New-York tribune., 1919-05-28
Many Belgian
Plants Spared for
Selfish Reasons
u. S. Trade Commissioner
Says Lack of Raw Mate
rials Prevents Several In.
dustries From Resuming

While the industries Of BELGIUM
suffered severely from the ravages of
the Germans, the selfish interests of
the Hun caused them to spare some of
the Industrial plants. Among these
were the flour mills, sugar refineries.
prewerles, gas works, electric plants,
water works ard coal mines. II. T.
Ceilings, United States Trade Com
missioner, in recent report based on
formation supplied by the Central
industrial Commission of Belgium, in
dlcates that all of the industries
named have, in the main, preserved
their equipment.
The coal mines need hoistino
cables. A great number of the coke
ovens have been left without fuel and
accessories, but partial operations have
been resumed. The copper mines at
Quenast and Lessines, which were ex-
plotted by the Germans after 1917,
are In position to resume work. de-
spite the fact that the Germans be-
rore they retreated destroyed some of
the mining equipment Most of the
cement plants were exploited by the
enemy and, after repairs have been
made, operations can be renewed
All but two of Belgium's steel plants
!
uon, and the metal working industries
also were severely ravaged, the onlv
exceptions being a number of car and
locomotive shops, which the enemv
employed for the benefit of his rail
roads. Therefore some of the car and
locomotive plants will be able to re-
sumo production when the necessary
raw materials can be made available
Partial operation of the pottery and
plate and window glass factories is
possible. Only five of the twenty-seven
sulphuric acid plants are in a condition
to operate. Plants making matches.
mineral and vegetable oils, soaps, pig
ments and pharmacop9ial products can
eventually resume work. The linseed
industry in West Flanders is in bad
shape.
Situation in Cotton Industry
At Ghent, the principal centre of the
cotton industry, the situation, accord
ing to MIR. Collings's report, is as fol-
lows: The Berlin cotton industry COM
prlses 100000 spindles and 25O,OOO
twisting spindles-of which about 3OO-
900 splndles are in position to resume
work Immediately, as soon as the raw
materials (American and Indian cotton)
and the operating accessories. such as
belts, cables, coal, OIL grease, etc,
are available. About 100000 spindles
may be put in operation in three or
tour months time, if they can obtain
bronze Cfor transmissions, etc) and
other accessories. The remaining 400
600 spindles must remain idle for a
longer period because of the removal of
copper, turbines, electric motors, etc.
The essential equipment (spindles)
OF these establishments has, however,
suffered little or not at ALL
The weaving factories, on the whole.
are in position to resume work with 1
the chief part of their equipment as
soon as the raw materials (chiefy spun
cotton) and such industrial acccssor-
les as belts, cables, coal, oil, grease,
gums, etc. are obtainable. Part of the
looms must remain inactive for a time
because of the removal, by the German
army, of axles, transmssions, pulleys.
and the copper of the sizing and soak
ing machines
Woollen Looms Remain
The woollen industry is centred at
Verviers and at Ecloo. As a rule the
looms have been spared, but consid-
cradle quantities of betting, leather,
electrical equipment, carding machines. (
etc. have been removed
Tho clothing industry comprises few
large factories mainly workshops
where manual labor is employed. The
enemy removed some bleaching ma
sewing machines, belts, etc.
But, generally speaking, work may be T
resumed.
The lumber and furniture manufact
uring situation is not very bad, cx-
cept for the loss of numerous wood
working machines. A serious conse-
quence of the war is the loss of the
stocks of dried and seasoned lumber,
The replacement Of which, in equiva-
lent quantity, will require considerable
time.
Contractors for public construction
work have lost consid iderable quantities
of equipment as tho result of requisi-
ions, which will seriously hinder their
work for the present. They count
great deal upon the supplies which the
military authorities may offer them
Turing the demoblization and also
lpon the utilization of the stocks of
wood and other material abandoned in
Belgium by the enemy.