. 1t consisted essentially in
the formation, under his direction,
Of i bureau to procure an untalI-
ing supply Of essential raw materials
for the war, such as rubber, salt
petre, metals, etc, both by purchase
in neutral markets and by seizure
in occupied territories. Secretly a
more dastardly purpose was pur-
sued. The plant aimed not merely
at making war support war by con-
tributions and acquisitions forced
from the conquered peoples. 1t also
sought to destroy the industries
among the subject peoples 50 that
it might not be possible to build
them up again for some years, if at
all. In the meantime, the German
authorities counted upon their abil-
ity to capture the markets of the
world for their own wares"
Even Steal Trade Secrets.
As an example Of the deliberate
crushing of Belgian competition
the case of the glass industry is
cited. This was one of the most
Aourishing industries of Belgium
before the war, and German glass
manufacturers could not compete
with it in the export trade. In the
words of the head of the German
organization Of glass manufacturers
at became vital to the German man
ufacturers OF glasswares that the
Belgian manufactures should be
stopped from going to neutral mar
kets." Accordingly, the German ad.
ministration in Belgium was appeal
ed to, and it promulgated AN order
stopping importation, transit, anC
eXportation' of these goods. Seiz
ure OF Belgian trade secrets was an.
other feature OF this typically Ger
man plan.
The extent to which Belgium ha,
been denuded Of its wealth, war ma.
terials, machinery, means of trans
port and man power under this in
| iquitous plan is almost unbelievable
"All crude materials indispensable,
Tor Belgian industries" reported
Brand Whitlock, our minister tC
Belgium, as early as August ?, l9l!
were requisitioned and sent to Ger
many-leather, hides, copper, wool
AaN, etc. Furthermore, if not tn,
entire stock, at least the creates
number possible OF machinery part
were shipped TO Germany, to b,
used, according to German state
ments, in making munitions whicl
Belgian factories refused to pro
duce.' Belgian draft horses, best il
the world, were seized, sent to Ger
many to be sold to German farmers
A long list compiled from the Ger
man official ordinances is given o
the articles ordered seized in Bel
GUM. 1t comprises some 300 sep
arate items, listed under such head
ings is minerals and metals, chemi
Gals, machinery, food, clothing, tex
tiles, household articles, old mater
ial, oils and explosives, metal prod
ucts for industrial establishments
medical supplies, etc. The article
range from tungsten steel to groun
Stag, from electric condensers an
conductors to printers slugs an
matrices, from all grains for breat
making to oat straw, from bath tut
to stair-carpet rods and doorknob
from old rags to the skins, horn
feet, bones and carcasses of horse
calves, goats, rabbits and dog
Nothing apparently is overlooked {
Aforgotten in this ruthless robber