The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-11-04
HOW GERMANY CAN PAY.


How can Germany after this war He
made to repay the colossal destruction
which its armies have systematically
carried on in invaded territories?" in
quires the Investment News, and then
proceeds to answer its own question
as follows:
In the first place Germany. altho it
has lost its colonies, still retains a part
of its mercantile marine and all of its
navy. That navy. in 1914. consisted
of IS dreadnaughts, 20 pre-dread
naughts. 81 armored and protected
cruisers, a number of sdestroyers and
submarines. The present actual num-
Der of submarines and destroyers is
unknown. But every ship, every u
boat in that navy should be given up
absolutely and Internationally to the
allies.
In 1914.sbefore the opening of hos
tilities, Germany had approximately
1000 ships in its merchant marine.
with a total tonnage of about $780,
900 TONS number OF those ships
were intHned in various neutral coun-
Many of these informed boats have
stnce been taken over, but within its
own ports Germany has probably SO
per cent of the original tonnage which
! it owned at the outbreak of war. This
mercantile tonnage in Germany's own
ports should be seized by the allies.
For twenty years after this war is
ever and peace is signed. a commits
| sion composed of representatives of all
the allies should be appointed to con-
| troll the resources of the German en-
pre- IN agriculture. forestry mining
and should supervise the manufactur-
| ing establishments of the empire In
addition to that the allies should take
| into their own hands and control for
their own profit all the transportation
| systems in Germany whether by rail
or by water.
How the details for controlling these
resources of the German empire, what
proportion shall be left to the German
| nation itself and what shall be re-
| tanned to insure just restitution by
Germany, are matters that can be left
to the commissioners themselves But
| beyond what may be absolutely nee
essary and essential to feed and cIothe
the nation, and to enable its workers
| TO produce to their utmost, every source
| OF production should be taken by the
allies. Moreover. the Germans should
pc compelled by their own labor to
help restore all public buildings de-
stroyed without Justification? every
| home to which the torch was applied .
every orchard hacked to pieces. and
every highway, bridge. destroyed thru
] sheer Spite
AhcSS teTHlS may seem harsh. but
Justice deals sternly with criminals
| Both in Belgium and in the northern
part OF France ruins, mere heaps OF
RUBBISH stand where the thriving com.
mercial cities formerly existed. Ma
chinery was either deliberately trans.
ported to Germany. there installed for
the day after the war, or was totally
destroyed The cities of Lille. Tour.
Going and Roubaix, great industrial,
towns or northern France, busy centers
OF French manufacture. no longer exist
as such. Lens. the chief. coal mimi,
town of France. is completely ruined
as are the small villages which witt
Lens supplied almost all of the Goa
essential to French industry. Between
these cities and towns ran man,
canals useful in the transportation OF
material. The factories, the mines
the canals, all have been systemat.
lcaily destroyed and everything of the
smallest value which could be moved
has been moved back to Germany, and
what could not be moved has beer
ruined or destroyed by fire and dyna.
mite.
The Germans expect to be able 4
explain that such ruin as has come tc
France and Belgium is the natural il
reGrettable, consequence of war blu,
the simple truth is that the Germans
conceived and are executing a pro.
1 am to help the business and trade
of Germany after the war at the ex-
pense of it's foes.