Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-20
May UTILIZE SOLDIERS
TO GET FOREIGN TRADE
knowledge OF Other Lands Qualities
Them to Get business
Abroad.
GERMAN EXPANSION EXPLAINED
Large Colonies Wcro Maintained, and
All We're Instructed to Work for
interests OF Homo Industrial En-
tcrpriscS.

|
NE" YORK. July 19.-The rapid ex-
pansion OF German trade in tho decade
pefore tho great war was largely due
TO tho size and personnel Of German
commercial colonies in foreign lands
Dung men. trained In the details
or buying and selling and of collect
ing and distributing, were encouraged
10 make their start in new lands as
part or the German scheme to obtain
they wero even advised TO intcrmarry
WIN tho strongest native families in
order TO strengthen the bonds Of busl-
ness with those OF blood.
Ana, although Germany is today
beaten In her own territory. her for
t elsn trade organizations throughout
the world are practically unimpaired.
While 1t is TO be hoped that Amcri-
cans VIII never sink 70 the more cyni-
merce. still We can hardly succeed
IN Foreign markets unless We follow
them In having nationals on tho
ground TO represent US. Only Ameri-
cans can advertise American goods
ana business methods. Moreover we
have az much TO learn about our pro-
Us.
Have Drunk OF Adventure.
nouns men who have drunk deep OF
adysn,ure. who have seen, Visions be-
yond the skyline Of other days, are re-
turning home from France. TO many
Of these the old l!fe. once the Joy OF
all but intolera5le. The groove OF
farm or factory will be too narrow.
But we may mobilize these new al
yenturers for a great and necessary
service at the four ends OF the earth.
Al this time our business houses
which have foreign departments, or
winch intend 10 create them. should
DC prevailed upon TO mobilize TO the
fniles, their forces for foreign ser
Spain. etc.
Many. young men arc now return
selves" In trying months on the battle
line As commissioned noncom-
misaioned officers. some OF these have
been successful in handling other men.
all have learned TO obey orders and
have had two years Of discipline.
| put tho Quietus upon tho hopes OF
Germany will give these men social
youth VIII make it easy for them to
learn foreign languages and adapt
themselves to foreign modes Of Me.
Many Failures Recorded.
high percentage OF failure among
The cause. Of this failure arc three hiHs
nea a 1raia.nr a' s taSa faaS SfH1
to view sympatheticaliy the habits OF
In foreign countries: third. moral re-
taxation. which often results in loss of
caste and national pride.
AS regards the first OF these causes
OF failure, tho WET experience OF many
mon has at least given them tho be-
l ginning OF an education IN tTanspor-
tation. important branch OF com
mcrciai service that cannot be learned
In books.
Members Of tho quartermaster's stan
have had to contend with port and rail-
road facilities different from those In
the United States. But the great han
usage In distant markets that might
be urged against these men is really
one In the United States.
Commercial education hero is either
on plane much lower than in Cor
many or 1t is on such high and
academic plane that Il attracts few
students. Many so-callcd business"
sehoos are na run w h other con- }n
their owners.
In Germany. and to lesser extent
trade Is a profession. and professional
training Ia regarded as antecedent
son atl;a .i for IT, Commercial and In.
local and central governments.
Better Commercial Schools.
II our standard for commercial and
Industrial schools were raised to that
| for our schools OF mining. civil. cleo
trical and mechanical engineering. to
say nothing of tho liberal arts. we
should be able to meet all competi-
tors.
But while such hoped-for condi-
ton is being brought about we can
not De llle. Al least one or the larger
| American houses engaged in foreign
banking and investment Is schooling It's
II own men.
Unfortunately, this method OF meet
Ing the situation Is beyond the aver
age house that wishes to extend its
activities. "A careful selection for TO-
eign representatives made from re-
turned soldiers who have had previous
commercial experience In the United
States will probably give good results
/ In many instances.
The second principal cause for fall
| nre In, the past among Americans who
L have been sent abroad has been In
In the United States. which draws It's
population from the four corners of
! that inhibits international sympathy.
4 But there are Americans who have
the gift Of esng That our Latin neigh
! wear good will upon their sleeve. where
It cannot be overlooked, and. whether
pemacS they e' make rends for the d
7 United States while they make friends
for themselves.
pick up languages and details Of eti-
ouet quickly
0unIity of sympathy.
who have passed through England and
who have o. tes engaging
/ being equal, they Will make the best
soldiers. in the army Of commercial
!, Tho third cause for failure among
inside the United States Is moral
| sgredation that results from the
\ lange in their mode of life.
| In many countries the restraints
| lat upon young men are much less
I than In the United States. and the
| restraints put upon young women are
much greater. Freed from home ties
and from the fear of criticism by ac-
auaintances, Americans abroad often
fall into easy ways of living, and then.
not infrequently. in a last fare Of
chivalry. marry native women far be-
low them in the social scale.
These mon soon find themselves
4. caught in n social matrix from which
there Is no escape.
But the moral dangers largely dis
appear when Americans are concen-
trated in sufficient numbers to pro-
yido society for one another. and es-
/. pecially when American women are
also present.